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inviolable

[in-vahy-uh-luh-buh l]
adjective
  1. prohibiting violation; secure from destruction, violence, infringement, or desecration: an inviolable sanctuary; an inviolable promise.
  2. incapable of being violated; incorruptible; unassailable: inviolable secrecy.
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Origin of inviolable

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English word from Latin word inviolābilis. See in-3, violable
Related formsin·vi·o·la·bil·i·ty, in·vi·o·la·ble·ness, nounin·vi·o·la·bly, adverb
Can be confusedinviolable inviolate
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for inviolably

Contemporary Examples of inviolably

Historical Examples of inviolably

  • She hoped to catch the voice of her uncle: but all was inviolably still.

    Camilla

    Fanny Burney

  • But for the secret of the lagoon the papers had to wait, since it had been inviolably kept.

    The Relentless City

    Edward Frederic Benson

  • Don't you know that the secrets of the confessional are inviolably sacred?

  • Why, it should be a temple, inviolably dedicated to its peculiar god.

    The Book of Susan

    Lee Wilson Dodd

  • Dear Cousin Witwoud, get him away, and you will bind me to you inviolably.

    The Way of the World

    William Congreve

British Dictionary definitions for inviolably

inviolable

adjective
  1. that must not or cannot be transgressed, dishonoured, or broken; to be kept sacredan inviolable oath
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Derived Formsinviolability or inviolableness, nouninviolably, adverb
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

Word Origin and History for inviolably

inviolable

adj.

mid-15c., from Latin inviolabilis "inviolable, invulnerable," from in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + violabilis, from violare "to do violence to" (see violation). Related: Inviolably.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper