Definition of Ignoble

1. Adjective. Completely lacking nobility in character or quality or purpose. "I think it a less evil that some criminals should escape than that the government should play an ignoble part"


2. Adjective. Not of the nobility. "Untitled civilians"
Exact synonyms: Ungentle, Untitled
Similar to: Lowborn
Derivative terms: Ignobleness

Definition of Ignoble

1. a. Of low birth or family; not noble; not illustrious; plebeian; common; humble.

2. v. t. To make ignoble.

Definition of Ignoble

1. Adjective. Not noble; plebeian; common. ¹

2. Adjective. Not honorable. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Ignoble

1. of low character [adj] : IGNOBLY [adv]

Medical Definition of Ignoble

1. 1. Of low birth or family; not noble; not illustrious; plebeian; common; humble. "I was not ignoble of descent." (Shak) "Her royal stock graft with ignoble plants." (Shak) 2. Not honorable, elevated, or generous; base. "'T but a base, ignoble mind, That mounts no higher than a bird can soar." (Shak) "Far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife." (Gray) 3. Not a true or noble falcon; said of certain hawks, as the goshawk. Synonym: Degenerate, degraded, mean, base, dishonorable, reproachful, disgraceful, shameful, scandalous, infamous. Origin: L. Ignobilis; pref. In- not + nobilis noble: cf. F. Ignoble. See In- not, and Noble. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Ignoble

ignition coil
ignition key
ignition lock
ignition switch
ignition system
ignition temperature
ignition temperatures
ignitions
ignitor
ignitors
ignitron
ignitrons
ignivomous
ignobilities
ignobility
ignoble (current term)
ignobleness
ignoblenesses
ignobler
ignoblest
ignobly
ignomies
ignominies
ignominious
ignominiously
ignominiousness
ignominous
ignominy
ignomy
ignorable

Literary usage of Ignoble

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Stones of Venice by John Ruskin (1853)
"And the mode in which this refusal takes place distinguishes the noble from the ignoble grotesque. For the master of the noble grotesque knows the depth of ..."

2. The Cyclopædia;: Or, Universal Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and Literature.by Abraham Rees by Abraham Rees (1819)
"... he ranks under the heads of metals, noble and ignoble ; femi-metals, fluid, hard, and mineralized ; (alts, acid, alkaline, and mean ; and petrifactions, ..."

3. An Etymological Dictionary of the English Language by Walter William Skeat (1893)
"ignoble, not noble, mean, base. (F..-L.) In Shak. Rich. Ill, iii. 7. 127. —F. ignoble, 'ignoble;' Sherwood's index to Cot- grave.—Lat. ignobilis. ..."

4. The Poetical Works of John Dryden by John Dryden (1909)
"... 531 The man who menaces the gods with arms, Yet, after all his boasts, forsook the fight, And sought his safety in ignoble flight Now, best of kings, ..."

5. The Living Age by Making of America Project, Eliakim Littell, Robert S. Littell (1868)
"... in England fell under a hand which, if not ignoble, could scarcely be said to be distinguished, arid it never recovered the discredit which one of its ..."

6. The Edinburgh Review by Sydney Smith (1869)
"... intimate that he received personally other treatment than that of kindness and consideration, except from a few ignoble assailants—afforded another. ..."

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