inarticulate
nounEtymology From the substantivation of the above adjective through the associated taxon's name (Inarticulata). Used by contrast with Articulata.
inarticulate
adjUS /ɪn.ɑɹˈtɪk.jə.lət/ · UK /ɪn.ɑːˈtɪk.jʊ.lət/
Etymology From Latin inarticulatus and from in- + articulate. See -ate (adjective-forming suffix).
1
Of speech 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.1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XXXIII, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume III, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 274:
- Pensak made an inarticulate shout of surprise, and O stepped away from the sudden precipice so hard that she collided with the back of the elevator, and yelped.2024 September 8, HarryBlank, “Next to Nothing”, in SCP Foundation, archived from the original on 05 Oct 2024:
2
Speechless.
3
Unable to speak with any clarity.
4
Biology, Natural sciences Not having joints or other articulations.
- Derived terms
- inarticulately, inarticulateness