impassable

adj

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Italic *n̥- Latin in-bor. Middle English in- English im- Proto-Indo-European *peth₂-der. Proto-Italic *pattus Vulgar Latin passus Proto-Italic *-āzi ▲ Vulgar Latin -ereinflu. Vulgar Latin -āre Vulgar Latin *passāre Old French passerbor. Middle English passen English pass Proto-Indo-European *-tḗr Proto-Indo-European *-dʰlom Proto-Indo-European *-dʰlis Proto-Italic *-ðlis Latin -bilis Latin -ābilis Old French -ablebor. Middle English -able English -able English impassable From im- + pass + -able.

1. Incapable of being passed over, crossed, or negotiated.

   “At the same time, the encroachment of vegetation proceeds apace, and broom and brambles have already made portions of the line impassable, even on foot.”

   “[...] at Cowley Bridge Junction, east of Exeter, both lines were impassable from about 1.30 p.m.—the first flooding of the junction for 36 years—and by the evening the water had risen two-thirds of the way up the platforms at St. Davids as Exeter faced its worst flooding for 60 years.”

2. Incapable of being overcome or surmounted.
3. Not usable as legal tender.