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inalienable

adjective

No English definition recorded for this entry.

L337578 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ɪˈneɪ.lɪ.ə.nə.bəl/ / /ɪˈneɪ.li.ə.nə.bəl/

adj

Etymology: Borrowed around 1645 from French inaliénable, from in- + aliénable (“alienable”), equivalent to in- + alienable.

  1. Not subject to being alienated, that is, surrendered, taken away, or transferred to another.

    Near-synonyms: indelible, unsurrenderable, permanent

    An inalienable right is a right that cannot be given away nor taken away.

  2. Of or pertaining to a noun belonging to a special class in which the possessive construction differs from the norm, especially for particular familial relationships and body parts, regarding permanence.

    Just as some languages have a "be" for permanent states (which are essential) and a different "be" for temporary states (which are incidental), some languages have a "have" for unchangeable possession (which is inalienable) and a different "have" for changeable possession (which is alienable).