Incomprehensive

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Unable to be understood or grasped by the mind
2. Difficult or impossible to make sense of or fully comprehend
3. Incapable of being mentally grasped or clearly understood

Etymology: "Incomprehensive" is a straightforward formation: the prefix "in-", meaning "not," attached to "comprehensive," which in turn comes from Latin "comprehendere," "to seize together" or "to grasp fully." The prefix traces back through Latin, where "in-" was a negating element, to a very old root for negation that also lies behind English "un-" and "not." Its path into English ran through Middle English, where the prefix was already in use before being combined with the adjective. The base word "comprehensive" carries the physical image of gripping something all at once, and the negated form keeps that sense: an idea that cannot be taken hold of in the mind. The word is the same kind of formation as "incomprehensible," which is the more common of the two, so "incomprehensive" is best read as a close relative of that more familiar term rather than a separately developed concept.

Synonyms: incomprehensible, unintelligible, obscure, unclear, ambiguous

Antonyms: comprehensive, clear, understandable, explicit, lucid