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un-

1
  1. a prefix meaning “not,” freely used as an English formative, giving negative or opposite force in adjectives and their derivative adverbs and nouns ( unfair; unfairly; unfairness; unfelt; unseen; unfitting; unformed; unheard-of; un-get-at-able ), and less freely used in certain other nouns ( unrest; unemployment ).


un-

2
  1. a prefix freely used in English to form verbs expressing a reversal of some action or state, or removal, deprivation, release, etc. ( unbend; uncork; unfasten , etc.), or to intensify the force of a verb already having such a meaning ( unloose ).

un

3
or 'un

[ uhn ]

pronoun

, Dialect.
  1. one:

    young uns; He's a bad un.

UN

4
or U.N.

abbreviation for

UN

1

abbreviation for

  1. United Nations


un-

2

prefix

  1. freely used with adjectives, participles, and their derivative adverbs and nouns: less frequently used with certain other nouns not; contrary to; opposite of

    uncertain

    untidiness

    unbelief

    uncomplaining

    untruth

    unrest

    unemotionally

un-

3

prefix forming verbs and verbal derivatives

  1. denoting reversal of an action or state

    uncover

    untangle

  2. denoting removal from, release, or deprivation

    unharness

    unthrone

    unman

  3. (intensifier)

    unloose

'un

4

/ ən /

pronoun

  1. See one
    a spelling of one

    that's a big 'un

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Usage

This spelling is intended to reflect a dialectal or informal pronunciation

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Word History and Origins

Origin of un-1

Middle English un-, on-, Old English; cognate with Dutch on-, Gothic, German un-, Old Norse ū-, ō-; akin to Latin in-, Greek an-, a-. See a- 6, an- 1, in- 3

Origin of un-2

Middle English, Old English un-, on-; cognate with Gothic and-, Dutch ont-, German ent-; akin to Latin ante, Greek antí; ante-, anti-

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Word History and Origins

Origin of un-1

from Old English on-, un-; related to Gothic on-, German un-, Latin in-

Origin of un-2

from Old English un-, on-; related to Gothic and-, German ent-, Latin ante

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Synonym Study

See in- 3.

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Example Sentences

The U.N. special representative has called for local ceasefires in Aleppo and elsewhere to start building a broader peace.

The Russians are going through the U.N. process, as the Canadians are, as the Danes are.

In the time weeks since the U.N. meeting, the numbers of those affected by Ebola have doubled.

Four weeks later, at a U.N. emergency Ebola meeting, world leaders publicly called on their nations for support.

Since then, a seemingly endless parade of stars have been buttonholed by the U.N. to highlight various issues.

There were politely non-committal acknowledgments from embassies and the U.N.

Where the bombs had come from had been the subject of acrimonious accusations on the floor of the U.N.

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