inimitable
adj/ɪnˈɪmɪtəbl̩/
Etymology Borrowed from Middle French inimitable, from Latin inimitabilis, corresponding to in- + imitable.
1
Beyond imitation, surpassing all others; matchless.
- Moreover, a perfect Medal has its Profile and out-ſtroaks ſharp (Nummus aſper) and by no means rugged; the Figures clean and well poliſh'd; the Contours neatly trimm'd, and exactly round and carefully preſerv'd; that the Extancy and Relievos correſpond with the Ingraving, and have not ſuffer'd in Percuſſion; in all which, there is a certain Spirit of Antiquity and Excellency to be diſcern'd in Antient Medals almoſt inimitable.1697, J[ohn] Evelyn, “Instructions How to Collect, and Procure such Medals as are Antique, and Rare; and to Distinguish the True from the False, for the Prevention of Frauds and Impostures”, in Numismata. A Discourse of Medals, Antient and Modern. […], London: […] Benj[amin] Tooke […], →OCLC, page 201:
- Sterling himself, though he had the most picturesque and inimitable vocabulary of vituperation, was highly squeamish about ordinary smut or profanity. He had indeed that nice-Nelliness which is often characteristic of the Don Juan type.1947, Miriam Allen deFord, “Laureate of Bohemia: George Sterlin”, in They Were San Franciscans, Caldwell, Idaho: The Caxton Printers, Ltd., page 306:
1 more example
- Let's see you pay for your drink in your own inimitable fashion, huh? A song, Denton! How about it?1959, “Mr. Denton on Doomsday” (1:34 from the start), in The Twilight Zone, season 1, episode 3, spoken by Dan Hotaling (Martin Landau):
- Synonyms
- incopiable, inimitable, uncopiable, unimitable
- Antonyms
- imitable
- Derived terms
- inimitability, inimitableness, inimitably
- Related terms
- illimitable