Unknowable

Definition: Unknowable

Unknowable

Adjective

1. Beyond and outside the ordinary range of human experience or understanding; "philosophers...often explicitly reject the notion of any transcendent reality beyond thought...and claim to be concerned only with thought itself..."- W.P.Alston; "the unknowable mysteries of lifer".

Date "unknowable" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1790. (references)

Synonym: Unknowable

Synonym: transcendent (adj). (additional references)

Context	Synonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus).
Inexpectation	Unpredictable, unforeseeable (unknowable).
Uncertainty	Unpredictable, unforeseeable (unknowable).
Unintelligibility	Adjective: unintelligible, unaccountable, undecipherable, undiscoverable, unknowable, unfathomable; incognizable, inexplicable, inscrutable; inapprehensible, incomprehensible; insolvable, insoluble; impenetrable.
Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus.

Crosswords: Unknowable

English words defined with "unknowable": transcendent. (references)

Specialty definitions using "unknowable": religion. (references)

Domain	Title
Books	Knowing God: Jewish Journeys to the Unknowable (reference) Rethinking the Fifth Discipline: Learning Within the Unknowable (reference) The Unknowable Gurdjieff (reference) Why Am I Grown So Cold?: Poems of the Unknowable (reference) (more book examples)
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Author	Quotation
Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe	The highest happiness of man is to have probed what is knowable and quietly to revere what is unknowable.
Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Subject	Topic	Quote
Lexicography	Devil's Dictionary	RELIGION, n. A daughter of Hope and Fear, explaining to Ignorance the nature of the Unknowable. "What is your religion my son?" inquired the Archbishop of Rheims. "Pardon, monseigneur," replied Rochebriant; "I am ashamed of it." "Then why do you not become an atheist?" "Impossible! I should be ashamed of atheism." "In that case, monsieur, you should join the Protestants."
Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits.

Speaker	Phrase(s)
Dennis Miller	You're a zealot if you can't see the blinding irony inherent in using force to convince other people that your belief about the unknowable is more accurate than their belief in the unknowable.
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

"Unknowable" is generally used as an adjective (general or positive) -- approximately 100.00% of the time. "Unknowable" is used about 53 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)	100%	53	46,657

Expressions using "unknowable": the unknowable ♦ unforeseeable unknowable. Additional references.
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Language		Translations for "unknowable"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses.
Albanian		i paqartë (abstract, dark, dim, doubtful, dubious, dusky, evasive, inarticulate, indefinite, indeterminate, indistinct, muddy, nebulous, obscure, out of focus, recondite, shadowy, uncertain, unclear, undistinguishable, undistinguished, unreadable, vague), i pakuptueshëm (abstruse, elusive, fathomless, illegible, impalpable, impenetrable, inapprehensible, incomprehensible, intangible, obscure, thick, unattainable, unclear, unintelligible, unmeaning, unsearchable). (various references)

Arabic		‏لا سبيل لمعرفته. (various references)

Bulgarian		непознаваем (incognizable, irreconcilable). (various references)

Farsi		ماوراتجربیات انسانی (Unknowing), ندانستی (Unknowing), غیرقابل ادراک وفهم (Unknowing), جاهل (Ignoramus, Uninformed, Unknowing, Unwise), بی اطلاع (Uninformed, Unknowing, Unwitting). (various references)

French		inconnaissable. (various references)

German		unwissend (ignorant, ignorantly, inexperienced, unillumined, uninformed, unknowing, unsuspecting). (various references)

Hungarian		megismerhetetlen. (various references)

Italian		ignorante (abecedarian, addled, clodhopper, dunce, foolish, ignoramus, ignorant, ill-informed, illiterate, impolite, nescient, rude, stupid, uneducated, unillumined, uninformed). (various references)

Japanese Kanji		不可知 (mysterious). (various references)

Japanese Katakana		ふかち (mysterious). (various references)

Pig Latin		owableunknay

Portuguese		irreconhecível (irrecognizable, unrecognizable), incognoscível. (various references)

Romanian		incognoscibil. (various references)

Russian		непостижимый (fathomless, hairy, inapprehensible, incomprehensible, inconceivable, inknowable, inscrutable, intangible, mysterious, numinous, unapproachable, unsearchable), непознаваемый (incognizable). (various references)

Serbo-Croatian		nedoznatljiv. (various references)

Spanish		desconocido (all-time, confidential, fameless, inglorious, new-come, newcomer, outsider, strange, stranger, unbeknown, unbeknownst, unfamiliar, unidentified, unknown, unnamed). (various references)

Turkmen		nдbileяin. (various references)

Ukrainian		незбагненний (baffling, bottomless, fathomless, inapprehensible, incomprehensible, mysterious, unapproachable, unsearchable). (various references)

Vietnamese		không thể biết được không thể nhận thức được. (various references)
Source: compiled by the editor from various translation references.

Language	Period	Translations
Greek	700 BCE-300 CE	agnostos. (various references)
Latin	500 BCE-Modern	inscrutabile, inscrutabilia. (various references)
Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

# of Phoneme Matches	Pronunciation	Word(s) rhyming with "unknowable" (pronounced unnō"ubul)
4	-u b u l	abominable, acceptable, accessible, accountable, achievable, actionable, adaptable, addressable, adjustable, admirable, admissible, adoptable, adorable, advisable, affable, affordable, agreeable, allowable, amenable, amendable, amiable, amicable, analyzable, answerable, appealable, applicable, appreciable, approachable, approvable, arable, arguable, attainable, attributable, audible, available, avoidable, bankable, bearable, believable, billable, biodegradable, breakable, buildable, burnable, callable, cannibal, capable, changeable, chargeable, charitable, classifiable, collapsible, collectible, Combinable, comfortable, commendable, communicable, comparable, compatible, compensable, comprehensible, conceivable, confirmable, considerable, constable, consumable, contemptible, contestable, controllable, convertible, copyrightable, countable, credible, creditable, crucible, culpable, curable, debatable, deductible, defensible, definable, degradable, delectable, deliverable, demonstrable, dependable, deplorable, deployable, depreciable, describable, desirable, despicable, detachable, detectable, determinable, developable, digestible, disagreeable, discernible, discountable, discoverable, dishonorable, dispensable, disposable, disreputable, distinguishable, divisible, doable, drinkable, drivable, durable, eatable, edible, electable, eligible, Embraceable, employable, enforceable, enjoyable, enviable, equable, equitable, erasable, erodible, estimable, exchangeable, excitable, excludable, excusable, execrable, exercisable, expandable, expendable, explainable, exportable, extendable, extendible, fallible, fashionable, fathomable, favorable, feasible, fissionable, fixable, flammable, flexible, forcible, foreseeable, forfeitable, forgettable, forgivable, formidable, fungible, fusible, gullible, habitable, harvestable, heritable, hon, honorable, horrible, hospitable, identifiable, illegible, imaginable, imitable, 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, 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, inflexible, inheritable, inhospitable, inimitable, injectable, innumerable, inoperable, insatiable, inscrutable, inseparable, insoluble, insufferable, insupportable, insurmountable, intangible, intelligible, interchangeable, interminable, interruptible, intolerable, intractable, invaluable, investable, invincible, inviolable, invisible, invulnerable, irascible, irreconcilable, irrefutable, irremediable, irreparable, irreplaceable, irrepressible, irresistible, irresponsible, irreversible, irrevocable, irritable, issuable, justifiable, knowledgeable, lamentable, laudable, laughable, leasable, legible, liable, likable, likeable, livable, lovable, malleable, manageable, mandible, maneuverable, marketable, measurable, memorable, microwavable, miscible, miserable, moldable, movable, navigable, negligible, negotiable, noncallable, nonconvertible, nondeductible, nondurable, nonrefundable, nonrenewable, nontaxable, nontransferable, notable, noticeable, objectionable, observable, obtainable, operable, ostensible, palatable, palpable, parable, passable, patentable, payable, peaceable, perceptible, perishable, permeable, permissible, personable, persuadable, pitiable, plausible, pleasurable, pliable, portable, possible, potable, practicable, predictable, preferable, presentable, preventable, printable, probable, profitable, programmable, prosecutable, provable, punishable, questionable, quotable, reachable, readable, realizable, reasonable, receivable, rechargeable, recognizable, recordable, recoverable, recyclable, redeemable, redoubtable, reducible, refundable, regrettable, reliable, remarkable, removable, renewable, rentable, repairable, repayable, repeatable, replaceable, reportable, reprehensible, reputable, resealable, resettable, respectable, responsible, retractable, returnable, reusable, reversible, revocable, ridable, salable, saleable, salvageable, seasonable, sensible, serviceable, sizable, sizeable, sociable, soluble, solvable, spendable, submersible, suggestible, suitable, supportable, survivable, susceptible, sustainable, syllable, talkable, tangible, taxable, teachable, tenable, terrible, tolerable, traceable, tractable, tradable, tradeable, trainable, transferable, transferrable, transmittable, transportable, treatable, tunable, typeable, 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, unlivable, unmanageable, unmentionable, unmistakable, unobtainable, unpalatable, unpredictable, unprintable, unprofitable, unquestionable, unreachable, unreadable, unreasonable, unrecognizable, unreliable, unremarkable, unsalable, unshakable, unsinkable, unsolvable, unspeakable, unstoppable, unsuitable, unsupportable, unsustainable, untenable, unthinkable, untouchable, untraceable, unusable, unverifiable, unwinnable, unworkable, usable, variable, vegetable, venerable, verifiable, veritable, viable, visible, voluble, vulnerable, washable, wearable, winnable, workable.
3	-b u l	able, amble, assemble, babble, Babel, bauble, bible, bramble, bubble, Bumble, cable, cobble, coble, corbel, crumble, cymbal, dabble, Dibble, disable, disassemble, dissemble, double, Drabble, dribble, enable, enfeeble, ennoble, ensemble, fable, feeble, foible, fumble, gable, gamble, Garble, global, gobble, Gribble, grumble, hardscrabble, herbal, hobble, humble, ignoble, immeasurable, immobile, intertribal, jumble, kibble, label, libel, marble, mislabel, mobile, mumble, nibble, nimble, noble, nonverbal, pebble, preamble, psychobabble, quibble, rabble, ramble, reassemble, rebel, redouble, relabel, resemble, Roble, rouble, roundtable, rubble, Ruble, rumble, sable, Scrabble, scramble, scribble, shamble, Sibyl, squabble, Stabile, stable, stubble, stumble, symbol, table, thimble, timetable, treble, tremble, tribal, trouble, tubal, tumble, turntable, umbel, unable, unscramble, unserviceable, unstable, valuable, verbal, wamble, wobble.
Source: compiled by the editor (additional references); see credits.

Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams
	Words within the letters "a-b-e-k-l-n-n-o-u-w"
	-2 letters: knowable.
	-3 letters: ownable.
	-4 letters: awoken, knawel, leukon, nebula, nounal, unable.
	-5 letters: alone, ankle, annul, anole, awoke, baulk, beano, below, blank, blawn, bleak, bloke, blown, bonne, boule, bowel, bunko, elbow, known, noble, oaken, ulnae, unban, unwon, waken, woken.
	Words containing the letters "a-b-e-k-l-n-n-o-u-w"
	+5 letters: unknowabilities, unknowledgeable.
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.