Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
Definition: Ignoble |
IgnobleAdjective1. Completely lacking nobility in character or quality or purpose; "something cowardly and ignoble in his attitude"; "I think it a less evil that some criminals should escape than that the government should play an ignoble part"- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. 2. Not of the nobility; "of ignoble (or ungentle) birth"; "untitled civilians". Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. |
Date "ignoble" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1010. (references) |
Note: Ignoble \Ig*no"ble\, transitive verb. To make ignoble. [Obsolete]. (references) |
Synonyms: IgnobleSynonyms: ungentle (adj), untitled (adj). (additional references) |
| Antonym: noble (adj). (additional references) |
| Context | Synonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus). |
Commonalty | Verb: be ignoble; Adjective:, be nobody; n. |
Adjective: ignoble, common, mean, low, base, vile, sorry, scrubby, beggarly; below par; no great shakes; (unimportant); homely, homespun; vulgar, low-minded; snobbish. | |
Seclusion Exclusion | Among them but not of them ; " and homeless near a thousand homes I stood "; far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife; " makes a solitude and calls it peace "; magna civitas magna solitudo; " never less alone than when alone "; " O sacred solitude! divine retreat! ". |
| Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus. | |
Crosswords: Ignoble |
| English words defined with "ignoble": base, basely ♦ ignobleness ♦ mean, meanly, meanspirited ♦ Parvanimity ♦ scurvily ♦ ungentle, Unnoble, untitled. (references) |
| Specialty definitions using "ignoble": Abbey ♦ Handkerchief ♦ Misnomers. (references) |
| Non-English Usage: "Ignoble" is also a word in the following language with English translations in parentheses. French (base, blackguardly, cad, cheap, crummy, despicable, foul, ignoble, ignominious, infamous, low, low down, low-grade, paver, poisonous, rank, shameful, stinking). |
| Domain | Usage | |
Screenplays | Then you're an ignoble fellow (Lawrence of Arabia; writing credit: T.E. Lawrence; Robert Bolt) | |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | ||
| Domain | Title |
Books |
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Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| Author | Quotation |
John Milton | Thus Belial, with words clothed in reason's garb, counseled ignoble ease, and peaceful sloth, not peace. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | |
| Title | Author | Quote |
Les Miserables | Hugo, Victor | Javert, though hideous, was not ignoble. |
King Richard III | Shakespeare, William | Here is the head of that ignoble traitor, The dangerous and unsuspected Hastings |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| Subject | Topic | Quote |
Lexicography | Devil's Dictionary | HANDKERCHIEF, n. A small square of silk or linen, used in various ignoble offices about the face and especially serviceable at funerals to conceal the lack of tears. The handkerchief is of recent invention; our ancestors knew nothing of it and intrusted its duties to the sleeve. Shakespeare's introducing it into the play of "Othello" is an anachronism: Desdemona dried her nose with her skirt, as Dr. Mary Walker and other reformers have done with their coattails in our own day -- an evidence that revolutions sometimes go backward. |
Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits. | ||
| Speaker | Term | Phrase(s) |
James Madison | 1809-1817 | Instead of Leveling as far as possible, every obstacle to the victorious progress of Truth, the Bill with an ignoble and unchristian timidity would circumscribe it with a wall of defense against the encroachments of error. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| "Ignoble" is generally used as an adjective (general or positive) -- approximately 48.57% of the time. "Ignoble" is used about 35 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted) |
| Parts of Speech | Percent | Usage per 100 Million Words | Rank in English |
| Adjective (general or positive) | 48.57% | 17 | 85,106 |
| Noun (singular) | 45.71% | 16 | 87,710 |
| Lexical Verb (base form) | 5.71% | 2 | 245,945 |
| Total | 100.00% | 35 | N/A |
Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.
Expression using "ignoble": far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife. Additional references. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. |
| The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com. |
| Expression | Frequency per Day |
ignoble | 11 |
award ignoble | 2 |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| Language | Translations for "ignoble"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses. | |
Albanian | i ulët (base, contemptible, dark, deep, down, gentle, give away, humble, infamous, low, low down, low lying, lowly, mean, modest, nasty, nefarious, petty, primary, rascally, scrubby, scurvy, shoddy, subdued, vile, villainous, vulgar), i sërës se ulët, i poshtër (beggarly, blackguardly, caitiff, dastardly, dirt, infamous, mean, miscreant, nasty, nefarious, picayune, rammish, scoundrelly, scurvy, sneaking, sneaky), i përbuzshëm (contemptible, despicable, ignominious). (various references) | |
Arabic | منحط (base, decadent, degenerate, degraded, low, low down, low-grade, lowly, mean, vile), حقير (abject, base, beggarly, blackguardly, cheap, despicable, dingy, dirty, frowzy, grubby, inferior, insignificant, lousy, low, low down, lowly, mean, menial, niggling, paltry, pettifogger, petty, pip squeak, pitiable, pitiful, poor, popinjay, rotten, scabby, scaly, scoundrelly, scruffy, scummy, scurvy, servile, shabby, shoddy, slavish, slim, slushy, small minded, snide, sod, squalid, swine, tacky, trifling, ungracious, unworthy, varmint, vile, villainous, worthless, wretched), خسيس (abject, base, contemptible, dastardly, despicable, loon, lousy, low, lowly, mean, paltry, pooch, reptile, ruffian, scruffy, servile, shabby, shoddy, sleazy, small change, sordid, vile, villainous). (various references) | |
Bulgarian | низък (abject, base, contemptible, degraded, low down, low-minded, mangy, mean, mean-spirited, miscreant, paltry, scaly, scurvy, unworthy, vile, villainous, yellow), позорен (disgraceful, flagitious, ignominious, infamous, opprobrious, reproachful, scandalous, shameful), плебейски (plebeian, vulgar), долен (abject, base, bottom, contemptible, currish, ignominious, infamous, inferior, iniquitous, low, lower, low-grade, mangy, mean, mean-spirited, rascal, ratty, reptile, rotten, scaly, scurvy, shady, under, unworthy, vile, villainous). (various references) | |
Czech | podlý (base, contemptible, currish, lowdown, mean, shabby, sordid, ugly, villainous, wicked), nešlechetný, nízký (base, flat, impure, low, short, sordid, squalid, tawdry, villainous), hanebný (deplorable, discreditable, disgraceful, dishonorable, dishonourable, heinous, horrendous, ignominious, nasty, nefarious, scurvy, shameful, sordid, squalid, unspeakable, vile, villainous). (various references) | |
Farsi | فرومایه (Abject, Base, Brassy, Currish, Knave, Low, Vile), ناکس (Villain), ناجنس , نااصل , بدگوهر. (various references) | |
Finnish | katala (base, mean, vile), halpamainen (base, despicable, mean), halpakorkoinen (base, despicable, mean). (various references) | |
French | ignoble (ignominious). (various references) | |
German | unwürdig (degrading, shameful, undeserving, undeservingly, undignified, unworthily, unworthy), unehrenhaft (dishonorable, dishonourable, ignominious, inglorious), unedel (ignobly), schändlich (deplorable, disgraceful, disgracefully, disreputable, flagitious, flagitiously, harmful, harmfully, ignominious, infamous, infamously, nefarious, nefariously, opprobrious, rascally, scurvy, shameful, shamefully, shocking, villainously). (various references) | |
Greek | πρόστυχοσ (bitchy, caddish, cheap, coarse, common, hangdog, lawbred, lewd, low, lowdown, low-minded, mean, ornery, raffish, ratty, scurrilous, scurvy, shabby, shoddy, sordid, vile, vulgar), αγενήσ (caddish, coarse, discourteous, heel, impolite, indelicate, mannerless, rude, saucy, uncivil, uncourteous, underbred, ungracious, unladylike, unmannered, unmannerly). (various references) | |
Hungarian | alantas származású. (various references) | |
Italian | ignobile (base), vile (base, caitiff, cowardly, dastard, filthy, groveling, grovelling, low, mean, scurvy, sneaking, vile, worthless), basso (base, bass, bottom, low, low down, lower, Nether, shallow, short, small, superficial). (various references) | |
Manx | neuooasle (unexalted, ungentlemanly), meeooasle (undignified), anooasle (baseborn, humble, low born). (various references) | |
Norwegian | ussel, gemen. (various references) | |
Pig Latin | ignobleay.(various references) | |
Portuguese | ignbil, vil (base, caitiff, carrion, despicable, dirty, lily-livered, lousy, low-down, low-minded, mean, nasty, nefarious, paltry, picayune, rascally, reptile, rotten, scurrilous, scurvy, servile, slavish, sneaking, sordid, ugly, vile, villainous), plebeu (commoner, plebeian, vulgar, vulgarian), desprezvel, baixo (base, bass, bass voice, basso, caitiff, common, dumpy, dwarfish, hereinafter, hollow, lily-livered, low, low-down, lowered, mean, mediocre, menial, nether, obsequious, pygmean, raffish, rascally, reptile, scummy, scurrilous, scurvy, servile, short, slavish, small, sordid, superficial, vulgar, vulgarian). (various references) | |
Romanian | ruşinos (bashful, discreditable, disgraceful, disgracefully, infamous, infamously, inglorious, maidenlike, milky, nefarious, opprobrious, outrageous, scandalous, shameful, sheepish, shy, sky), de origine modestã (ignominious, of low birth), de jos (bottom, lowly, mean, Nether). (various references) | |
Russian | неблагородный (unhandsome), низкий (deep, dishonourable, give away, hangdog, infamous, keen, lousy, low, low down, lowly, mean, nefarious, picayune, poor, scummy, scurvy, short, stinkard, vile, wormy), подлый (base, dastardly, despicable, dirty, mean, meanspirited, mean-spirited, rascally, reprobate, reptile, scoundrelly, scummy, sneaking, vile, villainous, wormy). (various references) | |
Serbo-Croatian | prostački (chuffed, countrified, grossly, hillbilly, low down, low-lived, uncouth, villainous, vulgar), koji nije plemenit. (various references) | |
Spanish | innoble. (various references) | |
Swedish | tarvlig (cheap, common, frugal, low down, paltry, scurvy, seamy, shabby, vulgar), simpel (base, common, low, menial, plain, plebeian, simple, sordid, straightforward, vulgar), låg (base, brute, humble, lay, low, low-pitched, mean, nethermost). (various references) | |
Thai | ชั่วช้า. (various references) | |
Turkish | rezil (abject, contemptible, crud, dirty, dishonorable, dishonourable, disreputable, flagitious, flagrant, groveling, grovelling, ignominious, infamous, low down, outrageous, raffish, rascal, scandal, scandalous, scoundrel, shameful, sinner, stinking, sweep, vile, villainous), küçültücü (contemptuous, degrading, depreciatory, derogatory, detractive, humiliating, ignominious, pejorative), alçak (abandoned, abject, base, baseborn, blackguard, contemptible, cowardly, dastardly, heel, humble, lousy, low, low down, lowrise, misbegotten, nasty, nefarious, no good, rascally, ravisher, recreant, scoundrel, scoundrelly, short, sneak, sneaking, sneaky, sordid, squat, swab, swob, vile, villainous), aşağılayıcı (contemptuous, disparaging, humiliating, ignominious, insolent, insulting, opprobrious, pejorative, scornful), aşağılık (abject, base, baseness, contemptible, dirty, groveling, grovelling, ignominious, inferiority, low down, lowness, mean, no class, no good, pettiness, petty, rascally, reptilian, scabby, scurvy, slavish, snotty, sordid, tinpot, unutterable, unworthy, vile, wicked, wormy), aşağı tabakadan (low-born, of low birth). (various references) | |
Ukrainian | ганебний (detractive, disgraceful, dishonest, disreputable, ignominious, infamous, obloquious, opprobrious, reproachful, scandalous, shameful, stigmatic), низького походження (base-born), підлий (babylonian, base, base-born, beggarly, caddish, caitiff, cheap, dastard, dastardly, dishonorable, dishonourable, grimy, hangdog, hoggish, low down, mean-spirited, nefarious, niddering, picayune, rascal, reprobate, scabbed, scoundrel, scummy, scurvy, small, sneaking, sneaky, vile, yellow dog). (various references) | |
Vietnamese | ti tiện ô nhục, ở địa vị thấp hèn, đê tiện (abject, contemptible, hangdog, ignominious, lousily, plebeian, scabbily, scabby, scaly, scurvy, servile, shabby, small). (various references) | |
Welsh | anfonheddig (discourteous), anenwog (mean, unrenowned). (various references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various translation references. | ||
| Language | Period | Translations |
| Latin | 500 BCE-Modern | ignobiles, ignobilia, ignobiliora, ignobilis, ignobilium, ignotus. (various references) |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
Derivations | |
Words beginning with "ignoble": ignobleness, ignoblenesses. (additional references) | |
| |
"Ignoble" is suggested in spellcheckers for the following: gnoble, ignable, ignobel, inoble. (additional references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references). | |
| # of Phoneme Matches | Pronunciation | Word(s) rhyming with "ignoble" (pronounced ignō"bul) |
| 5 | -n ō" b u l | ennoble, noble. |
| 4 | -ō" b u l | coble, global, immobile, mobile, Roble. |
| 3 | -b u l | incurable, indefatigable, indefensible, indefinable, indelible, indescribable, indestructible, indispensable, indisputable, indistinguishable, indivisible, indomitable, inedible, ineffable, ineligible, inequitable, inescapable, inevitable, inexcusable, inexhaustible, inexorable, inexplicable, infallible, infeasible, inflammable, inflatable, acceptable, accessible, able, abominable, accountable, achievable, actionable, adaptable, addressable, adjustable, admirable, admissible, adoptable, adorable, advisable, affable, affordable, agreeable, allowable, amble, amenable, amendable, amiable, amicable, analyzable, answerable, appealable, applicable, appreciable, approachable, approvable, arable, arguable, assemble, attainable, attributable, audible, available, avoidable, babble, Babel, bankable, bauble, bearable, believable, bible, billable, biodegradable, bramble, breakable, bubble, buildable, Bumble, burnable, cable, callable, cannibal, capable, changeable, chargeable, charitable, classifiable, cobble, collapsible, collectible, Combinable, comfortable, commendable, communicable, comparable, compatible, compensable, comprehensible, conceivable, confirmable, considerable, constable, consumable, contemptible, contestable, controllable, convertible, copyrightable, corbel, countable, credible, creditable, crucible, crumble, culpable, curable, cymbal, dabble, debatable, deductible, defensible, definable, degradable, delectable, deliverable, demonstrable, dependable, deplorable, deployable, depreciable, describable, desirable, despicable, detachable, detectable, determinable, developable, Dibble, digestible, disable, disagreeable, disassemble, discernible, discountable, discoverable, dishonorable, dispensable, disposable, disreputable, dissemble, distinguishable, divisible, doable, double, Drabble, dribble, drinkable, drivable, durable, eatable, edible, electable, eligible, Embraceable, employable, enable, enfeeble, enforceable, enjoyable, ensemble, enviable, equable, equitable, erasable, erodible, estimable, exchangeable, excitable, excludable, excusable, execrable, exercisable, expandable, expendable, explainable, exportable, extendable, extendible, fable, fallible, fashionable, fathomable, favorable, feasible, feeble, fissionable, fixable, flammable, flexible, foible, forcible, foreseeable, forfeitable, forgettable, forgivable, formidable, fumble, fungible, fusible, gable, gamble, Garble, gobble, Gribble, grumble, gullible, habitable, hardscrabble, harvestable, herbal, heritable, hobble, hon, honorable, horrible, hospitable, humble, identifiable, illegible, imaginable, imitable, immeasurable, immiscible, immovable, immutable, impassable, impeachable, impeccable, impenetrable, imperceptible, impermissible, implacable, implantable, implausible, imponderable, impossible, impracticable, impregnable, impressionable, improbable, inaccessible, inadmissible, inadvisable, inalienable, inapplicable, inaudible, incalculable, incapable, incomparable, incompatible, incomprehensible, incompressible, inconceivable, incontrovertible, incorrigible, incredible, soluble, solvable, spendable, squabble, Stabile, stable, stubble, stumble, submersible, suggestible, suitable, supportable, survivable, susceptible, sustainable, syllable, symbol, table, talkable, tangible, taxable, teachable, tenable, terrible, inflexible, inheritable, inhospitable, inimitable, injectable, innumerable, inoperable, insatiable, inscrutable, inseparable, insoluble, insufferable, insupportable, insurmountable, intangible, intelligible, interchangeable, interminable, interruptible, intertribal, intolerable, intractable, invaluable, investable, invincible, inviolable, invisible, invulnerable, irascible, irreconcilable, irrefutable, irremediable, irreparable, irreplaceable, irrepressible, irresistible, irresponsible, irreversible, irrevocable, irritable, issuable, jumble, justifiable, kibble, knowledgeable, label, lamentable, laudable, laughable, leasable, legible, liable, libel, likable, likeable, livable, lovable, malleable, manageable, mandible, maneuverable, marble, marketable, measurable, memorable, microwavable, miscible, miserable, mislabel, moldable, movable, mumble, navigable, negligible, negotiable, nibble, nimble, noncallable, nonconvertible, nondeductible, nondurable, nonrefundable, nonrenewable, nontaxable, nontransferable, nonverbal, notable, noticeable, objectionable, observable, obtainable, operable, ostensible, palatable, palpable, parable, passable, patentable, payable, peaceable, pebble, perceptible, perishable, permeable, permissible, personable, persuadable, pitiable, plausible, pleasurable, pliable, portable, possible, potable, practicable, preamble, predictable, preferable, presentable, preventable, printable, probable, profitable, programmable, prosecutable, provable, psychobabble, punishable, questionable, quibble, quotable, rabble, ramble, reachable, readable, realizable, reasonable, reassemble, rebel, receivable, rechargeable, recognizable, recordable, recoverable, recyclable, redeemable, redouble, redoubtable, reducible, refundable, regrettable, relabel, reliable, remarkable, removable, renewable, rentable, repairable, repayable, repeatable, replaceable, reportable, reprehensible, reputable, resealable, resemble, resettable, respectable, responsible, retractable, returnable, reusable, reversible, revocable, ridable, rouble, roundtable, rubble, Ruble, rumble, sable, salable, saleable, salvageable, Scrabble, scramble, scribble, seasonable, sensible, serviceable, shamble, Sibyl, sizable, sizeable, sociable, thimble, timetable, tolerable, traceable, tractable, tradable, tradeable, trainable, transferable, transferrable, transmittable, transportable, treatable, treble, tremble, tribal, trouble, tubal, tumble, tunable, turntable, typeable, umbel, unable, unacceptable, unaccountable, unaffordable, unalienable, unalterable, unanswerable, unassailable, unattainable, unavailable, unavoidable, unbearable, unbeatable, unbelievable, unbuildable, uncollectible, uncomfortable, unconscionable, uncontrollable, undeniable, understandable, undesirable, undetectable, unelectable, unemployable, unenforceable, unenviable, unexplainable, unfashionable, unfathomable, unfavorable, unfeasible, unflappable, unforeseeable, unforgettable, unforgivable, ungovernable, unimaginable, unimpeachable, uninhabitable, uninsurable, unintelligible, unjustifiable, unknowable, unlivable, unmanageable, unmentionable, unmistakable, unobtainable, unpalatable, unpredictable, unprintable, unprofitable, unquestionable, unreachable, unreadable, unreasonable, unrecognizable, unreliable, unremarkable, unsalable, unscramble, unserviceable, unshakable, unsinkable, unsolvable, unspeakable, unstable, unstoppable, unsuitable, unsupportable, unsustainable, untenable, unthinkable, untouchable, untraceable, unusable, unverifiable, unwinnable, unworkable, usable, valuable, variable, vegetable, venerable, verbal, verifiable, veritable, viable, visible, voluble, vulnerable, wamble, washable, wearable, winnable, wobble, workable. |
Source: compiled by the editor (additional references); see credits. | ||
Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams | |
| Words within the letters "b-e-g-i-l-n-o" | |
-1 letter: belong, biogen, eloign, globin, goblin, legion, oblige. | |
-2 letters: begin, being, bilge, binge, bingo, bogie, bogle, boing, eloin, globe, ingle, lingo, longe, noble, obeli, olein. | |
-3 letters: bile, bine, blin, boil, bole, bone, bong, ebon, enol, gibe, gien, glen, glib, glob, gone, leno, lien, line, ling, lino, lion, lobe, loge, loin, lone, long, noel, noil. | |
| Words containing the letters "b-e-g-i-l-n-o" | |
+1 letter: boweling, elbowing. | |
+2 letters: befooling, befouling, beholding, behowling, bellowing, belonging, bowelling, corbeling, englobing, ennobling, ignorable, obelising, obelizing, reboiling. | |
+3 letters: beblooding, becloaking, beclogging, beclothing, beclouding, beclowning, becomingly, beglooming, belaboring, belongings, bolstering, clobbering, cognizable, corbelings, corbelling, emboweling, embroiling, euglobulin, hemoglobin, lobstering, negotiable, neighborly, obsoleting, preboiling, reblooming, rebottling, redoubling, slobbering, zabaglione. | |
+4 letters: amblygonite, beclamoring, beflowering, beglamoring, belabouring, beliquoring, bioregional, bludgeoning, bobsledding, bookselling, bootlegging, cognoscible, consignable, diagnosable, disboweling, elaborating, emblazoning, emboldening, embowelling, euglobulins, furbelowing, hemoglobins, ignobleness, imboldening, lingonberry, lobsterings, observingly, obsolescing, organizable, outbleating, outblessing, overbilling, overblowing, overboiling, subregional, unignorable, zabagliones. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. | |
| 1. Definition 2. Synonyms 3. Crosswords 4. Usage: Modern | 5. Usage: Commercial 6. Quotations: Familiar 7. Quotations: Fiction 8. Quotations: Non-fiction | 9. Quotations: Speeches 10. Usage Frequency 11. Expressions 12. Expressions: Internet | 13. Translations: Modern 14. Translations: Ancient 15. Derivations 16. Rhymes | 17. Anagrams 18. Bibliography |
Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
