irrelative 
2. In music, not having tones in common; not 
connected or related : as, irrelative chords, keys, 
etc. (that is, chords, keys, etc., that have few 
or no tones in common). 
II. . That which is not relative or connected. 
This same mental necessity is involved in the general 
inability we find of construing positively to thought any 
irrelative. Sir W. Hamilton. 
irrelatively (i-rel'a-tiv-li), adv. In an irrela- 
tive manner; without relation; unconnectedly. 
Boyle, Works, II. 276. 
irrelevance (i-rel'f-vans), n. [< irrelevant) 
+ -ce.] Same as irrelevancy. 
irrelevancy (i-rel'e-van-si), n. [< irrelevant) 
+ -cy.] The quality of being irrelevant or 
inapplicable; want of pertinence or connec- 
tion. 
I was unwilling to enlarge on the irrelevancy oJ his ar- 
guments. T. Hook, Gilbert Gurney. 
irrelevant (i-rel'e-vant), a. [= OF. irrelevant; 
as in-3 + relevant.] 1. Not relevant; not hav- 
ing relation ; not applicable or pertinent. 
Daily occurrences among ourselves prove that the de- 
sire to do something in presence of an emergency leads 
to the most irrelevant actions. 
H. Spencer, Prin. of Sociol., App. A. 
To concentrate the mind is to fix it persistently on an 
object or group of objects, resolutely excluding from the 
mental view all irrelevant objects. 
J. Sully, Outlines of Psychol., p. 99. 
2. In law, having no legitimate bearing on the 
real question. See immaterial, incompetent, rel- 
evant Fallacy of irrelevant conclusion. See fal- 
lacies in things (3), under fallacy. 
irrelevantly (i-rel'e-vant-li), adv. In an irrel- 
evant manner. 
irrelievable (ir-e-le'va-bl), a. [< j- 3 + reliev- 
able.] Not relievable ; not admitting relief . 
irreligion (ir-e-lij'on), n. [= F. irreligion = 
Sp. irreligion == Pg" irreligiao = It. irreligione, < 
LL. irreligio(n-), inreligio(n-), unconscientious- 
ness, irreiigion, < L. in- priv. + religio(n-), re- 
ligion: see religion.'] Lack of religion; con- 
tempt of religion ; impiety. 
The two grand relations that concern society are gov- 
ernment and subjection: irreligion doth indispose men 
for both these. Bp. Wilkins, Natural Religion, ii. 1. 
irreligionist (ir-e-lij'on-ist), n. [< irreligion + 
-ist.~\ One who contemns or opposes religion. 
irreligiosityt, n. [ME. irreligiosite, irreligiosi- 
tee, < OF. irreligiosite, F. irreligiosite = It. ir- 
rcligiosita; as irreligious + -ity.] Irreligious- 
ness; irreligion. 
The whiche [the Lord] vnto wrathe is stirid vpon his folc, 
for ther irreligiosite. Wyclif, 3 Esd. i. 62 (Oxf.). 
irreligious (ir-e-lij'us), a. [= F. irreligieux 
Sp. Pg. It. ir religiose, < LL. irreligiosus, inreli- 
giosus, irreligious, < L. in- priv. + religiosus, 
religious: see religious.] 1. Not religious ; with- 
out religious principles; contemning religion; 
impious; ungodly. 
It seldome or neuer chaunceth that any man is so ir- 
religious that he dareth eyther hide any thyng that is so 
taken, or pilfer any thing away that is so pyled. 
Golding, tr. of Csesar, fol. 158. 
Shame and reproach is generally the portion of the im- 
pious and irreligious. South, Sermons. 
2. Profane; wicked: as, irreligious conduct. 
With our contentions their irreligious humour also is 
much strengthened. Hooker, Eccles. Polity, v. 2. 
Might not the queen's domesticks be obliged to avoid 
swearing, and irreligious profane discourse? Swift. 
=Syn. Irreligious, Godless, Ungodly, Unrighteous, Impi- 
ous, Profane, Atheistic, are words expressing the position 
or conduct of those who deny the existence of a God or 
refuse to obey his commandments. Irreligious means 
destitute of religion as a principle, contemning religion 
and not checked by its restraints ; godless, acknowledging 
no God, disregarding God and therefore hia command- 
ments, sinful, wicked; ungodly, essentially the same as 
godless, but stronger as to both feeling and action ; un- 
righteous, disregarding right, contrary to right and by 
implication (right being with this word viewed chiefly 
as the personal will of God) not only wrong or unjust, but 
sinful; impious, irreverent or contemptuous toward God, 
defiant or wanton in irreligion ; profane, impious by word 
or deed, irreverent or blasphemous ; atheistic, holding the 
doctrine of the non-existence of a God (applied, on account 
of the natural tendency of men to deny the existence of a 
God where their spirit or manner of life is condemned by 
the teachings of the Christian religion, to whatever would 
be thus condemned or whoever thus denies). See athe- 
ous, 2. 
irreligiously (ir-e-lij'us-li), adv. In an irreli- 
gious manner; with impiety; wickedly. 
Perhaps no less dangerous to perform holy duties ir- 
religiously than to receive holy signs or sacraments un- 
worthily. Milton, Civil Power. 
irreligiousness (ir-e-lij'us-nes), n. The state 
or quality of being irreligious ; want of religious 
principles or practice ; ungodliness. 
If we consult the histories of former times, we shall find 
that saying of Solomon constantly verified, That righteous- 
3188 
ness doth exalt a nation, but sin doth prove a reproach to 
it. And more especially the sin of irrcli.</WH.mexx and pro- 
phaneness. Bp. Wilkins, Natural Religion, ii. 6. 
irremeable (i-rem'e-a-bl), a. [= OF. irreme- 
able = Pg. irremeavei' = It. irremeabile, < L. ir- 
remeabilis, inremcabilis, from which one cannot 
come back, < in- priv. + rcmeabilis, that comes 
back, < remeare, come back, < re-, back ? + meare, 
go, come: see meatus.] Not admitting of re- 
turn; not retraceable. [Bare.] 
My three brave brothers in one mournful day 
All trod the dark, irremeable way. 
Pope, Iliad, xix. 312. 
irremediable (ir-e-me'di-a-bl), a. [= F. irre- 
mediable = Sp. irremediable = Pg. irremediavel 
= It. irremediabile, < L. irremediabilis, inreme- 
diabilis, incurable, < in- priv. + remediabilis, 
curable: see remediable.] Not remediable ; be- 
yond remedy; incapable of being cured, cor- 
rected, or redressed: as, an irremediable dis- 
ease ; irremediable evil. 
They had also annexed vnto them, perpetuall transgres- 
syon afore God, though not alwayes afore men, theyr 
knottes beynge indyssoluble, & their snares irremedyable. 
Bp. Bale, Apology, fol. 162. 
Now that it is over and irremediable, I am thinking 
with a sort of horror of a bad joke in the last number of 
Vanity Fair. Thackeray, Letters, 1847-1855, p. 23. 
= Syn. Incurable, remediless, irretrievable, irreparable. 
irremediableness (ir-e-me'di-a-bl-nes), n. The 
state or quality of being irremediable. 
The first notice my soul hath of her sickness is irrecov- 
erableness, irremediableness. Donne, Devotions, p. 13. 
irremediably (ir-e-me'di-a-bli), adv. In an ir- 
remediable manner ; in a manner or degree that 
precludes remedy or correction. 
There is a worse mischief then this, . . . which like the 
pestilence destroys in the dark, and grows into inconve- 
nience more insensibly and more irremediably. 
Jer. Taylor, Liberty of Prophesying, viii. 
irremissible (ir-e-mis'i-bl), a. [= F. irremissi- 
ble = Sp. irremisible = Pg. irremissivel = It. ir- 
remissibile, inremissibile, < LL. irremissibilis, in- 
remissibilis, unpardonable, < in- priv. + remis- 
sibilis, pardonable : see remissible.] Not remis- 
sible ; not capable of being remitted ; unpar- 
donable : as, an irremissible sin. 
If some offences be foul, others are horrible, and some 
others irremissible. Bp. Hall, Satan's Fiery Darts, i. 
irremissibleness (ir-e-mis'i-bl-nes), . The 
quality of being irremissible or unpardonable. 
Hammond, Works, I. 467. 
irremissibly (ir-e-mis'i-bli), adv. In an irre- 
missible or unpardonable manner. 
irremission (ir-e-mish'on), n. [= Sp. irre- 
mision ; as in-3 + remission.] The act of refus- 
ing or delaying to remit or pardon; the act of 
withholding remission or pardon. 
It is " It shall not be forgiven ; " it is not " It cannot be 
forgiven." It is an irremission; it is not an irremissible- 
ness. Donne. 
irremissive (ir-e-mis'iv), a. [< in- 3 + remis- 
sive.] Not remissive or remitting. 
irremittable (ir-e-mit'a-bl), a. [< in-3 + re- 
mittable.] Not remittable; irremissible; un- 
pardonable. 
He [Cockburne] writ also De vulgari same scriptures 
phrasi, lib. ii. Whereof the first doth intreat of the sinne 
against the Holie Ghost, which they call irremittable or 
vnto death. Holinshed, Scotland, an. 1569. 
irremovability (ir-e-mo-va-bil'i-ti), . [Also 
irremoveability ; < irremovable: see -bility.] The 
quality or state of being irremovable. 
irremovable (ir-e-mo'va-bl), a. [Formerly also 
irremoveable ; < t-3 + removable. Cf. Sp. irre- 
movible = Pg. irremovivel = It. irremovibile.] 1. 
Not removable ; not to be removed ; not ca- 
pable of or subject to removal ; firmly fixed ; 
stable. 
Of constant devotion and irremoveable pietie to his 
Prince. Holland, tr. of Suetonius, p. 231. 
The provision making the Supreme Commissioners . . 
irremovable for four years was consistent with the general 
rule ol Indian appointments. 
Lecky, Eng. in 18th Cent., xv. 
2f. Inflexible; unyielding; immovable. 
He's irremoveable, 
Resolved for flight. Shak., W. T. , iv. 4, 518. 
irremovableness (ir-e-mo'va-bl-nes), . Irre- 
movability. 
irremovably (ir-e-mo'va-bli), adv. In an ir- 
removable manner; so as not to admit of re- 
moval; fixedly; inflexibly. 
Firmly and irremovably fixed to the profession of the 
true Protestant religion. 
Evelyn, Misc., News from Brussels. 
irremoval (ir-e-mo'val), n. [< in-3 + removal.] 
Absence of removal; the state of being not re- 
moved. [Bare.] 
irreprehensibleness 
irremunerablet (ir-f-mu'ne-ra-bl), a. [= OF. 
irremunerable = Sp. irremutierablc = It. irrc- 
munerabile, inremunerabile, < LL. irremunera- 
bilis, inremunerabilis, < L. in- priv. + "remu- 
nerabilis, remunerable : see remunerable.] Not 
remunerable; incapable of being rewarded. 
Cockeram. 
irrenownedt (ir-e-nound'), a. [Formerly irre- 
nowmed; < ire- 3 + renowned.] Unrenowned; 
without renown ; of no repute ; obscure. 
To slug in slouth and sensuall delights, 
And end their dales with irrenomned shame. 
Spenser, F. Q., II. i. 23. 
irreparability (i-rep"a-ra-biri-ti), n. [= F. ir- 
rcparabilite = Sp. irreparabilidad = Pg. irre- 
parabilidade; as irreparable + -ity : see -bility.] 
The quality or state of being irreparable, or be- 
yond repair or recovery. 
The poor fellow came back quite out of breath, with 
deeper marks of disappointment in his looks than could 
arise from the simple irreparability of the fragment. 
Sterne, Sentimental Journey, The Fragment and the 
[Bouquet. 
irreparable (i-rep'a-ra-bl), a. [= F. irrepara- 
ble = Pr. Sp. irreparable = Pg. irreparavel = It. 
irreparabile, inreparabile, < L. irreparabilis, in- 
reparabilis, not to be repaired or recovered, < 
in- priv. + reparabilis, that may be repaired : 
see reparable.] Not reparable; incapable of 
being repaired, rectified, or restored; that can- 
not be made right or good. 
Then be ye sewer of a soden irreparable miserable de- 
struction. Joye, Expos, of Daniel, x. 
The only loss irreparable is that of our probity. 
Garth, Pref. to Trans, of Ovid. 
Irreparable injury, in law, an injury which, though not 
necessarily beyond repair or compensation, is so grave, 
or so continuing in character, or productive of damage so 
difficult of estimation, as to constitute a grievance for 
which the right to recover damages does not afford rea- 
sonable redress. = Syn. See list under irremediable. 
irreparableness (i-rep'a-ra-bl-nes), . The 
state of being irreparable. 
irreparably (i-rep'a-ra-bli), adv. In an irrep- 
arable manner; irretrievably; irrecoverably: 
as, irreparably lost. 
irrepassablet (ir-e-pas'a-bl), a. [< OF. irrepas- 
sable; as in- s + repassable.] Not repassable; 
that cannot be recrossed or passed again. 
He had past already (miserable) 
Of Styx so black the flood irrepassable. 
Hudson, tr. of Du Bartas's Judith, vi. 250. 
irrepealability (ir-e-pe-la-bil'i-ti), n. [< irre- 
pealable: see -bility'.] The quality of being ir- 
repealable. 
irrepealable (ir-e-pe'la-bl), a. [< in-S + re- 
pealable.] Not repealable ; incapable of being 
repealed or annulled. 
'Tis such are the confidents that ingage their irrepeal- 
able assents to every slight appearance. 
GlanvUle, Vanity of Dogmatizing, xxiii. 
irrepealableness (ir- e-pe'la-bl-nes), n. Irre- 
pealability. 
irrepealably (ir-e-pe'la-bli), adv. In an irre- 
pealable manner; so as to be beyond repeal. 
Excommunications and censures are irrepealably trans- 
acted by them. Bp. Oauden, Hieraspistis, p. 120. 
irrepentance (ir-e-pen'tans), n. [< j-3 + re- 
pentance.] Lack of repentance ; impenitence. 
There are some dispositions blameworthy in men, . . . 
as unchangeableness and irrepentance. 
Bp. Hall, Select Thoughts, 47. 
irreplaceable (ir-e-pla'sa-bl), a. [< in-S + re-, 
placeable.'] Not replaceable ; that cannot be 
replaced ; not admitting of replacement or sub- 
stitution. 
Once or twice in a century some author may appear so 
profoundly original that later times may cherish his works 
as inestimable and irreplaceable. 
Contemporary Rev., LIV. 373. 
irrepleviable (ir-e-plev'i-a-bl), a. [< !- + 
repleviable. Cf. ML. irreplegiaJrilis."] In law, in- 
capable of being replevied. 
irreplevisable (ir-e-plev'i-za-bl), a. [< in- 3 + 
replevisable.] Same as irrepleviable. 
irreprehensible (i-rep-re-hen'si-bl), a. [= F. 
irreprehensible = Sp. irreprensible = Pg. irre- 
prehe>isivel = It. irreprensibile, inrepren-sibile, < 
LL. irreprehensibilis, inrejjrchensibilis, unblam- 
able, < L. in- priv. + LL. reprehensibilis, blam- 
able: see reprehensible.] Not reprehensible; 
not to be reprehended or censured; blameless. 
Whose manners hath ben irrfprfihensible before the 
world. Jjyly, Euphues, Anat. of Wit, p. 132. 
They were sincerely good people, who were therefore 
blameless or irreprehensible. 
Bp. Patrick, Ans. to the Touchstone, p. 126. 
irreprehensibleness (i-rep-re-hen'si-bl-nes), n. 
The quality of being irreprehensible. 
