1. Of persons, places, etc.: That cannot be overcome by conquest or force of arms; not yielding to superior force; invincible.
1598. Florio, Inuincibile, inuincible, vnconquerable.
1608. J. King, Serm. 24 March, 10. Whose priuiledge and right vnquestionable, is, per me reges regnant, and his might vnconquerable.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., I. 40. There is neither out-going nor in-comming, without a Pylot, which maketh the Citty vnconquerable.
1649. Milton, Eikon., ix. 76. So farr was any man … from esteeming him unconquerable.
1760. Pitt, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. II. IV. 421. To give stability and happiness to the fortunes of this unconquerable Monarch.
1798. Pennant, Hindoostan, II. 196. The most unconquerable fort in the world.
1855. Singleton, Virgil, II. 360. The buckler, which the Lord of Fire himself Vouchsafed, unconquerable.
1878. Bosw. Smith, Carthage, 315. They forgot now that … Hannibal was still in Italy, still unconquered, and, as far as they knew, unconquerable.
b. Of the mind, feelings, etc., with similar implication.
(a) 1667. Milton, P. L., I. 106. All is not lost; the unconquerable Will, And study of revenge, immortal hate.
1702. Rowe, Tamerl., III. i. But to subdue th’ unconquerable Mind,… Impossible!
1754. Gray, Progr. Poesy, 65. Th’ unconquerable Mind, and Freedom’s holy flame.
1802. Wordsw., Poems Independence & Liberty, I. viii. 14. Man’s unconquerable mind.
1875. Henley, Life & Death, iv. Bk. Verses (1888), 56. I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul.
(b) 1776. Gibbon, Decl. & F., xii. I. 339. Their unconquerable love of freedom, rising against despotism, provoked them into hasty rebellions.
1797. Mrs. Radcliffe, Italian, xvi. He fought with unconquerable audacity and fierceness.
1825. Scott, Talism., ii. Animated by a zeal as fiery as their own, and possessed of as unconquerable courage, address, and success in arms.
1881. Jowett, Thucyd., I. 154. The unconquerable quality which is inherent in our minds.
2. Incapable of being overcome, mastered, brought under control, etc.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., II. viii. 78. Nothing was unconquerable to his pains, who had a golden wit in an iron body.
1654. Cokaine, Dianea, I. 53. That there was nothing more unconquerable than love.
1695. Ld. Preston, Boeth., IV. 166. By this almost unconquerable Bent and Help of Nature.
1771. Beattie, Minstrel, I. i. Check’d by the scoff of pride, by envy’s frown, And poverty’s unconquerable bar.
1781. Gibbon, Decl. & F., xviii. II. 118. Yet he mentions with admiration the unconquerable fertility of the soil.
1828. D’Israeli, Chas. I., I. i. 7. Something of pity and terror must blend with the story of a noble mind wrestling with unconquerable Fate.
1846. Trench, Mirac., Introd. (1862), 72. His argument is … unconquerable so long as it is permitted to rest upon the earth out of which it sprung.
a. 1881. A. Barratt, Phys. Metempiric (1883), 17. As this assumption … is perhaps not wholly unconquerable, it will be wise not to lay too much stress on it.
b. Of feelings. (Cf. INVINCIBLE a. 1 b.)
1727. De Foe, Hist. Appar., x. I. 73. An unconquerable aversion to any restraint.
1767. Wilkes, Corr. (1805), III. 217. The same fixed and unconquerable hatred to the enemies of freedom.
1798. S. & Ht. Lee, Canterb. T., II. 492. Actuated by an unconquerable curiosity.
1828. Tytler, Hist. Scot. (1864), I. 49. His unconquerable thirst of vengeance against the English influenced their choice.
1863. Geo. Eliot, Romola, III. vi. Romola … shrank with unconquerable disgust from the shrill excitability of those illuminated women.
