infallible
See also: infal·lible
English
WOTD – 4 March 2010
Etymology
From Medieval Latin infallibilis, from Latin in- + fallibilis. Compare French infaillible.
Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA(key): /ɪnˈfa.lɪ.b(ə)l/
- (US) IPA(key): /ɪnˈfæ.lə.bəl/
Audio (US) (file) Audio (AU) (file)
Adjective
infallible (comparative more infallible, superlative most infallible)
- Without fault or weakness; incapable of error or fallacy.
- He knows about many things, but even he is not infallible.
- Certain to produce the intended effect, sure.
- Try this infallible cure for hiccups.
- 1818, Mary Shelley, chapter 4, in Frankenstein:
- I see by your eagerness and the wonder and hope which your eyes express, my friend, that you expect to be informed of the secret with which I am acquainted; that cannot be; listen patiently until the end of my story, and you will easily perceive why I am reserved upon that subject. I will not lead you on, unguarded and ardent as I then was, to your destruction and infallible misery.
-
Synonyms
- faultless
- perfect
- indefective
Antonyms
- fallible
- defective
- faultful
- faulty
- imperfect
- error-prone
Related terms
- infallibility
- infallibly
Translations
without fault or weakness; incapable of error or fallacy
|
|