1. = INPASSABLE a. Now dial.
Very common in 19th and 18th centuries.
1553. Brende, Q. Curtius, 132. In the daye time the countrey is wild and vnpassable, when they can nether finde any tracte nor waye to go in.
1579–80. North, Plutarch (1595), 314. The riuer … is vnpassable for any shallow it hath.
1649. F. Roberts, Clavis Bibl., 500. Waters … very deep and unpassable.
a. 1698. Temple, Ess. Heroick Virt., Wks. 1720, I. 196. Vast and unpassable Mountains or Desarts.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, I. (Globe), 263. A Grove of Trees,… so thick, that it was unpassable.
1796. J. Moser, Hermit of Caucasus, I. 192. The caverns were rendered slippery, and nearly unpassable.
1828–32. Webster, s.v., Unpassable roads.
1876–88. in Yks. and Somerset glossaries.
† b. As adv. Impassably. Obs.–1
1632. Lithgow, Trav., IX. 390. The North side … beeing vnpassable steepe.
2. Incapable of being transcended or exceeded.
1570. Dee, Math. Pref., 34. They can not prescribe … certaine vnpassable boundes.
1656. Jeanes, Fuln. Christ, 236. The Scotists … say farther, that the degree of Christ’s grace was unpassable even by Gods absolute power.
a. 1683. Oldham, Wks. (1686), 109. ’Tis I … Who must new Worlds in Vice descry, And fix the pillars of unpassable iniquity.
3. Of money: Incapable of being passed or circulated.
1664. in Aberdeen N. & Q. (1910), III. 109/2. Ther was some unpassable money in the poors box.
1696. J. Cary, Ess. Coyn, 10. The Trade of England was apparently slackened since the Small Money was made unpassable.
1745. De Foe’s Eng. Tradesm. (1841), I. xx. 188. A considerable quantity of false and unpassable money.
1828–32. Webster, s.v., Unpassable notes or coins.
Hence Unpassableness.
1657. R. Ligon, Barbadoes, 75. The unpassableness of the wayes.
1674. Evelyn, Navig & Comm., 34. Grave Authors, who speak of the unpassableness of the Ocean.
1691. T. H[ale], Acc. New Invent., 26. Its unpassableness, not to the Water, but to the Worm.
