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Etymology dictionary

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    unalloyed (adj.) — unchurched (adj.)

    unalloyed (adj.)

    1670s (figurative); 1760s (literal), from un- (1) "not" + past participle of alloy (v.).ETD unalloyed (adj.).2

    unaltered (adj.)

    1550s, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of alter (v.).ETD unaltered (adj.).2

    unalterable (adj.)

    1610s, from un- (1) "not" + alterable. Related: Unalterably.ETD unalterable (adj.).2

    unambiguous (adj.)

    1630s, from un- (1) "not" + ambiguous. Related: Unambiguously; unambiguousness.ETD unambiguous (adj.).2

    un-American (adj.)

    "not characteristic of American principles or methods, foreign to U.S. customs," 1818, from un- (1) "not" + American (adj.).ETD un-American (adj.).2

    unanimous (adj.)

    1610s, from Latin unanimus "of one mind, in union," from unus "one" (from PIE root *oi-no- "one, unique") + animus "mind, spirit" (see animus). Related: Unanimously.ETD unanimous (adj.).2

    unanimity (n.)

    mid-15c., from Old French unanimite (14c.), from Late Latin unanimitatem (nominative unanimitas) "unanimity, concord," from unanimus (see unanimous).ETD unanimity (n.).2

    unannounced (adj.)

    1775, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of announce (v.).ETD unannounced (adj.).2

    unanswered (adj.)

    late 14c., from un- (1) "not" + past participle of answer (v.).ETD unanswered (adj.).2

    unanswerable (adj.)

    1610s, "admitting of no answer," from un- (1) "not" + answerable.ETD unanswerable (adj.).2

    unanticipated (adj.)

    1741, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of anticipate (v.).ETD unanticipated (adj.).2

    unapologetic (adj.)

    1834, from un- (1) "not" + apologetic. Related: Unapologetically.ETD unapologetic (adj.).2

    unappeasable (adj.)

    1560s, from un- (1) "not" + appeasable. Related: Unappeasably.ETD unappeasable (adj.).2

    unappreciated (adj.)

    1809, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of appreciate (v.).ETD unappreciated (adj.).2

    unappreciative (adj.)

    1834, from un- (1) "not" + appreciative. Related: Unappreciatively; unappreciativeness. Inappreciative is from 1849.ETD unappreciative (adj.).2

    unapprehended (adj.)

    1590s, "not understood;" 1610s, "not taken or arrested," from un- (1) "not" + past participle of apprehend (v.).ETD unapprehended (adj.).2

    unapproachable (adj.)

    1580s, of places, from un- (1) "not" + approachable. Of persons, "distant, aloof," attested from 1848. Related: Unapproachably.ETD unapproachable (adj.).2

    unapproved (adj.)

    early 15c., from un- (1) "not" + past participle of approve (v.).ETD unapproved (adj.).2

    unary (adj.)

    1923, from Latin unus "one" (from PIE root *oi-no- "one, unique") on model of binary, etc.ETD unary (adj.).2

    unarmed (adj.)

    c. 1300, "with armor removed," from un- (1) "not" + armed, or else past-participle adjective from unarm "strip of armor" (c. 1300), from un- (2) "opposite of" + arm (v.). Meaning "not fitted to attack, weaponless" is from late 14c.ETD unarmed (adj.).2

    unashamed (adj.)

    c. 1500, implied in unashamedness, from un- (1) "not" + ashamed. Related: Unashamedly.ETD unashamed (adj.).2

    unasked (adj.)

    mid-13c., "uninvited," from un- (1) "not" + past participle of ask (v.). Old English had ungeaxod.ETD unasked (adj.).2

    unaspiring (adj.)

    1680s, from un- (1) "not" + present participle of aspire (v.).ETD unaspiring (adj.).2

    unassailable (adj.)

    1590s, from un- (1) "not" + assailable (see assail (v.)). Related: Unassailably.ETD unassailable (adj.).2

    unassimilated (adj.)

    1748, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of assimilate (v.).ETD unassimilated (adj.).2

    unassisted (adj.)

    1610s, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of assist (v.). Related: Unassistedly.ETD unassisted (adj.).2

    unassuming (adj.)

    "unpretentious, modest," 1726, from un- (1) "not" + present participle of assume (v.). Related: Unassumingly.ETD unassuming (adj.).2

    unattached (adj.)

    late 15c., "not arrested or seized," from un- (1) "not" + past participle of attach (v.). Meaning "not associated with any body or institution" is recorded from 1796; sense of "single, not engaged or married" is first attested 1874.ETD unattached (adj.).2

    unattainable (adj.)

    1660s, from un- (1) "not" + attainable.ETD unattainable (adj.).2

    unattended (adj.)

    c. 1600, "alone, unaccompanied," from un- (1) "not" + past participle of attend (v.). Meaning "with no one in attendance" is from 1796.ETD unattended (adj.).2

    unattested (adj.)

    1660s, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of attest (v.).ETD unattested (adj.).2

    unattractive (adj.)

    1729, from un- (1) "not" + attractive. Related: Unattractively; unattractiveness.ETD unattractive (adj.).2

    unauthorized (adj.)

    1590s, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of authorize (v.).ETD unauthorized (adj.).2

    unavailing (adj.)

    "ineffectual, useless," 1660s, from un- (1) "not" + availing. Also see unavailable.ETD unavailing (adj.).2

    unavailability (n.)

    1855, from un- (2) "opposite of" + availability, or else from unavailable + -ity.ETD unavailability (n.).2

    unavailable (adj.)

    1540s, "ineffectual," from un- (1) "not" + available. Meaning "incapable of being used" is recorded from 1855. Unavailing has taken up the older sense of the word.ETD unavailable (adj.).2

    unavoidable (adj.)

    mid-15c., from un- (1) "not" + avoidable. Related: Unavoidably.ETD unavoidable (adj.).2

    unawares (adv.)

    1530s, "without being aware," from un- (1) "not" + aware + adverbial genitive -s. Meaning "without being noticed" is recorded from 1660s. Form unaware is recorded from 1590s.ETD unawares (adv.).2

    unaware (adj.)

    1590a; see unawares.ETD unaware (adj.).2

    unbalance (v.)

    1856, from un- (2) "reverse, opposite of" + balance (v.).ETD unbalance (v.).2

    unbalanced (adj.)

    1640s, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of balance (v.). Earliest use is in reference to the mind, judgment, etc. Of material things, it is recorded from 1732.ETD unbalanced (adj.).2

    unbar (v.)

    late 14c., from un- (2) "reverse, opposite of" + bar (v.). Related: Unbarred; unbarring.ETD unbar (v.).2

    unbearable (adj.)

    mid-15c., from un- (1) "not" + bearable. Related: Unbearably. Old English had unberendlic.ETD unbearable (adj.).2

    unbeatable (adj.)

    1897, from un- (1) "not" + beatable.ETD unbeatable (adj.).2

    unbeaten (adj.)

    late 13c., "not beaten or struck," from un- (1) + beaten. In the sense of "undefeated" it is attested by 1757. Old English had ungebeaten "unwrought, unstruck."ETD unbeaten (adj.).2

    unbecoming (adj.)

    1590s, from un- (1) "not" + becoming "fitting." Related: Unbecomingly.ETD unbecoming (adj.).2

    unbefitting (adj.)

    1580s, from un- (1) "not" + befitting.ETD unbefitting (adj.).2

    unbefriended (adj.)

    from un- (1) "not" + past participle of befriend (v.).ETD unbefriended (adj.).2

    unbegotten (adj.)

    1530s, from un- (1) "not" + begotten.ETD unbegotten (adj.).2

    unbegun (adj.)

    Old English unbegunnen; see un- (1) "not" + begun.ETD unbegun (adj.).2

    unbeknown (adj.)

    "unknown," 1630s, from un- (1) "not" + beknown (see beknow).ETD unbeknown (adj.).2

    unbeknownst (adj.)

    1833, vulgar formation from unbeknown (1630s). No clear reason for the -st, but since 19c. this has become the dominant form.ETD unbeknownst (adj.).2

    unbelief (n.)

    mid-12c., "absence or lack of religious belief; disbelief of the truth of the Gospel," from un- (1) "not" or un- (2) "opposite of" + belief. Old English had ungeleafa in this sense.ETD unbelief (n.).2

    unbelievable (adj.)

    1540s, from un- (1) "not" + believable. Related: Unbelievably.ETD unbelievable (adj.).2

    unbeliever (n.)

    "one who does not believe in any given religion," 1520s, from un- (1) "not" believer. Old English had ungelifend in this sense.ETD unbeliever (n.).2

    unbend (v.)

    mid-13c., "relax a bow by unstringing it," from un- (2) "reverse, opposite of" + bend (v.). Intransitive sense from 1746. Figurative meaning "to become genial, relax" (1748) has a sense opposite to that of unbending "inflexible, obstinate" (1680s), which does not derive from the bow-stringing image.ETD unbend (v.).2

    unbeseeming (adj.)

    1580s, "not befitting, inappropriate, unsuitable," from un- (1) "not" + beseeming. A common 17c. word.ETD unbeseeming (adj.).2

    unbesought (adj.)

    1660s, from un- (1) "not" + besought.ETD unbesought (adj.).2

    unbias (v.)

    "to free from bias," 1708, from un- (2) "reverse, opposite of" + bias (v.).ETD unbias (v.).2

    unbiased (adj.)

    c. 1600, literal, in reference to throws at bowls, from un- (1) "not" + biased. Figurative sense of "impartial, unprejudiced" is recorded from 1640s.ETD unbiased (adj.).2

    unbidden (adj.)

    Old English unbedene, "not asked or invited," from un- (1) "not" + bidden. Similar formation in Middle Dutch ongebeden, German ungebeten, Old Norse ubeðinn.ETD unbidden (adj.).2

    unbind (v.)

    Old English unbindan, "to free from binding," from un- (2) "opposite of, reverse" + bind (v.). Similar formation in Old Frisian unbinda, German entbinden, Dutch ontbinden. Literal and figurative senses both present in Old English.ETD unbind (v.).2

    Unbound is from Old English unbunden, in literal sense. Figurative sense first attested late 14c.; of books from 1540s.ETD unbind (v.).3

    unbleached (adj.)

    1530s, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of bleach (v.).ETD unbleached (adj.).2

    unblemished (adj.)

    c. 1300, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of blemish (v.). Originally in moral sense; material sense is attested from mid-15c.ETD unblemished (adj.).2

    unblown (adj.)

    "not yet bloomed," 1580s, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of blow (v.2).ETD unblown (adj.).2

    unborn (adj.)

    Old English unboren "not yet born; stillborn," from un- (1) "not" + born. Similar formation in Old Frisian unbern, Dutch ongeboren, Old High German ungiporan, German ungeboren.ETD unborn (adj.).2

    unbosom (v.)

    "disclose in confidence" (secret opinions or feelings), 1580s, from un- (1) + bosom.ETD unbosom (v.).2

    unbounded (adj.)

    1590s, "not limited in extent," from un- (1) "not" + past participle of bound (v.1). Sense of "generous, profuse, liberal" is recorded from 1704. Related: Unboundedness.ETD unbounded (adj.).2

    unbowed (adj.)

    late 14c., "not bent," also figuratively "not subdued," from un- (1) "not" + past participle of bow (v.).ETD unbowed (adj.).2

    unbreakable (adj.)

    late 15c.; see un- (1) "not" + breakable.ETD unbreakable (adj.).2

    unbridled (adj.)

    late 14c., originally in figurative sense of "unrestrained, ungoverned," from un- (1) "not" + bridled (see bridle (v.)). Similar formation in Middle Dutch ongebreidelt. Literal sense of "not fitted with a bridle" (of horses) is not recorded before 1550s. The verb unbridle (see un- (2)) is attested from c. 1400 in the literal sense; mid-15c. in the figurative sense.ETD unbridled (adj.).2

    un-British (adj.)

    1746, from un- (1) "not" + British.ETD un-British (adj.).2

    unbroken (adj.)

    c. 1300, in reference to vows or compacts, from un- (1) "not" + broken. Attested from late 15c. in reference to material things; 1510s in reference to courage, spirit, etc.; 1530s in reference to horses; 1560s in reference to the flow of time. Old English had ungebrocen.ETD unbroken (adj.).2

    unbuckle (v.)

    late 14c., from un- (2) "reverse of" + buckle (v.1). Related: Unbuckled; unbuckling.ETD unbuckle (v.).2

    unburden (v.)

    1530s, "to unload" (transitive), from un- (2) "reverse of" + burden (v.). Similar formation in German entbürden. Reflexive sense is recorded from 1580s. Related: Unburdened; unburdening.ETD unburden (v.).2

    unburied (adj.)

    Old English unbyrged "unburied," from un- (1) "not" + past participle of bury (v.).ETD unburied (adj.).2

    unbutton (v.)

    early 14c., from un- (2) "opposite of" + button (v.). Related: Unbuttoned; unbuttoning.ETD unbutton (v.).2

    uncalled (adj.)

    c. 1400, "not summoned," from un- (1) "not" + past participle of call (v.). Similar formation in Swedish okallad, Danish ukaldet. With for and sense of "unnecessary, intrusive" it is first attested 1610.ETD uncalled (adj.).2

    uncancelled (adj.)

    1550s, from un- "not" + past-participle adjective from cancel (v.).ETD uncancelled (adj.).2

    uncanny (adj.)

    1590s, in a now-obsolete meaning "mischievous, malicious;" also in 17c., "careless, incautious; unreliable, not to be trusted," from un- (1) "not" + canny (q.v.) in its old Scots and Northern English sense of "skillful, prudent, lucky" (it is a doublet of cunning).ETD uncanny (adj.).2

    Canny had also a sense of "superstitiously lucky; skilled in magic." In Wright's "English Dialect Dictionary" (1900) the first sense of uncanny as used in Scotland and the North is "awkward, unskilful; careless; imprudent; inconvenient." The second is "Unearthly, ghostly, dangerous from supernatural causes ; ominous, unlucky ; of a person : possessed of supernatural powers".ETD uncanny (adj.).3

    From 1773, uncanny appears in popular literature from the North (Robert Fergusson, Scott), with reference to persons and in a sense of "not quite safe to trust or deal with through association with the supernatural." By 1843 it had a general sense in English of "having a supernatural character, weird, mysterious, strange." (OED notes this as "Common from c 1850"; Borges considers it untranslatable but notes that German unheimlich answers to it.)ETD uncanny (adj.).4

    The Scottish writers also use it with the meanings "unpleasantly hard; dangerous, unsafe."ETD uncanny (adj.).5

    uncap (v.)

    1560s, from un- (2) "reverse, opposite of" + cap (v.). Related: Uncapped; uncapping.ETD uncap (v.).2

    uncaring (adj.)

    1786, from un- (1) "not" + caring.ETD uncaring (adj.).2

    unceasing (adj.)

    late 14c., from un- (1) "not" + present participle of cease (v.). Related: Unceasingly (mid-14c.).ETD unceasing (adj.).2

    uncensored (adj.)

    1890, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of censor (v.).ETD uncensored (adj.).2

    unceremonious (adj.)

    1580s, from un- (1) "not" + ceremonious. Related: Unceremoniously.ETD unceremonious (adj.).2

    uncertain (adj.)

    c. 1300, "of indeterminate time or occurrence," from un- (1) "not" + certain (adj.). Meaning "not fully confident" is recorded from late 14c. (implied in uncertainty). Related: Uncertainly.ETD uncertain (adj.).2

    uncertainty (n.)

    late 14c., from uncertain + -ty.ETD uncertainty (n.).2

    unchain (v.)

    1580s, from un- (2) "opposite of" + chain (v.). Figurative sense of "to liberate" is recorded from 1793. Related: Unchained; unchaining.ETD unchain (v.).2

    unchallenged (adj.)

    1630s, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of challenge (v.).ETD unchallenged (adj.).2

    unchangeable (adj.)

    mid-14c., from un- (1) + changeable.ETD unchangeable (adj.).2

    unchanged (adj.)

    late 14c., from un- (1) "not" + past participle of change (v.).ETD unchanged (adj.).2

    unchanging (adj.)

    1590s, from un- (1) "not" + present participle of change (v.).ETD unchanging (adj.).2

    uncharacteristic (adj.)

    1753, from un- (1) "not" + characteristic (adj.). Related: Uncharacteristically.ETD uncharacteristic (adj.).2

    uncharitable (adj.)

    mid-15c., from un- (1) "not" + charitable (v.). Related: Uncharitably (late 14c.).ETD uncharitable (adj.).2

    unchartered (adj.)

    1805, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of charter (v.).ETD unchartered (adj.).2

    uncharted (adj.)

    1804, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of chart (v.).ETD uncharted (adj.).2

    unchaste (adj.)

    late 14c., from un- (1) "not" + chaste.ETD unchaste (adj.).2

    unchecked (adj.)

    late 15c., "not to be prevented from receiving a wage," from un- (1) "not" + past participle of check (v.1).ETD unchecked (adj.).2

    unchivalrous (adj.)

    1814, from un- (1) "not" + chivalrous. Related: Unchivalrously; unchivalric.ETD unchivalrous (adj.).2

    unchristian (adj.)

    1550s, "not professing Christianity" (of persons), from un- (1) "not" + Christian (adj.). Meaning "at variance with Christian principles" (of actions) is recorded from 1580s.ETD unchristian (adj.).2

    unchurched (adj.)

    1680s, from un- (1) "not" + churched "committed or belonging to a church" (see church (v.)). A verb, unchurch "to remove or exclude (someone) from membership in a church" is recorded from 1610s.ETD unchurched (adj.).2

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