Un.

[A-S. un, and sometimes on, O. Sax., Goth., O. & N. H. Ger. un, O. Fries. un, on, D. on, Icel. ó, equivalent to on, Sw. o, Dan. u, allied to Gr. ἀν, ἀ, Skr. an, a, Celtic an, Lat. in.] A negative prefix of Anglo-Saxon origin, equivalent to the Latin prefix in. The latter, in its English use, is restricted to words directly or indirectly derived from the Latin, and for the most part to representatives or derivatives of words which have the same prefix in the Latin or French, or else to words formed by Latin suffixes, and closely conformed to Latin analogies; un is of much wider application, and may be attached at will to almost any English adjective, or participle used adjectively, from which it may be desired to form a corresponding negative adjective, while it is also prefixed to less numerous classes of nouns and verbs. Its uses may be classified as follows:—

I. It is prefixed to adjectives, or to words used adjectively; as, (a.) To adjectives, to denote the absence of the quality designated by the adjective; as, unaccordant, unafraid, unalterable, un-American, unambitious, unangular, unanxious, unappreciable, unapproachable, unartificial, unattainable, unbearable, unbeautiful, unbrotherly, uncandid, uncanonical, unchangeable, uncheerful, uncivic, unclassical, uncomic, uncommercial, uncongenial, uncordial, uncourtly, undefinable, undemocratic, undesirable, unde­vout, undistinguishable, undutiful, unearnest, unendurable, un-English, uneventful, unexact, unfamiliar, unfelicitous, unfeminine, unfraternal, ungenial, ungenteel, ungentle, ungentlemanly, ungrammatical, unheedful, unimportant, uningenuous, uninhabitable, unintelligible, unjustifiable, unkingly, unmaidenly, unmanageable, unmeet, unmelodious, unmild, unmindful, unmotherly, unmusical, unneedful, unnoble, unobservant, unornamental, unpardonable, unpatriotic, unphilanthropic, unphilosophic, unpoetic, unpronounceable, unquenchable, unrational, unremunerative, unrestful, unromantic, unsalable, unsatisfactory, unscholarly, unscientific, unselfish, unserviceable, unsubstantial, unsuspicious, untenable, unthankful, untidy, unoriginal, unvocal, unwarlike, unwatchful, unweary, unwelcome, unwomanly, unworldly, and the like. (b.) To past passive participles, to indicate the absence of the condition or state expressed by the participle; as, unabated, unabridged, unaccented, unadorned, unadulterated, unaided, unaltered, unanswered, unappreciated, unarmed, unasked, unassisted, unattempted, unattended, unbaptized, unbiased, unbleached, unbought, uncalled, uncaused, unchanged, unchecked, uncheered, uncircumcised, unclouded, uncompounded, unconfined, uncongealed, unconquered, unconstrained, uncultivated, undecided, undefended, undefiled, undeserved, undesigned, undigested, undiminished, undimmed, undisguised, undisturbed, uneducated, unemployed, unenlightened, unessayed, unexhausted, unexplained, unexplored, unfathomed, unforeseen, unfulfilled, unfurnished, unguarded, unguessed, unharmed, unheeded, unhelped, unhonored, unimpeached, uninclosed, uninhabited, uninspired, unlearned, unlettered, unloved, unmarried, unmasked, unmatched, unmingled, unmitigated, unmixed, unmoved, unnerved, unnoticed, unobserved, unobstructed, unornamented, unperceived, unpolished, unpracticed, unpremeditated, unprepared, unprotected, unprovoked, unpunished, unread, unreconciled, unrefined, unrelated, unrepresented, unresisted, unrewarded, unsatisfied, unscathed, unset­tled, unshared, unsheltered, unshod, unshorn, unskilled, unsolicited, unsought, unstinted, unstudied, unsullied, unsurpassed, unsuspected, untasted, untaught, unterrified, untried, untutored, unvaried, unverified, unwarranted, unwedded, unwept, unwrought, and the like. (c.) To present participles 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, unaccommodating, unaltering, unappreciating, unaspiring, unavailing, unblenching, uncalculating, unchanging, uncomplaining, unconsuming, uncontending, unconvinced, undeserving, undiminishing, undiscerning, undoubting, unenduring, unenvying, unfading, unfaltering, unflinching, ungrudging, unheeding, uninteresting, uninviting, unloving, unmoving, unobliging, unobserving, unoffending, unpitying, unpleasing, unquailing, unquestioning, unrepining, unresisting, unresting, unsearching, unseeing, unshrinking, unsuspecting, unsympathizing, untroubling, unwearing, unwearying, and the like. This class of words is 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 -ty 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, only such as the following: 1. Those which have acquired an opposing 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 at all, or 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 in so frequent and familiar use that they are hardly felt to be of negative origin; as, uncertain, unseen, and the like. 3. Those which are of an anomalous and provincial character, not desirable to be used, and so marked; as, unpure for impure, unsatisfaction for dissatisfaction, unexpressible for inexpressible, and the like.

II. Un is prefixed to a much smaller class, consisting of verbs, to express the contrary, and not the simple negative, of the action indicated by the verb. Their participles not infrequently coincide in form with compounds of un with the participles or participial adjectives; as, undone, from undo, meaning unfastened, or ruined; but undone, from un and done, means not done, unfinished.

III. Un is prefixed to a few nouns to express the absence or the contrary of that which the noun signifies; as, unbelief, undress, unrest, and the like.

Compounds of the last two classes are given in full in their order.