immaculate

== English == === Etymology === From Late Middle English immaculat, immaculate (“blameless; flawless, spotless; specifically of the Virgin Mary: pure, undefiled”), borrowed from Latin immaculātus (“unstained”), from im- (negative prefix) +‎ maculātus (“stained, spotted; defiled, polluted; (figurative) dishonoured”), the perfect passive participle of maculō (“to spot, stain; to defile, pollute; (figurative) to dishonour”), from macula (“a blemish, spot, stain; (figurative) blot on one’s character, fault”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *smh₂-tló-m (“wiping (?)”), from *smeh₂- (“to rub; to smear”). The word displaced Middle English unwemmed (“pure, untainted”). See also -ate (adjective-forming suffix). By surface analysis, im- +‎ macule +‎ -ate. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ɪˈmækjʊlət/ (General American) IPA(key): /ɪˈmækjələt/ Hyphenation: im‧ma‧cul‧ate Rhymes: -ækjʊlət === Adjective === immaculate (comparative more immaculate, superlative most immaculate) Having no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy. Synonyms: clear, lily-white, spotless, stainless, unsullied; see also Thesaurus:clean Antonyms: unimmaculate; see also Thesaurus:unclean (figurative) Containing no mistakes. Synonyms: flawless, impeccable, perfect Antonym: unimmaculate (specifically) Of a book, manuscript, etc.: having no textual errors. (archaic) Free from sin; morally pure; sinless. Synonyms: irreproachable; see also Thesaurus:pure Antonyms: maculate, unimmaculate; see also Thesaurus:impure (Roman Catholicism) Of the Virgin Mary or her womb: pure, undefiled. (botany, zoology, especially entomology) Lacking blotches, spots, or other markings. Synonyms: self-coloured, spotless, unspotted Antonyms: maculate, maculated, spotted ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Notes === === References === == Latin == === Participle === immaculāte vocative masculine singular of immaculātus