imponderabilia
- noun
- /ɪmˌpɒndəˈrɪbɪlɪə/
- Formal
:
imponderables
- In science, we often discuss imponderabilia, such as emotions and thoughts, that cannot be easily quantified.
Examples
-
It focused on the most banal of details in the given culture from the perspective of the locals—the "imponderabilia of actual life," as Malinowski termed such details (18).
Academic text (2007) -
Also, the imponderabilia of political life associated with the difficult process of nation building and the extra stress produced by the current economic crisis accentuate the importance of reliance upon and allegiance to trustworthy solidarity networks.
Academic text (2001) -
The artist aimed to capture the imponderabilia of human experience that goes beyond simple measurements.
-
Many aspects of culture, including traditions and beliefs, fall into the category of imponderabilia that are hard to evaluate.
Synonyms
2
9.8
An unknown factor that you cannot predict or measure exactly
A factor that cannot be measured or predicted
How Measurable
183
1.9
370
2.6
22
4.4
∞
1.0
127
5.5
- Formal
Surface Forms
Morphology
imponderabilia = imponderable (semi-transparent) = im + ponder + able + ia
The word is a learned plural formation based on 'imponderable'; the negation and weighability are clear, but the classical plural ending -ia is not a fully productive English pattern.
Etymology
The word imponderabilia comes from the Latin parts in- 'not' and ponderare 'to weigh', meaning 'not able to be weighed'. It refers to small facts, feelings, or details you cannot measure or calculate, so people use it for things that are hard to count or explain.