illegible etymology

Etymology

The word "illegible" comes from the Latin word "illegibilis," which means "not legible" or "unreadable." It is derived from the prefix "in-" (meaning "not") and the verb "legere" (meaning "to read").

Meaning

Illegible means difficult or impossible to read, decipher, or understand. It can be used to describe writing, symbols, or any other form of communication that is hard to make sense of.

Origin

The word "illegible" first appeared in English in the late 15th century. It was used to describe writing that was difficult to read because of its faded ink, poor penmanship, or unfamiliar language. In the centuries since, the meaning of "illegible" has expanded to include any form of communication that is hard to understand.

Synonyms

  • Unreadable
  • Indecipherable
  • Incomprehensible
  • Garbled
  • Cryptic
  • Enigmatic

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