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Etymology dictionary

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    unmoor (v.) — unrelated (adj.)

    unmoor (v.)

    late 15c., "to free from moorings," from un- (2) "reverse, opposite of" + moor (v.). Related: Unmoored.ETD unmoor (v.).2

    unmotivated (adj.)

    "lacking in motivation," by 1905, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of motivate. Meaning "lacking in motive" is attested from 1871. Unmotived is from 1794.ETD unmotivated (adj.).2

    unmounted (adj.)

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

    unmoved (adj.)

    late 14c., "not affected by emotion or excitement," from un- (1) "not" + past participle of move (v.). Meaning "fixed in position" is from mid-15c.ETD unmoved (adj.).2

    unmovable (adj.)

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

    unmuzzled (adj.)

    c. 1600, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of muzzle (v.), or past participle of unmuzzle (v.), which is attested from c. 1600.ETD unmuzzled (adj.).2

    unnamed (adj.)

    c. 1500, "not mentioned by name." from un- (1) "not" + past participle of name (v.). Similar formation in Old Frisian unnamed, Middle Dutch ongenaemt.ETD unnamed (adj.).2

    unnatural (adj.)

    early 15c., "not in accord with physical nature," from un- (1) "not" + natural (adj.). Meaning "artificial" is attested from 1746; that of "at variance with moral standards" is from 1520s. Related: Unnaturally; unnaturalness.ETD unnatural (adj.).2

    unnecessary (adj.)

    1540s, from un- (1) "not" + necessary (adj.). Related: Unnecessarily.ETD unnecessary (adj.).2

    unneeded (adj.)

    1725, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of need (v.).ETD unneeded (adj.).2

    unnerve (v.)

    1620s, "to destroy the strength of," from un- (2) "reverse, opposite of" + nerve (v.). Meaning "to deprive of courage" is recorded from 1704. Related: Unnerved; unnerving.ETD unnerve (v.).2

    unnoticed (adj.)

    1720, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of notice (v.).ETD unnoticed (adj.).2

    unnumbered (adj.)

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

    unobjectionable (adj.)

    1793, from un- (1) "not" + objectionable (adj.).ETD unobjectionable (adj.).2

    unobserved (adj.)

    1610s, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of observe (v.).ETD unobserved (adj.).2

    unobservant (adj.)

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

    unobstructed (adj.)

    1650s, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of obstruct (v.).ETD unobstructed (adj.).2

    unobtainable (adj.)

    1775, from un- (1) "not" + obtainable (adj.). Related: Unobtainability.ETD unobtainable (adj.).2

    unobtrusive (adj.)

    from un- (1) + obtrusive (adj.). Related: Unobtrusively; unobtrusiveness.ETD unobtrusive (adj.).2

    unoccupied (adj.)

    late 14c., "idle," from un- (1) "not" + past participle of occupy (v.). In reference to ground, etc., "not possessed, not made use of," from early 15c.ETD unoccupied (adj.).2

    unoffending (adj.)

    1560s, from un- (1) "not" + present participle of offend (v.).ETD unoffending (adj.).2

    unofficial (adj.)

    1798, from un- (1) "not" + official (adj.). Related: Unofficially.ETD unofficial (adj.).2

    unopposed (adj.)

    1650s, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of oppose (v.).ETD unopposed (adj.).2

    unorganized (adj.)

    1680s, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of organize (v.).ETD unorganized (adj.).2

    unoriginal (adj.)

    1660s, "uncreated, without an origin," from un- (1) "not" + original (adj.). Meaning "derivative, second-hand" is recorded from 1774. Related: Unoriginality.ETD unoriginal (adj.).2

    unorthodox (adj.)

    1650s, from un- (1) "not" + orthodox (adj.).ETD unorthodox (adj.).2

    unorthodoxy (n.)

    1704, from unorthodox + -y (4).ETD unorthodoxy (n.).2

    unostentatious (adj.)

    1747, from un- (1) "not" + ostentatious (adj.). Related: Unostentatiously.ETD unostentatious (adj.).2

    unowned (adj.)

    1610s, "unpossessed," from un- (1) "not" + past participle of own (v.). From 1715 as "unacknowledged."ETD unowned (adj.).2

    unpack (v.)

    late 15c., from un- (2) "reverse, opposite of" + pack (v.). Similar formation in Dutch ontpakken. Related: Unpacked; unpacking.ETD unpack (v.).2

    unpaid (adj.)

    late 14c., in reference to persons, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of pay (v.). Of debts, attested from late 15c.ETD unpaid (adj.).2

    unpalatable (adj.)

    1680s, from un- (1) "not" + palatable (adj.). Related: Unpalatably.ETD unpalatable (adj.).2

    unparalleled (adj.)

    1590s, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of parallel (v.). Unparallel as an adjective is recorded from 1650s.ETD unparalleled (adj.).2

    unpardonable (adj.)

    1520s, from un- (1) "not" + pardonable (adj.). Related: Unpardonably. Impardonable also is from 1520s.ETD unpardonable (adj.).2

    unpatriotic (adj.)

    1775, from un- (1) "not" + patriotic.ETD unpatriotic (adj.).2

    unpaved (adj.)

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

    unpenetrable (adj.)

    c. 1400, from un- (1) "not" + penetrable (adj.). The usual word now is impenetrable.ETD unpenetrable (adj.).2

    unperceived (adj.)

    mid-14c., from un- (1) "not" + past participle of perceive (v.).ETD unperceived (adj.).2

    unpersuasive (adj.)

    1748, from un- (1) "not" + persuasive (adj.). Related: Unpersuasively.ETD unpersuasive (adj.).2

    unperturbed (adj.)

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

    unplace (v.)

    from un- (2) "reverse, opposite of" + place (v.). Related: Unplaced; unplacing.ETD unplace (v.).2

    unplanned (adj.)

    by 1804, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of plan (v.).ETD unplanned (adj.).2

    unpleasantness (n.)

    1540s, "state or quality of being unpleasant," from unpleasant + -ness. By 1835 as "a slight quarrel, a minor misunderstanding." The late unpleasantness as a humorously polite Southern description of the American Civil War is attested from 1868.ETD unpleasantness (n.).2

    unpleasant (adj.)

    1530s, from un- (1) "not" + pleasant (adj.). Related: Unpleasantly.ETD unpleasant (adj.).2

    unplug (v.)

    1775, from un- (2) "reverse, opposite of" + plug (v.). Related: Unplugged; unplugging.ETD unplug (v.).2

    unpolished (adj.)

    late 14c., from un- (1) "not" + past participle of polish (v.). In reference to style, language, etc., attested from late 15c. Less common impolished is attested from 1580s.ETD unpolished (adj.).2

    unpolluted (adj.)

    c. 1600, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of pollute (v.).ETD unpolluted (adj.).2

    unpopular (adj.)

    1640s, from un- (1) "not" + popular (adj.). Related: Unpopularly. Less common impopular is attested from 1721.ETD unpopular (adj.).2

    unpopularity (n.)

    1735, from un- (1) "not" + popularity (n.).ETD unpopularity (n.).2

    unpracticed (adj.)

    also unpractised, 1550s, "unexpert," of persons, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of practice (v.). From 1530s as "not done, untried."ETD unpracticed (adj.).2

    unprecedented (adj.)

    1620s, from un- (1) "not" + precedented. In common use from c. 1760.ETD unprecedented (adj.).2

    unpredictable (adj.)

    1840, from un- (1) "not" + predictable (adj.). Related: Unpredictably; unpredictability.ETD unpredictable (adj.).2

    unprejudiced (adj.)

    1610s, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of prejudice (v.).ETD unprejudiced (adj.).2

    unpremeditated (adj.)

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

    unprepared (adj.)

    1540s, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of prepare (v.).ETD unprepared (adj.).2

    unprepossessing (adj.)

    1816, from un- (1) "not" + prepossessing (adj.).ETD unprepossessing (adj.).2

    unpresentable (adj.)

    1828, from un- (1) "not" + presentable (adj.).ETD unpresentable (adj.).2

    unpretentious (adj.)

    1859, from un- (1) "not" + pretentious (adj.). Related: Unpretentiously; unpretentiousness.ETD unpretentious (adj.).2

    unpreventable (adj.)

    1610s, from un- (1) "not" + preventable (adj.).ETD unpreventable (adj.).2

    unprincipled (adj.)

    1630s, "not instructed" (in something), from un- (1) "not" + principled (adj.). Meaning "not honorable" is recorded from 1640s.ETD unprincipled (adj.).2

    unproductive (adj.)

    "not productive, barren, not making some specified effect or result," by 1690s, from un- (1) "not" + productive (adj.). Related: Unproductively; unproductiveness.ETD unproductive (adj.).2

    unprofessional (adj.)

    1806, from un- (1) "not" + professional (adj.).ETD unprofessional (adj.).2

    unprofitable (adj.)

    early 14c., from un- (1) "not" + profitable (adj.). Related: Unprofitably.ETD unprofitable (adj.).2

    unpromising (adj.)

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

    unprompted (adj.)

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

    unpronounceable (adj.)

    1831, from un- (1) "not" + pronounceable (adj.).ETD unpronounceable (adj.).2

    unpropitious (adj.)

    c. 1600 (implied in unpropitiously), from un- (1) "not" + propitious (adj.).ETD unpropitious (adj.).2

    unprotected (adj.)

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

    unprovable (adj.)

    early 15c., from un- (1) "not" + provable (adj.).ETD unprovable (adj.).2

    unproved (adj.)

    "not demonstrated to be true," 1530s, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of prove (v.).ETD unproved (adj.).2

    unprovoked (adj.)

    1580s, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of provoke (v.).ETD unprovoked (adj.).2

    unpublished (adj.)

    c. 1600, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of publish. In reference to an author, attested from 1934.ETD unpublished (adj.).2

    unpunctual (adj.)

    1740, from un- (1) "not" + punctual (adj.).ETD unpunctual (adj.).2

    unpunished (adj.)

    mid-14c., from un- (1) "not" + past participle of punish (v.).ETD unpunished (adj.).2

    unqualified (adj.)

    1550s, "not having necessary qualifications, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of qualify (v.). Meaning "not modified or limited" is recorded from 1796. As a verb, unqualify "disqualify" is from 1650s.ETD unqualified (adj.).2

    unquantifiable (adj.)

    1888, from un- + quantifiable (adj.). Related: Unquantifiably.ETD unquantifiable (adj.).2

    unquenchable (adj.)

    late 14c., of fire; 1560s, of thirst, from un- (1) "not" + quench (v.) + -able. Related: Unquenchably.ETD unquenchable (adj.).2

    unquestioned (adj.)

    c. 1600, "not interrogated;" 1620s, "not to be opposed or disputed," from un- (1) "not" + past participle of question (v.).ETD unquestioned (adj.).2

    unquestionable (adj.)

    c. 1600, from un- (1) "not" + questionable (adj.). Related: Unquestionably. Questionless (adv.) was used in the sense of "without doubt, assuredly" from early 15c.ETD unquestionable (adj.).2

    unquiet (adj.)

    1520s, from un- (1) "not" + quiet (adj.).ETD unquiet (adj.).2

    unquote (v.)

    1915, in telegraphs, where punctuation had to be spelled out and quote and unquote were used in place of the quotation marks; from un- (2) "reverse, opposite of" + quote (v.). Quote unquote spoken together as a verbal formula to indicate quotation of the word or phrase to follow (often with ironic intent) is attested by 1935.ETD unquote (v.).2

    unravel (v.)

    c. 1600 (transitive), from un- (2) + ravel (v.). Intransitive from 1640s. "The prefix is either reversive or intensive, according as ravel is taken to mean 'tangle' or 'untangle'" [Century Dictionary]. Related: Unravelled; unravelling; unravellment.ETD unravel (v.).2

    unreachable (adj.)

    1590s, from un- (1) "not" + reachable (see reach (v.)).ETD unreachable (adj.).2

    unreadable (adj.)

    1787, of written material, "dull, distasteful," from un- (1) "not" + readable (adj.). Meaning "illegible" is from 1830, but is better left to illegible.ETD unreadable (adj.).2

    unread (adj.)

    mid-15c., from un- (1) "not" + past participle of read (v.).ETD unread (adj.).2

    unready (adj.)

    mid-14c., "not prepared," from un- (1) "not" + ready (adj.).ETD unready (adj.).2

    In English history, applied from c. 1200 (Etheldredus Unrad) to Anglo-Saxon King Æðelræd II (968-1016), where it preserves Middle English unredi, a different adjective, from Old English ungeræd "ill-advised, rede-less, no-counsel" and plays on the king's name (which means "good-counsel"). Old English ræd "advice, counsel" is related to read (v.). Rede "counsel" survived in poetic usage to 17c. An attempted revival by Scott (19c.) failed, though it is used in Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings."ETD unready (adj.).3

    unreality (adj.)

    1751, from un- (1) "not" + reality (n.).ETD unreality (adj.).2

    unreal (adj.)

    c. 1600, "not real," from un- (1) "not" + real (adj.). Meaning "impractical, visionary" is by 1660s. Slang sense of "wonderful, great" is first recorded 1965.ETD unreal (adj.).2

    unrealistic (adj.)

    1865, from un- (1) "not" + realistic. Related: Unrealistically.ETD unrealistic (adj.).2

    unreasonable (adj.)

    mid-14c., "irrational, illogical," from un- (1) "not" + reasonable. From late 14c. as "excessive, going beyond what is sensible or realistic." Related: Unreasonably; unreasonableness.ETD unreasonable (adj.).2

    unreason (n.)

    c. 1300, "injustice;" 1827, "absense of reason," from un- (1) "not" + reason (n.).ETD unreason (n.).2

    unrecognizable (adj.)

    1817, from un- (1) "not" + recognizable. Related: Unrecognizably.ETD unrecognizable (adj.).2

    unreconciled (adj.)

    mid-15c., from un- (1) "not" + past participle of reconcile (v.).ETD unreconciled (adj.).2

    unreconstructed (adj.)

    1867, "not reconciled to the outcome of the American Civil War," from un- (1) "not" + past participle of reconstruct (v.). See Reconstruction.ETD unreconstructed (adj.).2

    unrecorded (adj.)

    1580s, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of record (v.).ETD unrecorded (adj.).2

    unredeemed (adj.)

    1540s, "unsaved;" 1805, "not balanced by any good quality," from un- (1) "not" + past participle of redeem (v.).ETD unredeemed (adj.).2

    unrefined (adj.)

    1590s, "not refined in manners," from un- (1) "not" + past participle of refine (v.). Meaning "not free from gross matter" is recorded from 1610s.ETD unrefined (adj.).2

    unreformed (adj.)

    1520s, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of reform (v.).ETD unreformed (adj.).2

    unregenerate (adj.)

    1610s, from un- (1) "not" + regenerate (adj.).ETD unregenerate (adj.).2

    unrelenting (adj.)

    1580s, from un- (1) "not" + present participle of relent (v.). Related: Unrelentingly.ETD unrelenting (adj.).2

    unrelated (adj.)

    1660s, "not akin," from un- (1) "not" + past participle of relate (v.). Meaning "not in any relationship" is attested from 1660s; that of "not told" is from 1764.ETD unrelated (adj.).2

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