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ignoble

[ ig-noh-buhl ]
/ ɪgˈnoʊ bəl /
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adjective
of low character, aims, etc.; mean; base: his ignoble purposes.
of low grade or quality; inferior.
not noble; of humble descent or rank.
Falconry. noting any hawk with short wings that chases or rakes after the quarry.
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Origin of ignoble

1400–50; late Middle English <Latin ignōbilis unknown, inglorious, equivalent to in-in-3 + OL gnōbilis (Latin nōbilis) noble

OTHER WORDS FROM ignoble

ig·no·bil·i·ty, ig·no·ble·ness, nounig·no·bly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use ignoble in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for ignoble

ignoble
/ (ɪɡˈnəʊbəl) /

adjective
dishonourable; base; despicable
of low birth or origins; humble; common
of low quality; inferior
falconry
  1. designating short-winged hawks that capture their quarry by swiftness and adroitness of flightCompare noble (def. 7)
  2. designating quarry which is inferior or unworthy of pursuit by a particular species of hawk or falcon

Derived forms of ignoble

ignobility or ignobleness, nounignobly, adverb

Word Origin for ignoble

C16: from Latin ignōbilis, from in- 1 + Old Latin gnōbilis noble
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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