Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Defying imitation; matchless.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Not imitable; incapable of being imitated or copied; surpassing imitation.
  • Synonyms Matchless, peerless.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Not capable of being imitated, copied, or counterfeited; beyond imitation; surpassingly excellent; matchless; unrivaled; exceptional; unique

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective beyond imitation, surpassing all others, matchless

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective defying imitation; matchless

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English, from Latin inimitābilis : in-, not; see in– + imitābilis, imitable (from imitārī, to imitate; see aim- in Indo-European roots).]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Latin inimitabilis, corresponding to in- +‎ imitable.

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Examples

  • And now to particularize a little, as to such divine characters which are conspicuous in it, and which I call inimitable, that could have proceeded from none but a divine Author.

    The Whole Works of the Rev. John Howe, M.A. with a Memoir of the Author. Vol. VI. 1630-1705 1822

  • JC: I suppose "inimitable" is a fair description of the kind of the associative and improvisational style of teaching and writing that I tend to do.

    Site Three: Use, Pedagogy, and Addiction. 2002

  • All in inimitable, indigenous French avant-garde fashion.

    'NiqaBitch' unveil themselves in Paris Nesrine Malik 2010

  • It possesses a certain inimitable quality, the combination of unique elements that make it impossible to reproduce exactly.

    Boing Boing 2006

  • God takes up the argument begun by Elihu (who came nearest to the truth) and prosecutes it in inimitable words, excelling his, and all other men's, in the loftiness of the style, as much as thunder does a whisper.

    Commentary on the Whole Bible Volume III (Job to Song of Solomon) 1721

  • Gaffney has engineered a thrilling Brooklyn Bridge of a novel, at once old-fashioned and utterly modern, grand and charming, elegant and massive, imposing and delightful, carrying us in inimitable style across the rich, rank waters of New York City’s history.

    Metropolis: Summary and book reviews of Metropolis by Elizabeth Gaffney. 2005

  • There is a an exquisite, unweathered quality to a well-trained childrens' chorus that is inimitable, which is probably why so much church music has been written for their perfect soprano voices over the centuries.

    Inauguration Day in Civic Center sfmike 2009

  • There is a an exquisite, unweathered quality to a well-trained childrens' chorus that is inimitable, which is probably why so much church music has been written for their perfect soprano voices over the centuries.

    Archive 2009-01-01 sfmike 2009

  • As the guide pointed out the dens for the wild beasts -- the passages through which they came -- and the arena for the combat -- Sir Henry, like most British travellers, recalled the inimitable story of Thraso, and his lion fight.

    A Love Story A Bushman

  • Every supreme writer has his own style, inalienable and inimitable, which is as much a part of him as his own soul, the look in his eyes, or his tones of voice.

    Platform Monologues 1902

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