Etymology dictionary

uncial (adj.) — under-achiever (n.)

uncial (adj.)

1640s, "pertaining to an ounce," from Latin uncialis "of an inch, of an ounce," from uncia "a twelfth part" (see inch (n.1)). In reference to letters, it is attested from 1712, from Late Latin litterae unciales (Jerome), probably meaning "letters an inch high," from Latin uncialis "of an inch, inch-high." As a noun, "an uncial letter," from 1775.

uncirculated (adj.)

1749, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of circulate (v.).

uncircumcised (adj.)

late 14c., from un- (1) "not" + past participle of circumcise (v.).

uncivilized (adj.)

c. 1600, "barbarous," from un- (1) "not" + past participle of civilize (v.). Uncivil in the same sense is recorded from 1550s.

uncivil (adj.)

1550s, "barbarous," from un- (1) "not" + civil (adj.). Meaning "impolite" is 1590s.

uncle (n.)

late 13c., from Old French oncle, from Latin avunculus "mother's brother" ("father's brother" was patruus), literally "little grandfather," diminutive of avus "grandfather," from PIE root *awo- "grandfather, adult male relative other than one's father" (source also of Armenian hav "grandfather," Hittite huhhas "grandfather," Lithuanian avynas "maternal uncle," Old Church Slavonic uji "uncle," Welsh ewythr "uncle"). Boutkan, however, says "the root probably denoted members of the family of the mother."

Replaced Old English eam (usually maternal; paternal uncle was fædera), which represents the Germanic form of the same root (source also of Dutch oom "uncle, grandfather, brother-in-law," Old High German oheim "maternal uncle, son of a sister" German Ohm "uncle," Old Norse afi "grandfather").

Also from French are German, Danish, Swedish onkel. As a familiar title of address to an old man, attested by 1793; in the U.S. South, especially "a kindly title for a worthy old negro" [Century Dictionary]. First record of Dutch uncle (and his blunt, stern, benevolent advice) is from 1838; Welsh uncle (1747) was the male first cousin of one's parent. To say uncle as a sign of submission in a fight is North American, attested from 1909, of uncertain signification.

unclasp (v.)

1520s, from un- (2) "reverse, opposite of" + clasp (v.). Related: Unclasped; unclasping.

unclassified (adj.)

1813, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of classify.

uncleanness (n.)

Old English unclænnes; see unclean + -ness.

unclean (adj.)

Old English unclæne, "morally impure, defiled, unfit for food," from un- (1) "not" + clean (adj.). Literal sense of "dirty" is recorded from mid-13c.

uncleanly (adj.)

Old English unclænlic; see un- (1) "not" + cleanly (adj.). Related: Uncleanliness.

uncleared (adj.)

1630s in reference to debts, 1772 in reference to land; from un- (1) "not" + past participle of clear (v.).

unclear (adj.)

c. 1300, "not easy to understand," from un- (1) "not" + clear (adj.). Similar formation in Middle Dutch onclaer, Dutch onklaar, German unklar, Old Norse uklarr, Danish uklar, Swedish oklar. Of persons, in sense of "uncertain, doubtful," it is recorded from 1670s.

Uncle Sam (n.)

symbol of the United States of America, 1813, coined during the war with Britain as a contrast to John Bull, and no doubt suggested by the initials U.S. in abbreviations. "[L]ater statements connecting it with different government officials of the name of Samuel appear to be unfounded" [OED]. The common figure of Uncle Sam began to appear in political cartoons c. 1850. Only gradually superseded earlier Brother Jonathan (1776), largely through the popularization of the figure by cartoonist Thomas Nast. British in World War I sometimes called U.S. soldiers Sammies.

Uncle Tom (n.)

"servile black man," 1922, somewhat inaccurately in reference to the humble, pious, but strong-willed main character in Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel, "Uncle Tom's Cabin" (1852). The image implied in the insult perhaps is more traceable to the late 19c. minstel show versions of the story, which reached a far wider audience than the book.

As a verb, attested from 1937.

unclog (v.)

c. 1600, from un- (2) "reverse, opposite of" + clog (v.). Related: Unclogged; unclogging.

unclothe (v.)

c. 1300, uncloþe (transitive), from un- (2) "opposite of" + clothe (v.). Reflexive sense is attested from late 14c. Related: Unclothed; unclothing.

unclouded (adj.)

1590s, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of cloud (v.).

uncoil (v.)

1713 (transitive), from un- (2) "reverse, opposite of" + coil (v.). Related: Uncoiled; uncoiling.

uncollectible (adj.)

1819, from un- (1) "not" + collectible. Form uncollectable is attested by 1796.

uncollected (adj.)

1730, of things, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of collect (v.).

uncollectable (adj.)

see uncollectible.

uncolored (adj.)

also uncoloured, 1530s, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of color (v.). As a verb, from uncolor is recorded from early 15c.

uncomely (adj.)

c. 1200, "improper, unseemly, indecent," from un- (1) "not" + comely. Related: Uncomeliness.

uncomfortable (adj.)

early 15c. "causing bodily or mental discomfort, affording no comfort," from un- (1) "not" + comfortable (adj.). Intransitive meaning "feeling discomfort, ill-at-ease" is attested from 1796. Related: Uncomfortably.

uncommitted (adj.)

late 14c., "not delegated," from un- (1) "not" + committed. Meaning "not pledged to any particular course or party" is attested from 1814.

uncommon (adj.)

1540s, "not possessed in common," from un- (1) "not" + common (adj.). Meaning "not commonly occurring, unusual, rare" is recorded from 1610s. Related: Uncommonly.

uncommunicative (adj.)

1690s, from un- (1) "not" + communicative. Incommunicative is from 1660s, from in- (1).

uncomparable (adj.)

late 14c., "incomparable," from un- (1) "not" + comparable. Meaning "unable to be compared (to something else)" is from 1826. Related: Uncomparably.

uncompassionate (adj.)

1590s, from un- (1) "not" + compassionate (adj.).

uncompensated (adj.)

1774, "not compensated by any good," from un- (1) "not" + past participle of compensate (v.). Meaning "not recompensed" is attested from 1830.

uncomplicated (adj.)

1724, from un- (1) "not" + complicated.

uncomplaining (adj.)

1744, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of complain (v.).

uncompounded (adj.)

1580s, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of compound (v.).

uncomprehending (adj.)

1795, from un- (1) "not" + present participle of comprehend (v.). Related: Uncomprehendingly.

uncomprehensible (adj.)

late 14c., from un- (1) "not" + comprehensible. The usual word is incomprehensible.

uncompromising (adj.)

1799, from un- (1) "not" + present participle of compromise (v.). Related: Uncompromisingly.

uncompromised (adj.)

1775, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of compromise (v.).

unconcerned (adj.)

1630s, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of concern (v.). Related: Unconcernedly.

unconditional (adj.)

1660s, from un- (1) "not" + conditional (adj.). Related: Unconditionally. Unconditional surrender in the military sense is attested from 1730; in U.S., often associated with Civil War Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and the taking of Fort Donelson.

unconditioned (adj.)

1630s, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of condition (v.).

unconfined (adj.)

c. 1600, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of confine (v.).

unconfirmed (adj.)

1560s, "not having received the rite of confirmation," from un- (1) "not" + confirmed. Meaning "not supported by further evidence" is attested from 1670s.

unconformable (adj.)

1590s, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of conformable (v.).

unconformity (n.)

c. 1600, from un- (1) "not" + conformity. Geological sense is from 1829.

uncongenial (adj.)

1749, from un- (1) "not" + congenial (adj.).

unconnected (adj.)

1736, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of connect (v.).

unconquerable (adj.)

1590s, from un- (1) "not" + conquer + -able.

unconscious (adj.)

1712, "unaware, not marked by conscious thought," from un- (1) "not" + conscious. Meaning "temporarily insensible, knocked out" is recorded from 1860. Related: Unconsciously; unconsciousness. In psychology, the noun the unconscious (1876) is a loan-translation of German das Unbewusste. The adjective in this sense is recorded from 1912.

unconscionable (adj.)

1560s, "showing no regard for conscience," from un- (1) + now rare conscionable "conscientious." Related: Unconscionably.

unconstitutional (adj.)

1734, from un- (1) "not" + constitutional (adj.). Related: Unconstitutionally.

unconstrained (adj.)

1640s, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of constrain (v.). Related: Unconstrainedly.

uncontested (adj.)

1670s, from un- (1) "not" + contested.

uncontrollable (adj.)

1570s, "irrefutable," from un- (1) "not" + controllable. From 1590s as "not subject to authority;" meaning "that cannot be restrained" is from 1640s. Related: Uncontrollably.

uncontrolled (adj.)

1510s, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of control (v.).

uncontroverted (adj.)

"not liable to be called into question," 1640s, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of controvert (v.).

unconventional (adj.)

1832, from un- (1) "not" + conventional (adj.). "A 19 cent. epithet for a certain type of affectation" [Weekley]. Related: Unconventionally.

unconventionality (n.)

1849, with reference to Shelley, from unconventional + -ity.

unconverted (adj.)

1640s, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of convert (v.).

unconvinced (adj.)

1670s, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of convince (v.). Unconvincing is recorded from 1650s.

uncool (adj.)

1953, in hipster slang, from un- (1) "not" + slang sense of cool (adj.).

uncooperative (adj.)

also uncoöperative, 1847, from un- + cooperative (adj.). Related: Uncooperatively.

uncoordinated

1801, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of coordinate (v.).

uncorruptible (adj.)

late 14c., from un- (1) "not" + corruptible (adj.).

uncorrupted (adj.)

c. 1400, of organic matter, "not putrefied," from un- (1) "not" + past participle of corrupt (v.). From 1560s of persons, "not influenced by bribes."

uncountable (adj.)

late 14c., from un- (1) "not" + count (v.) + -able.

uncounted (adj.)

c. 1500, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of count (v.).

uncouple (v.)

c. 1300, from un- (2) "opposite of" + couple (v.). Similar formation in Middle Dutch ontcoppelen. Related: Uncoupled; uncoupling.

uncouth (adj.)

Old English uncuð "unknown, strange, unusual; uncertain, unfamiliar; unfriendly, unkind, rough," from un- (1) "not" + cuð "known, well-known," past participle of cunnan "to know" (see can (v.1)), from PIE root *gno- "to know." Meaning "strange, crude, clumsy" is first recorded 1510s. The compound (and the thing it describes) widespread in IE languages, such as Latin ignorantem, Old Norse ukuðr, Gothic unkunþs, Sanskrit ajnatah, Armenian ancanaut', Greek agnotos, Old Irish ingnad "unknown."

uncover (v.)

early 14c., from un- (2) "reverse of" + cover (v.). Earliest use is figurative; literal sense is attested from late 14c. Related: Uncovered; uncovering.

uncredited (adj.)

1580s, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of credit (v.).

uncritical (adj.)

1650s, from un- (1) "not" + critical. Similar formation in Dutch onkritisch, German unkritisch, Danish unkritisk. Related: Uncritically.

unction (n.)

"act of anointing as a religious rite," late 14c., from Latin unctionem (nominative unctio) "anointing," from unctus, past participle of ungere "to anoint" (see unguent).

unctious (adj.)

common variant of unctuous c. 1600-1725.

unctuous (adj.)

late 14c., "oily, having a greasy or soapy feeling when touched," from Old French unctueus, from Medieval Latin unctuosus "greasy," from Latin unctus "act of anointing," from past participle stem of unguere "to anoint" (see unguent).

Figurative sense of "blandly ingratiating" is first recorded 1742, perhaps in part with a literal sense, but in part a sarcastic usage from unction in the meaning "deep spiritual feeling" (1690s), such as comes from having been anointed in the rite of unction. Related: Unctuously; unctuousness.

uncultivated (adj.)

1640s (figurative); 1680s (of plants); 1690s (of land), from un- (1) "not" + past participle of cultivate (v.).

uncurbed (adj.)

1590s, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of curb (v.).

uncurious (adj.)

1560s, "not inquisitive," from un- (1) "not" + curious (adj.). From 1680s as "not odd or strange."

uncurl (v.)

1580s, intransitive; 1590s, transitive," from un- (2) "reverse, opposite of" + curl (v.).

uncut (adj.)

early 15c., "not gashed or wounded," from un- (1) "not" + past participle of cut (v.). Of books, "not having the leaves slit open" it is recorded from 1828; of plays, etc., "without excisions," it is attested from 1896.

undated (adj.)

"left without indication of date," 1560s, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of date (v.1) "assign a date to." Compare similarly formed German undatirt, Dutch ongedateerd, Swedish odaterad.

undaunting (adj.)

1786, "not quailing" [OED], from un- (1) "not" + present participle of daunt (v.).

undaunted (adj.)

mid-15c., with reference to horses, "untamed, not broken in," from un- (1) "not" + past participle of daunt (v.). In reference to persons, "intrepid," it is recorded from 1580s.

undead (adj.)

"neither dead nor alive," c. 1400, from un- (1) "not" + dead. As a noun meaning "vampires and such," from 1904. Old English undeadlic (adv.) meant "immortal, for all eternity."

undeceive (v.)

"to free from deception or false belief," 1590s, from un- (2) "opposite of" + deceive (v.). Related: Undeceived; undeceiving.

undeceived (adj.)

c. 1400, "reliable, accurate, certain," from un- (1) "not" + past participle of deceive (v.). Sense of "freed from deception or false belief" is by 1590s, from undeceive (v.).

undecennial (adj.)

"occurring every 11 years," 1858, in reference to solar activity cycle, from Latin undecim "eleven" + ending from biennial, etc.

undecided (adj.)

1530s, "not decided, unsettled," from un- (1) "not" + past participle of decide (v.).

undecipherable (adj.)

1758, from un- (1) "not" + decipherable (see decipher (v.)).

undecisive (adj.)

1660s, from un- (1) "not" + decisive. The usual word is indecisive.

undefeated (adj.)

1701, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of defeat (v.).

undefended (adj.)

1560s, "not defended, unprotected," from un- (1) "not" + past participle of defend (v.). Attested earlier in a now-obsolete sense of "unforbidden" (late 14c.).

undefiled (adj.)

c. 1300, undefylde, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of defile (v.). Originally of morals; sexual sense is attested from mid-15c. Physical sense of "not made dirty" is from 1580s.

undefinable (adj.)

"indefinable," 1650s, from un- (1) "not" + definable (see define). Related: Undefinably; undefinability.

undefined (adj.)

1610s, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of define (v.).

undelivered (adj.)

late 15c., from un- (1) "not" + past participle of deliver (v.).

undemanding (adj.)

1879, from un- (1) "not" + demanding (adj.).

undemonstrative (adj.)

1826, "not characterized by outward expression of feelings," from un- (1) "not" + demonstrative (adj.).

undeniable (adj.)

1540s, from un- (1) "not" + deny + -able. In 19c., often with a sense of "undeniably good." Related: Undeniably.

under (prep., adv.)

Old English under (prep.) "beneath, among, before, in the presence of, in subjection to, under the rule of, by means of," also, as an adverb, "beneath, below, underneath," expressing position with reference to that which is above, from Proto-Germanic *under- (source also of Old Frisian under, Dutch onder, Old High German untar, German unter, Old Norse undir, Gothic undar), from PIE *ndher- "under" (source also of Sanskrit adhah "below;" Avestan athara- "lower;" Latin infernus "lower," infra "below").

Productive as a prefix in Old English, as in German and Scandinavian (often forming words modeled on Latin ones in sub-). Notion of "inferior in rank, position, etc." was present in Old English. With reference to standards, "less than in age, price, value," etc., late 14c. As an adjective, "lower in position; lower in rank or degree" from 13c. Also used in Old English as a preposition meaning "between, among," as still in under these circumstances, etc. (though this may be an entirely separate root; see understand).

Under the weather "indisposed" is from 1810. To keep something under (one's) hat "secret" is from 1885; to have something under (one's) nose "in plain sight" is from 1540s; to speak under (one's) breath "in a low voice" is attested from 1832.

The adjectival phrase under-the-table "hidden from view" (often implying "illicit") is recorded from 1949 (under-board "dishonest" is from c. 1600); to be under the table "passed out from excess drinking" is recorded from 1913.

under-achiever (n.)

also underachiever, 1953, from under + agent noun from achieve (v.). Under-achievement is recorded from 1951.