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Ignoble

1. Of low birth or family; not noble; not illustrious; plebeian; common; humble. I was not ignoble of descent. (Shak) Her royal stock graft with ignoble plants. (Shak)

2. Not honorable, elevated, or generous; base. 'T but a base, ignoble mind, That mounts no higher than a bird can soar. (Shak) Far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife. (Gray)

3. (Science: zoology) Not a true or noble falcon; said of certain hawks, as the goshawk.

Synonym: degenerate, degraded, mean, base, dishonorable, reproachful, disgraceful, shameful, scandalous, infamous.

Origin: L. Ignobilis; pref. In- not _ nobilis noble: cf. F. Ignoble. See In- not, and noble.