Unquestionable

a. and sb. [UN-¹ 7 b, 12.]

  1.  Having an assured character or position; unexceptionable.

1603.  Daniel, Def. Rhime, G 3. The Generall Custome, and vse of Ryme … hauing beene so long … held vnquestionable.

1648.  Wilkins, Math. Magic, I. xviii. 131. Attested by the experience of divers unquestionable witnesses.

a. 1687.  Petty, Pol. Arith., i. (1690), 29. For what summ the Keepers of the Bank are unquestionable Security.

1796.  Morse, Amer. Geog., II. 91. [It] would be incredible, were it not attested by the most unquestionable authors.

1828.  Lytton, Pelham, I. xvii. The rope was of the most unquestionable thickness.

1846.  Mrs. A. Marsh, Father Darcy, II. xiv. 237. His ability is great, his principles unquestionable.

  2.  Incapable of being doubted or disputed; indisputable, indubitable, certain.

1631.  Gouge, God’s Arrows, III. § 93. 353. The Crowne … by just and unquestionable title descended on her.

1695.  J. Edwards, Perfect. Script., 349. The learned professor … renders it unquestionable that Moses … was the author.

1709.  Berkeley, Th. Vision, § 150. The contrary being held an unquestionable truth.

1782.  Martyn, Geog. Mag., I. 225. Authentic facts, and unquestionable evidence.

1850.  Ht. Martineau, Hist. Peace, V. iii. (1877), III. 226. The evil was unquestionable.

1879.  S. C. Bartlett, Egypt to Pal., xxi. 453. This is one of the unquestionable antiquities, the fountain of Elisha.

  b.  sb. An unquestionable fact or truth.

1661.  Glanvill, Van. Dogm., 231. The love of God and our neighbour, those Evangelical unquestionables.

1898.  Westm. Gaz., 1 Feb., 1/3. One of the unquestionables is, that the German Government cannot dare to challenge the hostility of Russia.

  3.  a. Not submitting to question; impatient.

1600.  Shaks., A. Y. L., III. ii. 393. Orl. What were his markes? Ros. A leane cheeke, which you haue not:… an vnquestionable spirit, which you haue not.

  b.  Not liable to question.

1649.  Milton, Tenure Kings, 19. What hath a native King to plead,… why he should think to scape unquestionable, as a thing divine?

  Hence Unquestionability, -ableness.

1727.  Bailey (vol. II.), Indisputableness, unquestionableness.

1843.  Carlyle, Past & Pr., II. vi. Our Religion is … a great heaven-high Unquestionability.

1873.  Hamerton, Intell. Life, III. viii. 112. The modern linguist can never fence himself behind that stately unquestionableness which shields the Classical scholar.