| source : web1913 |
Ignoble \Ig*no"ble\, v. t.
To make ignoble. [Obs.] --Bacon.
| source : web1913 |
Ignoble \Ig*no"ble\, a. [L. ignobilis; pref. in- not + nobilis
noble: cf. F. ignoble. See {In-} not, and {Noble}, a.]
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. (Zo["o]l.) Not a true or noble falcon; -- said of certain
hawks, as the goshawk.
Syn: Degenerate; degraded; mean; base; dishonorable;
reproachful; disgraceful; shameful; scandalous;
infamous.
| source : wn |
ignoble
adj 1: completely lacking nobility in character or quality or
purpose; "something cowardly and ignoble in his
attitude"; "I think it a less evil that some criminals
should escape than that the government should play an
ignoble part"- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. [ant: {noble}]
2: not of the nobility; "of ignoble (or ungentle) birth";
"untitled civilians" [syn: {ungentle}, {untitled}]