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Webster 1913 Edition

Incorrigible

In-cor′ri-gi-ble

,
Adj.
[L.
incorrigibilis
: cf. F.
incorrigible
. See
In-
not, and
Corrigible
.]
Not corrigible; incapable of being corrected or amended; bad beyond correction; irreclaimable;
as,
incorrigible
error
.
“Incorrigible fools.”
Dryden.

In-cor′ri-gi-ble

,
Noun.
One who is incorrigible; a person whose persistent bad behavior cannot be changed; especially, a hardened criminal;
as, the perpetual imprisonment of
incorrigibles
;
incorrigible
and disruptive children need to be placed in a separate classroom
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Incorrigible

INCOR'RIGIBLE

,
Adj.
[L. corrigo; con and rego.]
1.
That cannot be corrected or amended; bad beyond correction; as incorrigible error.
2.
Too depraved to be corrected or reformed; as an incorrigible sinner; an incorrigible drunkard.

Definition 2024

incorrigible

incorrigible

English

Adjective

incorrigible ‎(not comparable)

  1. Defective and impossible to materially correct or set aright.
    The construction flaw is incorrigible; any attempt to amend it would cause a complete collapse.‎
  2. Incurably depraved; not reformable.
    His dark soul was too incorrigible to repent, even at his execution.‎
  3. Impervious to correction by punishment or pain.
    The imp is incorrigible: his bottom is still red from his last spanking when he plans the next prank.‎
  4. Unmanageable.
    • 2006 December 7, Michael White, “Breaking up is hard to do, even at the Treasury”, in The Guardian, London:
      Gordon Brown may have his grumpy, Granita moments, but as a strategist he is an incorrigible optimist.
  5. Determined, unalterable, hence impossible to improve upon.
    The laws of nature and mathematics are incorrigible.‎
  6. (archaic) Incurable.
    • 1859, The British Journal of Psychiatry, volume 6, page 312:
      It may appear as an epidemic, as a hereditary complaint, or as an obstinate and incorrigible disease again and again recurring.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Noun

incorrigible ‎(plural incorrigibles)

  1. An incorrigibly bad individual.
    The incorrigibles in the prison population are either lifers or habitual reoffenders.‎

Translations

French

Etymology

Recorded since 1334, from Old French incorrigible (1334), or directly from Latin incorrigibilis ‎(“not to be corrected”), from in- "not" + corrigere "to correct" + -ibilis "-able".

Adjective

incorrigible m, f ‎(plural incorrigibles)

  1. incorrigible

Noun

incorrigible m ‎(plural incorrigibles)

  1. An incorrigible

Old French

Adjective

incorrigible m ‎(oblique and nominative feminine singular incorrigible)

  1. unpunished
    • Pource que nous ne vouloiens mie que telz fais demourast incorrigibles […]
      Because we don't want such deeds to go unpunished

Descendants

References

Etymology

From Old French incorrigible (1334), or directly from Latin incorrigibilis ‎(“not to be corrected”), from in- ‎(“not”) + corrigere ‎(“to correct”) + -ibilis ‎(“-able”). Recorded since 1340.

Pronunciation

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