UN

Un- . [OE. & AS. un-; akin to OFries. un-, D. on-, OS., OHG., & G. un-, Icel. ō-, ū- , Sw. o-, Dan. u-, W. an-, L. in-, Gr. &?;, &?;, Skr. an-, a-. √193. Cf. A- not In- not, No, adv.]

An inseparable prefix, or particle, signifying not; in-; non-. In- is prefixed mostly to words of Latin origin, or else to words formed by Latin suffixes; un- is of much wider application, and is attached at will to almost any adjective, or participle used adjectively, or adverb, from which it may be desired to form a corresponding negative adjective or adverb, and is also, but less freely, prefixed to nouns. Un- sometimes has merely an intensive force; as in unmerciless, unremorseless.

I. Un- is prefixed to adjectives, or to words used adjectively. Specifically: --

(a) To adjectives, to denote the absence of the quality designated by the adjective; as, --

(b) To past particles, or to adjectives formed after the analogy of past particles, to indicate the absence of the condition or state expressed by them; as, --

Unabolishable

Unabsolvable
 Unabsurd
 Unabundant

Unaccordant
 Unadoptable
 Unadventurous

Unaffable
 Unaffectionate
 Unafraid

Unalliable
 Unallowablew
 Unalterable

Unambiguous
 Unambitious
 Unamendable
 Un-American

Unamusive
 Unangular
 Unanxious

Unapocryphal
 Unapostolic
 &colbreak;
Unapparent
 Unappeasable
 Unapplausive

Unappreciable
 Unapprehensible

Unapprehensive
 Unapproachable
 Unartificial

Unartistic
 Unassailable

Unattainable
 Unattentive

Unauthentic
 Unavailable
 Unbailable

Unbearable
 Unbeautiful
 Unbeliefful

Unbelievable
 Unbeneficial
 Unbenevolent

Unblamable
 &colbreak; Unblemishable

Unblissful
 Unboastful
 Unbold

Unbookish
 Unbounteous
 Unbribable

Unbrotherly
 Unburdensome
 Unbusinesslike

Unbusy
 Uncandid
 Uncanonical

Uncaptious
 Uncareful
 Uncelestial

Unceremonious
 Unchallengeable
 Unchangeable

Unchary
 Unchastisable
 Uncheerful

Uncheery
 Unchildish
 Unchivalrous

Uncholeri
 Unchristianlike
 Uncircumspect

Uncivic
 Unclassible
 Unclassic

Unclassical
 Uncleanly
 Unclear

Unclerical
 Unclerklike
 Unclose
 Uncloudy

Unclubbable
 Uncoagulable
 Uncogitable

Uncollectible
 Uncomic
 Uncommendable

Uncommercial
 Uncommunicable

Uncommunicative
 Uncompact
 Uncompanionable

Uncompassionate
 Uncompellable

Uncompetitive
 Uncomplaisant
 Uncompliant
Uncomplimentary
 Unconcealable
 Unconcurrent

Unconditionate
 Unconfinable
 Unconfutable

Uncongealable
 Uncongenial
 Unconjugal

Unconjunctive
 Unconquerable
 Unconsecrate
 Uncontainable

Uncontaminate
 Uncontradictable
 Uncontrite

Unconvenable
 Unconventional
 Unconversable

Unconversant
 Unconvertible
 Uncoquettish

Uncordial
 Uncorpulent
 Uncorrespondent

Uncorruptible

Uncorruptive
 Uncostly
 Uncounselable

Uncountable
 Uncounterfeit
 Uncourteous

Uncourtierlike
 Uncourtly
 Uncrafty

Uncreatable
 Uncritical
 Uncrystalline

Uncultivable
 Uncurious
 Uncustomary

Undangerous
 Undaughterly
 Undead

Unddeceivable
 Undecidable
 Undecipherable

Undeclinable
 Undecomposable
 Undefinable

Undelectable
 Undeliberate
 Undelightful

Undeliverable
 Undemocratic
 Undemonstrable

Undemonstrative
 Undeniable
 Underogatory

Undescendible
 Undescribable
 Undesirable

Undesirous
 Undescribable
 Undevout

Undiaphonous
 Undiligent
 Undiminishable

Undiscernible
 Undisciplinable
 Undiscordant

Undiscoverable
 Undissolvable

Undistinguishable
 Undividable
 Undivine

Undomestic
 Undoubtful

Undrainable
 Undramatic
 Undrinkable

Undurable
 Unduteous
 Undutiful

Unearnest
 Uneatable
 Unecclesiastical

Unedible
 Unelaborate
 Unelective

Unelusive
 Unemotional
 Unemphatic

Unemployable
 Unendurable
 Un-English
 Unentire

Unenviable
 Unenvious
 Unepiscopal

Unequible
 Unerrable
 Unescapable

Unevangelical
 Uneventful
 Unevident
 Unexact
 Unexaminable
 Unexceptionable

Unexclusive
 Unexemplary
 Unexempt
 Unexhaustible
 Unexistent

Unexpectable
 Unexpectant
 Unexplainable

Unexpress
 Unexpressible
 Unexpugnable

Unextinct
 Unfactious
 Unfadable

Unfain
 Unfamiliar
 Unfamous

Unfashionable
 Unfast
 Unfatherly

Unfathomable
 Unfaulty
 Unfearful

Unfeasible
 Unf
 Unfelicitous

Unfelt
 Unfeminine
 Unfermentable

Unfestival
 Unfine
 Unfleshy

Unfluent
 Unforcible
 Unfordable

Unforeknowable
 Unforeseeable
 Unforgetful

Unforgivable
 Unformal
 Unframable

Unfraternal
 Unfriable
 Unfrightful

Unfrustrable
 Unfull
 Ungainable

Ungainful
 Ungallant
 Ungenial

Ungenteel
 Ungentle

Ungentlemanlike
 Ungentlemanly

Ungeometrical
 Unghostly
 Unglad

Ungodlike
 Ungood
 Ungoodly

Ungorgeous
 Ungrammatical
 Ungrave
 Unguidable

Unguilty
 Unhabile
 Unhabitable

Unhale
 Unhandy

Unhardy
 Unharmful
 Unhasty

Unhazardous
 Unhealable
 Unhealthful

Unhealthy
 Unheavenly
 Unheedful

Unhelpful
 Unheritable
 &colbreak;

Unhigh Unhonorable Unhopeful Unhostile
Unhurt Unhhurtful Unhygienic Unideal Unidle Unillusory
Unimaginable Unimaginative Unimmortal
Unimplicit Unimportant Unimpressible
Unimpressionable Unimprovable Unipugnable
Unincidental Unincrasable Unindifferent
Unindulgent Unindustrious Uninflammable
Uninfluential Uningenious Uningenuous
Uninhabitable Uninjurious Uninquisitive
Uninstructive Unintelligent Unintelligible
Unintentional Uninteresting Uninterpretable
Uninventive Uninvestigable Unjealous Unjoyful
Unjoyous Unjustifiable Unkingly Unknightly
Unknotty Unknowable Unlaborious Unladylike
Unlevel Unlibidinous Unlightsome Unlimber Unlineal Unlogical
Unlordly Unlosable Unlovable Unlucent
Unluminous Unlustrous Unlusty Unmaidenly
Unmakable Unmalleable Unmanageable Unmanful
Unmanlike Unmanly Unmarketable Unmarriable
Unmarriageable Unmarvelous Unmasculine
Unmatchable Unmatronlike Unmeek Unmeet Unmelodious Unmendable
Unmentionable Unmercenary Unmerciable
Unmeritable Unmerry Unmetaphorical Unmighty
Unmild Unmilitary Unmindful Unmingleable
Unmiraculous Unmiry Unmitigable Unmodifiable
Unmodish Unmoist Unmonkish Unmotherly
Unmuscular Unmusical Unmysterious Unnamable
Unnative Unnavigable Unneedful Unnegotiable
Unniggard Unnoble
Unobjectionable &colbreak;

---- and the like.

(c) To present particles which come from intransitive verbs, or are themselves employed as adjectives, to mark the absence of the activity, disposition, or condition implied by the participle; as, -

---- and the like.

The above classes of words are unlimited in extent, and such compounds may be formed by any writer or speaker at will from almost all the adjectives or participles in the language, excepting those which have a recognized and usual negative correspondent with the prefix -in. No attempt will be made, therefore, to define them all in this Dictionary; many will be omitted from its Vocabulary which are negations of the simple word, and are readily explained by prefixing a not to the latter. Derivatives of these words in -ly and -ness will also, for the most part, be omitted for the same or similar reasons.

There will be inserted as separate articles with definitions, the following: --

1. Those which have acquired an opposed or contrary, instead of a merely negative, meaning; as, unfriendly, ungraceful, unpalatable, unquiet, and the like; or else an intensive sense more than a prefixed not would express; as, unending, unparalleled, undisciplined, undoubted, unsafe, and the like.

2. Those which have the value of independent words, inasmuch as the simple words are either not used at all, or are rarely, or at least much less frequently, used; as, unavoidable, unconscionable, undeniable, unspeakable, unprecedented, unruly, and the like; or inasmuch as they are used in a different sense from the usual meaning of the primitive, or especially in one of the significations of the latter; as, unaccountable, unalloyed, unbelieving, unpretending, unreserved, and the like; or inasmuch as they are so frequently and familiarly used that they are hardly felt to be of negative origin; as, uncertain, uneven, and the like.

3. Those which are anomalous, provincial, or, for some other reason, not desirable to be used, and are so indicated; as, unpure for impure, unsatisfaction for dissatisfaction, unexpressible for inexpressible, and the like.

II. Un- is prefixed to nouns to express the absence of, or the contrary of, that which the noun signifies; as, unbelief, unfaith, unhealth, unrest, untruth, and the like.

&fist; Compounds of this last class are given in full in their proper order in the Vocabulary.

Un- . [OE. un-, on-, the unaccented form of the accented prefix and- (cf. Answer); akin to D. ont-, G. ent-, OHG. int-, Goth. and-. See Anti-.]

An inseparable verbal prefix or particle. It is prefixed: (a) To verbs to express the contrary, and not the simple negative, of the action of the verb to which it is prefixed; as in uncoil, undo, unfold. (b) To nouns to form verbs expressing privation of the thing, quality, or state expressed by the noun, or separation from it; as in unchild, unsex. Sometimes particles and participial adjectives formed with this prefix coincide in form with compounds of the negative prefix un- (see 2d Un-); as in undone (from undo), meaning unfastened, ruined; and undone (from 2d un- and done) meaning not done, not finished. Un- is sometimes used with an intensive force merely; as in unloose.

&fist; Compounds of this prefix are given in full in their proper order in the Vocabulary.