Crossword clues for imperceptible
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Imperceptible \Im`per*cep"ti*ble\, a. [Pref. im- not + perceptible: cf. F. imperceptible.] Not perceptible; not to be apprehended or cognized by the senses; not discernible by the mind; not easily apprehended.
Almost imperceptible to the touch.
--Dryden.
Its operation is slow, and in some cases almost
imperceptible.
--Burke.
-- Im`per*cep"ti*ble*ness, n. -- Im`per*cep"ti*bly, adv.
Their . . . subtilty and imperceptibleness.
--Sir M.
Hale.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
early 15c., from French imperceptible (early 15c.), from Medieval Latin imperceptibilis, from assimilated form of in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + perceptibilis (see perceptible). Related: Imperceptibly. OED marks imperceivable as "Now rare."
Wiktionary
a. Not perceptible, not detectable, too small in magnitude to be observed.
WordNet
adj. impossible or difficult to perceive by the mind or senses; "an imperceptible drop in temperature"; "an imperceptible nod"; "color is unperceivable to the touch" [syn: unperceivable] [ant: perceptible]
Usage examples of "imperceptible".
But the moment comes when the Anthophora pays court to the fair sex, and the imperceptible creature immediately profits by the amorous encounter to change its winged courser.
Sallianna arrayed in all her beauties and attractions, including a huge breastpin, a dress of enormous pattern, and a scarf around her delicate waist, azure-hued and diaphanous like the sky, veiled with an imperceptible cloud.
It was small, clocklike mechanism that issued dull, almost imperceptible ticks.
A Pagan magistrate, who possessed neither leisure nor abilities to discern the almost imperceptible line which divides the orthodox faith from heretical depravity, might easily have imagined that their mutual animosity had extorted the discovery of their common guilt.
There are three kinds of portraits: ugly likenesses, perfect likenesses, and those which to a perfect likeness add an almost imperceptible character of beauty.
As this ill-assorted pair sat at the open window on the quiet summer evenings, far above the distant woodland and the forest meadows, face to face with the long streaks of solemn light along the horizon, an almost imperceptible murmur, so soft and gentle was it, passed up through the branches of the sycamore and chestnut trees and of the lower growing pines, and, mingling with the distant Ranz des Vaches, brought up as it seemed the life and struggles and sorrows of the plain and of the people into the ears of this worn-out, old, feeble aristocrat of the hills.
As he studied the horizon where the meandering Reld vanished into darkness, he detected a dim streamer rising, almost imperceptible against the stars.
With the arrival of the rains, the soundboard had swollen, a nearly imperceptible change, perhaps noticeable only to those who wish to tune.
They had started out above the cloud level, and now began the slow and almost imperceptible descent into the tierra templada, with its warmer, more pleasant climate.
A few cockatoos lived in the tops of the trees, but at such a height they could scarcely be distinguished, and their noisy chatter was changed into an imperceptible murmur.
From their expressions and postures, I have deduced that more of the imperceptible communication conduits are also present.
On the other hand, these cases clearly show that the capacity for crossing is connected with constitutional differences imperceptible by us, and confined to the reproductive system.
The almost imperceptible flash that was lost in the glare from the domes was accompanied by a brief but violent exhalation from the side of the weapon.
We may here remark--for in the course of this narrative we shall more than once see the gaze of some members of the Right turned towards the people, and in this no mistake should be made--that these monarchical men who talked of popular insurrection and who invoked the faubourgs were a minority in the majority,--an imperceptible minority.
Nevertheless, the most minute examination would not have revealed any faithlessness to the original, but some imperceptible touches gave a real but indefinite air of beauty to the whole.