INSCRU'TABLE, a. [L. inscrutabilis; in and scrutor, to search.] 1. Unsearchable; that cannot be searched into and understood by inquiry or study. The designs of the emperor appear to be inscrutable. 2. That cannot be penetrated, discovered or understood by human reason. The ways of Providence are often inscrutable. Mysteries are inscrutable.
adj 1: of an obscure nature; "the new insurance policy is written without cryptic or mysterious terms"; "a deep dark secret"; "the inscrutable workings of Providence"; "in its mysterious past it encompasses all the dim origins of life"- Rachel Carson; "rituals totally mystifying to visitors from other lands" [syn: cryptic, cryptical, deep, inscrutable, mysterious, mystifying]
adjectiveEtymology: Middle English, from Late Latin inscrutabilis, from Latin in- + scrutari to search — more at scrutinyDate: 15th century not readily investigated, interpreted, or understood ;mysterious<an inscrutable smile> <inscrutable motives> • inscrutabilitynoun • inscrutablenessnoun • inscrutablyadverb
Inscrutable In*scru"ta*ble, a. [L. inscrutabilis : cf. F. inscrutable. See In- not, and Scrutiny.] Unsearchable; incapable of being searched into and understood by inquiry or study; impossible or difficult to be explained or accounted for satisfactorily; obscure; incomprehensible; as, an inscrutable design or event. 'T is not in man To yield a reason for the will of Heaven Which is inscrutable. --Beau. & Fl. Waiving a question so inscrutable as this. --De Quincey.