indivisible
nounEtymology PIE word *dwóh₁ From Middle French indivisible, from Late Latin indivisibilis. Equivalent to in- + divisible.
1
That which cannot be divided or split.
- By atom, nobody will imagine we intend to express a perfect indivisible, but only the least sort of natural bodies.1644, Kenelme [i.e., Kenelm] Digby, Two Treatises. In the One of which, the Nature of Bodies; in the Other, the Nature of Mans Soule; is Looked into: In Way of Discovery, of the Immortality of Reasonable Soules, Paris: […] Gilles Blaizot, →OCLC:
- The compoſition of Bodies, whether it be of Diviſibles or Indiviſibles, is a queſtion which must be rank'd with the Indiſſolvibles: For though it hath been attempted by the moſt illuſtrious Wits of all Philoſophick Ages; yet they have done little elſe, but ſhewn their own diviſions to be almoſt as infinite, as ſome ſuppoſe thoſe of their Subject.1661, Joseph Glanvill, chapter V, in The Vanity of Dogmatizing: Or Confidence in Opinions. […], London: […] E. C[otes] for Henry Eversden […], →OCLC, page 53:
2
Geometry, Mathematics, Sciences An infinitely small quantity which is assumed to admit of no further division.
- Derived terms
- method of indivisibles