Literary notes about Indecipherable (AI summary)
In literature, the term "indecipherable" is often employed to evoke mystery and uncertainty, whether referring to cryptic inscriptions on ancient artifacts [1, 2] or the ambiguous emotions and expressions of characters [3, 4, 5]. Authors use the word to describe texts and markings whose clarity has been lost over time, as when manuscripts and faded signboards resist interpretation [6, 7, 8]. At other times, "indecipherable" characterizes internal states or facial expressions that hint at deeper, unsolvable complexities, inviting readers to ponder what lies beneath the surface [9, 10, 11]. This layered usage underscores an enduring literary fascination with that which cannot be neatly explained or fully understood.
- It is a piece of corroded brass upon which is inscribed a legend as yet indecipherable; in all probability it long antedates the coming of Columbus."
— from Derelicts: An Account of Ships Lost at Sea in General Commercial Traffic And a Brief History of Blockade Runners Stranded Along the North Carolina Coast, 1861-1865 by James Sprunt - Above the man’s head are traces of an inscription which even in Layard’s day was indecipherable.
— from Amurath to Amurath by Gertrude Lowthian Bell - Callista glanced at him a bit startled; but the long lashes veiled his eyes, and the face was indecipherable.
— from The Wiving of Lance Cleaverage by Alice MacGowan - The Philosopher's face was indecipherable.
— from Snow on the HeadlightA Story of the Great Burlington Strike by Cy Warman - McKenna nodded, gazing at the mantelpiece meditatively, with an expression that was indecipherable.
— from The Sixty-First Second by Owen Johnson - The front of the grocer's shop badly needed repainting, and the name on the fascia, 'A. Smallman', was so faded as to be almost indecipherable.
— from The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists by Robert Tressell - "Here is a papyrus on which the characters are so badly traced that they are indecipherable.
— from More Toasts Jokes, Stories and Quotations - A signature apparently follows, but is indecipherable.
— from The Middle English Poem, Erthe Upon Erthe - Winnie's mind was clear and calm with the ease that came of sleep, but in the center of her being there was a dark spot of indecipherable vividness.
— from The Narrow House by Evelyn Scott - He had saluted her with elaborate civility, his eyes distended with indecipherable meanings.
— from Ann Veronica: A Modern Love Story by H. G. (Herbert George) Wells - Fanny first wavered under it, then laughed--a laugh that was partly perplexity, partly something else, indecipherable.
— from The Testing of Diana Mallory by Ward, Humphry, Mrs.
