un- 2   pref.   To reverse or undo the result of a specified action: unbind. To deprive of or remove a specified thing: unfrock. To release, free, or remove from: unyoke. Used as an intensive: unloose. [Middle English, from Old English on-, alteration (influenced by un-, not) of ond-, and-, an-, against, opposing; see ant- in Indo-European roots.]

Un-

Un-\ [OE. & AS. un-; akin to OFries. un-, D. on-, OS., OHG., & G. un-, Icel. [=o]-, [=u]-, Sw. o-, Dan. u-, W. an-, L. in-, Gr. ?, ?, Skr. an-, a-. [root]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 [break] Unapparent Unappeasable Unapplausive Unappreciable Unapprehensible Unapprehensive Unapproachable Unartificial Unartistic Unassailable Unattainable Unattentive Unauthentic Unavailable Unbailable Unbearable Unbeautiful Unbeliefful Unbelievable Unbeneficial Unbenevolent Unblamable [break] 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 [break] 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 [break] 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 [break] ---- 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.

Note: 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.

Note: Compounds of this last class are given in full in their proper order in the Vocabulary.

un-  (2)