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intangible

in·tan·gi·ble

intangible

 
pronunciation:
ihn taen j bl
parts of speech:
adjective, noun
features:
Word Combinations (adjective), Word Parts
part of speech: adjective
definition 1: incapable of being sensed by touch; not tangible.
Freedom, respect, and responsibility are all intangible things.
antonyms:
concrete, material, tangible
definition 2: incapable of being defined or quantified.
These differences may be intangible, but they can be strongly felt by most people.
antonyms:
tangible
Word Combinations  About this feature
adverb + (adj.)intangible both, entirely, seemingly, somehow
(adj.)intangible + adverb nevertheless, nonetheless
(adj.)intangible + noun advantage, aspect, asset, benefit, commodity, connection, cost, element, essence, factor, form, gift, goodwill, heritage, identity, investment, leadership, link, loss, nature, net, ownership, property, quality, resource, reward, spirit, value, works  [See all][See only the most frequent]
 
part of speech: noun
definition: something such as an asset that represents value without having intrinsic value.
derivations: intangibly (adv.), intangibility (n.), intangibleness (n.)
Word Parts  About this feature
The word intangible contains the following parts:
in-2 Latin prefix that means not, without
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The prefix in-2 occurs in Latin loanwords and attaches to Latinate bases. The bases of most words prefixed with in-2 are independent adjectives (inadvertent , incognizant ), although the base adjective may no longer be in widespread use (as with incessant ). Exceptions include iniquitous and indignant . -in2 has multiple forms, as the 'n' sound in in-2 assimilates to the initial sound of the base to which it is attached. See the assimilated forms ig-, il-2, im-2, and ir-2.
tact, tang, ting, tig Latin root that means touch
-able, -ible, -ble Latin adjective-forming suffix that means capable of being, doing, or undergoing
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The suffix -able , and its variants, is attached to Latin verb roots or English transitive verbs to form adjectives. (In a small set of cases, -able is attached to a noun, e.g. knowledgeable and marriageable.) For spelling purposes, it is useful to know that -able is more likely to be added to a whole English word (comparable , adorable ), while -ible is more likely to follow a bound root (visible , legible ). However,there are still many words which combine a root with -able (capable , inevitable ). The suffix -ity can be added to any adjective ending in -able , -ible , -ble to produce a corresponding noun ending in -ability, -ibility, -bility (possible + -ity > possibility; irrevocable + -ity > irrevocability.)
Show wordsHide wordsExample words:
acceptable, accessible, admissible, adorable, amiable, amicable, audible, avoidable, believable, bearable, biodegradable, capable, calculable, cognizable, comparable, compatible, comprehensible, conformable, conversable, convertible, corrigible, credible, creditable, curable, dependable, despicable, disagreeable, disposable, divisible, eligible, explicable, flammable, flexible, illegible, illimitable, imaginable, immiscible, immovable, immutable, impalpable, impassable, impeccable, impermeable, impermissible, imperturbable, implacable, implausible, imponderable, impossible, impregnable, inalienable, inaudible, incapable, incalculable, incommunicable, incomprehensible, inconceivable, detectable, conceivable, incorrigible, incredible, incurable, indefeasible, indelible, indescribable, indestructible, indivisible, indomitable, ineligible, ineluctable, ineradicable, inescapable, inevitable, inexorable, inexpiable, inexplicable, infallible, inhospitable, inimitable, inscrutable, inseparable, insuperable, intangible, interminable, intractable, invaluable, invariable, invincible, invisible, irrefragable, irrefutable, irremissible, irreparable, irreversible, irrevocable, legible, likable, lovable, manageable, measurable, movable, navigable, notable, opposable, palpable, perishable, permissible, placable, portable, possible, potable, predictable, preferable, prescriptible, recognizable, remissible, reprehensible, reversible, risible, semipermeable, sensible, superable, susceptible, tangible, tenable, tolerable, tractable, transmissible, unsupportable, usable, viable, visible, washable, affordable, allowable, reliable, remarkable, approachable, disputable, drinkable, durable, eatable, renewable, sustainable, unshakable