inalienable
adjUK /ɪˈneɪ.lɪ.ə.nə.bəl/ · US /ɪˈneɪ.li.ə.nə.bəl/
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.
1 more example
- "Know thy own worth, and reverence the lyre," is a line that should be as a fillet bound round the brow—a philactory embroidered on the garments of every son and daughter of Adam distinguished by the possession of that sacred gift, which, whether used or abused, applauded in itself or derided in its possessor, is the highest and the most inalienable distinction humanity ever has or ever can be gifted with, whether bestowed on the highest or the humblest being, in the great mass to which we all belong.1838 (date written), L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XX, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], published 1842, →OCLC, page 252:
2
Grammar, Human sciences, Linguistics, Sciences 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).
- Derived terms
- inalienableness, inalienably
- Related terms
- unalienated