pregnable

American  

[preg-nuh-buhl] / ˈprɛg nə bəl /

adjective

1. capable of being taken or won by force.

   a pregnable fortress.

2. open to attack; assailable.

   a pregnable argument.

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pregnable British  

/ ˈprɛɡnəbəl /

adjective

1. capable of being assailed or captured

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Other Word Forms

• pregnability noun

Etymology

Origin of pregnable

1400–50; late Middle English prenable < Middle French prenable, pregnable, equivalent to pren- (weak stem of prendre to seize, take < Latin pre ( he ) ndere; prehension ) + -able -able; -g- perhaps from obsolete expugnable (in same sense)

Example Sentences

Thanks to the leadership of King Priam and the courage and compassion of the Trojan people, our walled city is far stronger and even less pregnable than it was nine years ago, and we have won the fight against the Greeks.

From Washington Post

Mercedes’ Russian stronghold now also looks pregnable after Ferrari’s front row lockout yesterday, their first for nine years.

From The Guardian

Pregnable, preg′na-bl, adj. that may be taken by assault or force.

From Project Gutenberg

Only after Tunisia's longtime president fled his North African country last month did Mr. Mubarak's grip on power seem pregnable.

From The Wall Street Journal

Or would the 50-odd Allied divisions still in Britain mount an entirely new thrust at the demonstrably pregnable Atlantic Wall?

From Time Magazine Archive