Inarticulate
/ɪn.ɑɹˈtɪk.jə.lət/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Moderate ·High school level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An animal belonging to the subphylum Inarticulata. obsolete
Adjective
- 1 Not articulated in normal words.
"Major Johnstone strove to speak, but the words died in an inarticulate gurgle low in his throat; and Evelyn had only time to start from his knee, and save the dying man from falling to the earth."
- 2 Speechless.
- 3 Unable to speak with any clarity.
- 4 Not having joints or other articulations.
Adjective
- 1 without or deprived of the use of speech or words wordnet
Example
More examples"She was in a panic and yelled something inarticulate."
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Latin inarticulatus and from in- + articulate. See -ate (adjective-forming suffix).
Etymology 2
From the substantivation of the above adjective through the associated taxon's name (Inarticulata). Used by contrast with Articulata.