(uhn-flam-uh-buhl)
adjective
• Impervious to flame, incapable of catching fire, or extremely resistant to flame. This term is proposed to replace "inflammable" and "non-flammable" to avoid confusion due to the dual origins of the prefix "in-" in English.
• Explanation: The prefix "in-" in English can have different meanings depending on its origin. It can mean "not" or "without", derived from Latin, as in "incalculable" (not calculable). However, "in-" can also mean "in" or "into", also derived from Latin but related to the Greek prefix "en-", as in "inflammable" (able to be set on fire). These dual meanings can cause confusion, as "inflammable" might be mistakenly thought to mean "not flammable". The term "unflammable" uses the prefix "un-", which consistently means "not" in English, making it a more intuitive, perspicuous, and less confusing alternative.
adjective
• Impervious to flame, incapable of catching fire, or extremely resistant to flame. This term is proposed to replace "inflammable" and "non-flammable" to avoid confusion due to the dual origins of the prefix "in-" in English.
• Explanation: The prefix "in-" in English can have different meanings depending on its origin. It can mean "not" or "without", derived from Latin, as in "incalculable" (not calculable). However, "in-" can also mean "in" or "into", also derived from Latin but related to the Greek prefix "en-", as in "inflammable" (able to be set on fire). These dual meanings can cause confusion, as "inflammable" might be mistakenly thought to mean "not flammable". The term "unflammable" uses the prefix "un-", which consistently means "not" in English, making it a more intuitive, perspicuous, and less confusing alternative.
The new line of camping gear is made from unflammable material, providing an extra layer of safety during wilderness adventures.
by Kichertasche January 31, 2024
Get the Unflammable mug.I dont understand why flammable and inflammable mean the same when sane and insane mean exactly the opposite things.
by BuzzKiller June 19, 2003
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Someone who is not easily disturbed or deterred, and will typically excel under pressure/have calmness in a crisis.
The college scout knew she was unflappable when she kept her composure, and lead the team to victory in the final seconds of the big game.
by PRLB July 22, 2016
Get the unflappable mug.by SpinSpyder June 20, 2003
Get the inflammable mug.1. Enable to flame. Burns readily in air.
2. A replacement for the word inflammable (Which makes little sense because "in" is sometimes negative as in "inability, inadequate, indecent, inoffensive, insane, incapable, infertile")
3. An example of a new word that uses a En- for a positive prefix and Im- for a negative one so to preserve in- prefixes for neutral words and things that suggest Inside like "incognito, injection "
2. A replacement for the word inflammable (Which makes little sense because "in" is sometimes negative as in "inability, inadequate, indecent, inoffensive, insane, incapable, infertile")
3. An example of a new word that uses a En- for a positive prefix and Im- for a negative one so to preserve in- prefixes for neutral words and things that suggest Inside like "incognito, injection "
"Inflamable means flamable? What a country.
A:Hair spray is Enflammable.
B: Don't you mean inflamable
A: No because En is the new positive prefix for In, and Im is the new negative prefix. Join the cause to make English make sense dude.
A:Hair spray is Enflammable.
B: Don't you mean inflamable
A: No because En is the new positive prefix for In, and Im is the new negative prefix. Join the cause to make English make sense dude.
by EnviroAndTechno October 2, 2012
Get the Enflammable mug.Simon: "Hey philip do you think my ass is inflammable?"
Philip: "Lets find out......."
Simon: "Oh you sh*t head, you just set my anus on fire!"
Simon & Philip: (laughter)
Philip: "Lets find out......."
Simon: "Oh you sh*t head, you just set my anus on fire!"
Simon & Philip: (laughter)
by Skii May 7, 2005
Get the inflammable mug.Tom: "Gas is inflammable Bob."
Bob: "Oh yea, that means I can out this fire with it right?"
Bob: "Ut-oh"
Bob: "Oh yea, that means I can out this fire with it right?"
Bob: "Ut-oh"
by Morgan Gore June 19, 2003
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