In this vocabulary question, choose the option which best expresses the meaning of the given English word "Ineffable".

Introduction / Context:
This vocabulary question asks you to select the word that is closest in meaning to "ineffable". Such questions appear frequently in competitive exams to test your depth of English vocabulary and your ability to distinguish between similar looking words. Understanding "ineffable" is particularly useful in literary and philosophical contexts where emotions or experiences are described as beyond words.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Target word: "Ineffable".
• Option A: "unintelligible"
• Option B: "illegible"
• Option C: "inexplicable"
• Option D: "inexpressible"
• We assume standard dictionary meanings for these words.

Concept / Approach:
"Ineffable" literally means "too great, extreme, or sacred to be expressed or described in words". It focuses on the inability to express something fully, not necessarily on whether it can be explained logically. "Inexpressible" is almost a direct synonym because it means "impossible to express in words". "Unintelligible" means "impossible to understand", often because of unclear speech or writing. "Illegible" means "impossible to read", usually a reference to bad handwriting or damaged text. "Inexplicable" means "unable to be explained", which is close in certain philosophical contexts but still different from the core idea of being beyond expression in words.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Focus on the core idea of "ineffable": beyond the capacity of language to describe.Step 2: Compare this with "inexpressible", which literally means "cannot be expressed in words".Step 3: Note that "unintelligible" deals with understanding, usually of speech or text, and does not emphasise greatness or sacredness.Step 4: Observe that "illegible" is limited to writing that cannot be read, which is completely different.Step 5: Recognise that "inexplicable" concerns the inability to explain reasons or causes, which is somewhat close but still not as precise as "inexpressible" for the idea of "ineffable".

Verification / Alternative check:
Consider a typical usage: "The beauty of the sunrise was ineffable." This means that the beauty was so intense that it could not be fully captured in words. Substitute each option: "unintelligible" and "illegible" clearly do not fit. "Inexplicable" would suggest that the cause of the beauty cannot be explained, which is not quite the intended sense. "Inexpressible" fits perfectly, because we are talking about an experience that cannot be adequately expressed. Many dictionaries list "inexpressible" as a direct synonym of "ineffable".

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Option A "unintelligible" is used for something that cannot be understood (for example, unclear speech), not for something too great to describe.
• Option B "illegible" refers specifically to writing or print that cannot be read, which is unrelated to sacred or overwhelming experiences.
• Option C "inexplicable" deals with causes or reasons that cannot be explained, rather than the inability to put feelings or beauty into words.

Common Pitfalls:
Because many of these words share the prefix "in-" or "il-", meaning "not", learners sometimes guess based on that similarity alone. However, each word has a different root and thus a different field of meaning. To avoid confusion, focus on the part of the word after the prefix: "effable" relates to speaking, "legible" to reading, "intelligible" to understanding, and "explicable" to explaining. This helps you recall the correct meaning of each longer word.

Final Answer:
The option that best expresses the meaning of "ineffable" is "inexpressible".