Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Difficult or impossible to retrieve or recover.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Not retrievable; irrecoverable; irreparable: as, an irretrievable loss.
  • Synonyms See list under irremediable.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Not retrievable; irrecoverable; irreparable.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Not retrievable; irrecoverable; irreparable; as, an irretrievable loss.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective impossible to recover or recoup or overcome

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Cheles has discerned a valuable link between the phrase "virtutibus itur ad astra," represented at Urbino, and the opened manuscript of Virgil's Aeneid, displayed on the lectern in the Gubbio studiolo. 156 The page shown at Gubbio contains the following passage: "Each has his day appointed; short and irretrievable is the span of life to all: but to lengthen fame by deeds — that is valour's task."

    Architecture and Memory: The Renaissance Studioli of Federico da Montefeltro 2008

  • They responded to environmental change and either adapted to the arrival of pastoralists or selectively adopted herding practices. 1 Specific histories of these communities remain irretrievable, but the general contours of settlement are clear.

    Belongings: Property, Family, and Identity in Colonial South Africa 2008

  • It is true that most cases can be solved through negotiations but sometimes the marriage is broken in law terms irretrievable break down of marriage.

    Collaborative Family Law v. The Hartshornes : Law is Cool 2010

  • Each felt that there would be something scorching in the words that would recall the irretrievable wrong.

    IV. Maggie and Lucy. Book VII—The Final Rescue 1917

  • Each felt that there would be something scorching in the words that would recall the irretrievable wrong.

    The Mill on the Floss George Eliot 1849

  • Already as early as October 7, 1833, he fears that his health is "irretrievable;" he gets but five hours a night of

    John Quincy Adams American Statesmen Series 1888

  • With up to a dozen Parliament Parliament members now fighting for their political lives, a senior ccabinet minister said some were clearly "irretrievable".

    Free Internet Press 2009

  • It follows an "irretrievable" rift between Allen and his co-owners, who he has accused of operating an "old boys 'club" which is letting down the club and its supporters.

    News round-up 2009

  • It follows an "irretrievable" rift between Allen and his co-owners, who he has accused of operating an "old boys 'club" which is letting down the club and its supporters.

    News round-up 2009

  • Words and thoughts of a writer do not just spin out into the ether and become irretrievable, or worse, cease to exist.

    Knowing when to let things go « Write Anything 2010

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