Both Uses of
inarticulate
in
Doctor Zhivago
- Oh, how one wishes sometimes to escape from the meaningless dullness of human eloquence, from all those sublime phrases, to take refuge in nature, apparently so inarticulate, or in the wordlessness of long, grinding labor, of sound sleep, of true music, or of a human understanding rendered speechless by emotion!†
Chpt 2.5 *inarticulate = unable to express oneself clearly; or not expressed clearly
- You could not communicate with life and existence, but she was their representative, their expression, in her the inarticulate principle of existence became sensitive and capable of speech.†
Chpt 2.13
Definition:
unable to communicate clearly (or to use words)
or (more rarely): a feeling or idea that is not expressed
or (more rarely): a feeling or idea that is not expressed
The exact meaning of inarticulate depends upon its context. For example:
- unable to find good words to express oneself -- as in "She gets inarticulate when she's nervous."
- verbally expressing a feeling without words -- as in "She uttered an inarticulate cry of despair."
- unable to make oneself heard and understood -- as in "She mumbled inarticulately."
- unable to speak -- as in "She was inarticulate with rage."
- a feeling or idea that is not expressed -- as in "We shared an inarticulate fear."
- inability to express or understand feelings or ideas -- as in "She is emotionally inarticulate, " or "Her symphony is inarticulate."