Word of the Day - 02/14/26
interminable
/ɪn'tɜrmənəbəl/(adj.): tiresomely long; seemingly without end
The professor's lecture felt interminable, stretching on for what seemed like hours beyond the scheduled time.
Word Origin
The word 'interminable' originates from the Late Latin word 'interminabilis'. It is formed from three parts: 'in-' (a prefix meaning 'not' or 'un-'), 'terminare' (a verb meaning 'to limit' or 'to end'), and '-abilis' (a suffix meaning 'able to be'). Thus, 'interminable' literally means 'not able to be limited' or 'unable to be brought to an end'.
Many English words share a similar origin from the Latin root 'terminus' or the verb 'terminare'. Examples include 'terminate' (to bring to an end), 'terminal' (related to an end or boundary), 'terminus' (an end point), 'term' (a limited period or a boundary in a definition), and 'exterminate' (to destroy completely, effectively pushing something beyond its limits).