un-

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1 1.1.1 Prefix 1.1.1.1 Usage notes 1.1.1.2 Translations 1.2 Etymology 2 1.2.1 Prefix 1.2.1.1 Usage notes 1.2.1.2 Synonyms 1.2.1.3 Translations 1.3 Etymology 3 1.3.1 Prefix 1.4 References 2 Old English 2.1 Pronunciation 2.2 Etymology 1 2.2.1 Prefix 2.3 Etymology 2 2.3.1 Alternative forms 2.3.2 Prefix

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology 1

Privative, from Old English un-, from Germanic, related to Latin in-, Ancient Greek ἀ- (modern Greek α-) and Sanskrit अ-.

[edit] Prefix

un-

1. (added to adjectives, nouns and verbs) not, absent, lacking

   unannounced — “not being announced”

   uneducated — “not educated”

   unattractiveness — “lack of attractiveness; ugliness”

   unrest — “a lack of rest (peace); war”

2. (added to adjectives and nouns) violative, contrary, opposite

   unconstitutional — “in violation of or contrary to the constitution”

[edit] Usage notes

• Some words formed in this way also have counterparts using in- or non-.

[edit] Translations

NOTE: Words using the prefix un- do not necessarily use the prefixes given here when translated. See individual words for more accurate translations.

[edit] Etymology 2

From Old English and-

[edit] Prefix

un- (added to verbs and nouns to form verbs)

1. reverse, opposite

   to undress — “to take one's clothes off”

   to unwind — “to reverse a winding”

   to unlock — “to undo the locking of”

   • 1996, Diane Warren (writer), Toni Braxton (singer), “Un-Break My Heart”, Secrets, LaFace

     Un-cry these tears I cried so many nights / Un-break my heart

2. release, free, remove, extract.

   to uncage — “to release from a cage”

   to untangle — “to remove the tangling of”

[edit] Usage notes

• Only certain verbs/nouns can be used to form a new verb having the opposite meaning. In particular, using verbs describing an irreversible action produces words often considered nonsense eg unkill, unspend, unlose, unring. These words may nevertheless be in occasional use or humorous or other effect.

[edit] Synonyms

• (oppostite): anti-, in-, non-, -un-
• (release): de-, dis-

[edit] Translations

NOTE: Words using the prefix un- do not necessarily use the prefixes given here when translated. See individual words for more accurate translations.

[edit] Etymology 3

From Latin ūnus

[edit] Prefix

un-

1. Used to form temporary names of elements (such as ununbium) whose existence has been predicted, and have not yet been given a systematic name.

[edit] References

• Definition of un- - Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary

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[edit] Old English

[edit] Pronunciation

• IPA: /un/

[edit] Etymology 1

Proto-Germanic *un-, from Proto-Indo-European *n̥-, a prefix use of the particle *ne (“‘not’”). Cognate with Old Saxon un- (Dutch on-), Old High German un- (German un-), Old Norse ó- (Swedish o-, Norwegian u), and Gothic 𐌿𐌽- (un-). The IE root is also the source of Greek α- (a-), αν- (an-), Latin in-, and Old Irish in-.

[edit] Prefix

un-

1. (added to nouns and adjectives) negation, privation, or absence of
2. bad, used to denote a perjorative sense (cf mis-)

   undǣd "un-deed, a bad deed"

3. (added to verbs) down

   unsettan (“‘to set down, put down’”)

[edit] Etymology 2

Originally identical with and-, from Proto-Germanic *and-. Cognate with Old Frisian und-, Old Saxon ant-, Old High German ant- (German ent-).

[edit] Alternative forms

• on-

[edit] Prefix

un-

1. Forming verbs from verbs, with an opposite or reversive sense.