Find the word definition

The Collaborative International Dictionary
Incommensurable

Incommensurable \In`com*men"su*ra*ble\, n. One of two or more quantities which have no common measure.

Incommensurable

Incommensurable \In`com*men"su*ra*ble\, a. [Pref. in- not + commensurable: cf. F. incommensurable.] Not commensurable; having no common measure or standard of comparison; as, quantities are incommensurable when no third quantity can be found that is an aliquot part of both; the side and diagonal of a square are incommensurable with each other; the diameter and circumference of a circle are incommensurable.

They are quantities incommensurable.
--Burke. -- In`com*men"su*ra*ble*ness, n. -- In`com*men"su*ra*bly, adv.

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
incommensurable

1550s, from Middle French incommensurable or directly from Medieval Latin incommensurabilis, from in- "not, opposite of, without" (see in- (1)) + Late Latin commensurabilis, from Latin com- "with" + mensurabilis "measurable," from mensurare "to measure" (see measure (v.)). Related: Incommensurably.

Wiktionary
incommensurable

a. 1 (context mathematics English) Of two real numbers, such that their ratio is not a fraction of two integers. 2 (context arithmetic English) Of two integers, having no common integer divisor except 1. 3 Not able to be measured by the same standards as another term in the context; see measurement; contrast with unmeasurable or immeasurable, each of which means not able to be measured at all, the former more generally, the latter generally due to some infinite quality of the thing being described n. An incommensurable value or quantity; an irrational number.

WordNet
incommensurable
  1. adj. impossible to measure or compare in value or size or excellence

  2. not having a common factor

Usage examples of "incommensurable".

But it is only the same quality that can be measured by degrees and ranged in ascending and descending series, and the things that are essentially feminine are different qualitatively from and incommensurable with the distinctly masculine things.

With his pineal eye he sees his silhouette projected on a screen of incommensurable size.