Etymology dictionary

unipersonal (adj.) — unmolested (adj.)

unipolar (adj.)

1812, originally in electricity, from uni- + polar. Related: Unipolarity.

c. 1600, "single, solitary," from French unique (16c.), from Latin unicus "only, single, sole, alone of its kind," from unus "one" (from PIE root *oi-no- "one, unique"). Meaning "forming the only one of its kind" is attested from 1610s; erroneous sense of "remarkable, uncommon" is attested from mid-19c. Related: Uniquely; uniqueness.

unisex (adj.)

"sexually indistinguishable or neutral," 1968, from uni- + sex (n.).

unisexual (adj.)

1802, "of one sex, having only one sex," from uni- + sexual. Meaning "of or for a single sex" (of schools, etc.) is from 1885. Meaning "unisex" is from 1970. Related: Unisexual.

unison (n.)

1570s, "note having the same pitch as another; identity in pitch of two or more sounds; interval between tones of the same pitch," especially the interval of an octave, from French unisson "unison, accord of sound" (16c.) or directly from Medieval Latin unisonus "having one sound, sounding the same," from Late Latin unisonius "in immediate sequence in the scale, monotonous," from Latin uni- "one" (from PIE root *oi-no- "one, unique") + sonus "sound" (from PIE root *swen- "to sound"). Figurative sense of "harmonious agreement" is first attested 1640s.

unite (v.)

early 15c. (transitive), from Late Latin unitus, past participle of unire "to unite, make into one" (transitive), from Latin unus "one" (from PIE root *oi-no- "one, unique"). Intransitive sense from 1610s. Related: United; uniting.

unit (n.)

1560s, "single number regarded as an undivided whole," alteration of unity on the basis of digit. Popularized in John Dee's English translation of Euclid, to express Greek monas (Dee says unity formerly was used in this sense). Meaning "single thing regarded as a member of a group" is attested from 1640s. Extended sense of "a quantity adopted as a standard of measure" is from 1738. Sense of "group of wards in a hospital" is attested from 1893.

uniter (n.)

1580s, agent noun from unite (v.).

united (adj.)

"made into one," 1550s, past-participle adjective from unite (v.).

unitard (n.)

1961, from uni- "one" + ending from leotard.

unitary (adj.)

1847, "characterized by unity or uniformity;" 1865, "of or relating to a unit;" see unit + -ary.

unitarian (n.)

1680s, "one who rejects the doctrine of the Trinity," from Modern Latin unitarius (1650s), from Latin unitas (see unity) + -ian. Applied to Muslims and other non-Christian monotheists, but especially (and with a capital -u-) of a Christian body originally founded upon the doctrine of unipersonality. The American Unitarian Association formed in 1825. As an adjective from 1680s.

unitarianism (n.)

1690s, from unitarian + -ism.

United Kingdom

attested from 1706.

United Nations

1942, "the Allied nations at war with the Axis powers;" the international body (officially the United Nations Organization) was chartered in 1945.

united states (n.)

attested from 1617, originally with reference to Holland; the North American confederation first so called in 1776. United Provinces were the seven northern provinces of the Netherlands, allied from 1579, later developing into the kingdom of Holland.

unity (n.)

c. 1300, "state or property of being one," from Anglo-French unite, Old French unite "uniqueness, oneness" (c. 1200), from Latin unitatem (nominative unitas) "oneness, sameness, agreement," from unus "one" (from PIE root *oi-no- "one, unique").

univalve

of mollusks and shells, 1660s (noun and adjective), from uni- + valve.

universally (adv.)

late 14c., from universal + -ly (2).

universal (adj.)

late 14c., "pertaining to the whole of something specified; occurring everywhere," from Old French universel "general, universal" (12c.), from Latin universalis "of or belonging to all," from universus "all together, whole, entire" (see universe). In mechanics, a universal joint (1670s) is one which allows free movement in any direction. Universal product code is recorded from 1974.

universe (n.)

1580s, "the whole world, cosmos, the totality of existing things," from Old French univers (12c.), from Latin universum "all things, everybody, all people, the whole world," noun use of neuter of adjective universus "all together, all in one, whole, entire, relating to all," literally "turned into one," from unus "one" (from PIE root *oi-no- "one, unique") + versus, past participle of vertere "to turn, turn back, be turned; convert, transform, translate; be changed" (from PIE root *wer- (2) "to turn, bend").

university (n.)

c. 1300, "institution of higher learning," also "body of persons constituting a university," from Anglo-French université, Old French universite "universality; academic community" (13c.), from Medieval Latin universitatem (nominative universitas), "the whole, aggregate," in Late Latin "corporation, society," from universus "whole, entire" (see universe).

In the academic sense, it represents a shortening of universitas magistrorum et scholarium "community of masters and scholars;" it superseded studium as the word for this. The Latin word also is the source of Spanish universidad, German universität, Russian universitet, etc.

universality (n.)

late 14c., from Old French universelite (14c.) or directly from Late Latin universalitas, from Latin universalis "universal" (see universal).

universalism (n.)

1805 in theology, "the doctrine of universal salvation," from universal (adj.) + -ism. Universalist "one who, professing the Christian faith, believes in the eventual redemption of all humanity" is attested from 1620s.

univocal (adj.)

1540s, "having one meaning only," from Latin univocus, from uni- (see uni-) + vox "voice, sound, utterance" (from PIE root *wekw- "to speak"). Related: Univocally.

unjoin (v.)

mid-14c., from un- (2) "opposite of" + join (v.). Related: Unjoined; unjoining.

unjust (adj.)

late 14c., of persons, "sinful; perpetrating injustice," from un- (1) "not" + just (adj.). Of actions, from c. 1400. Related: Unjustly.

unjustifiable (adj.)

1640s, from un- (1) "not" + justifiable. Related: Unjustifiably.

unjustified (adj.)

mid-14c., "not punished or executed," from un- (1) "not" + past participle of justify (v.). Meaning "not proven to be right or proper" is attested from 1680s.

unkempt (adj.)

1570s, from un- (1) "not" + kempt "well-combed, neat," from variant past participle of Middle English kemben "to comb," from Old English cemban "to comb," from Proto-Germanic *kambijan, from *kamb- "comb" (from PIE root *gembh- "tooth, nail." ). Form unkembed is recorded from late 14c. The verb kemb is rare after 1400s, but its negative past participle form endures.

unkept (adj.)

mid-14c., "neglected," from un- (1) "not" + past participle of keep (v.). From late 14c. as "disregarded;" 1842 as "not stored or retained."

unkillable (adj.)

1841, from un- (1) "not" + killable.

unkind (adj.)

Old English uncynde "unnatural, not natural;" see un- (1) "not" + kind (adj.). Meaning "lacking in kindness" is recorded from mid-14c.

unkindness (n.)

c. 1300, "state or character of being unkind, lack of natural regard or proper consideration," from un- (1) "not" + kindness (n.), or from unkind (adj.) + -ness. Meaning "an unkind act" is from c. 1500.

unkindly (adv.)

c. 1200, "unsuitably, improperly," from un- (1) "not" + kindly (adv.). From mid-15c. as "discourteously, maliciously."

unkindly (adj.)

early 13c., "not natural, unnatural," from un- (1) "not" + kindly (adj.). From c. 1300 as "without natural affection, unfraternally." Old English had ungecyndelic.

unknit (v.)

Old English uncnyttan; see un- (2) "reverse" + knit (v.). Related: Unknitted; unknitting.

unknowing (adj.)

c. 1300, "without knowledge, ignorant," from un- (1) "not" + present participle of know (v.). Noun meaning "ignorance" is mid-14c., especially in phrase cloud of unknowing, title of a medieval book of Christian mysticism. Related: Unknowingly. A verb unknow "fail to recognize" is attested from late 14c.

unknowable (adj.)

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

unknown (adj.)

c. 1300, "strange, unfamiliar" (of persons, places), from un- (1) "not" + past participle of know (v.). Compare Old English ungecnawen. In reference to facts, "not discovered or found out," it attested from early 14c. The noun meaning "unknown person" is recorded from 1590s; the unknown "that which is unknown" is from 1650s.

unlace (v.)

c. 1300, from un- (2) "opposite of" + lace (v.). Related: Unlaced; unlacing.

unlade (v.)

"remove the cargo from," Old English onhladen; see un- (2) "reverse, opposite of" + lade (v.). Related: Unladen; unlading.

unladen (adj.)

1802, past-participle adjective from unlade (v.).

unladylike (adj.)

1824, from un- (1) "not" + ladylike.

unlamented (adj.)

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

unlatch (v.)

1640s, from un- (2) "reverse, opposite of" + latch (v.).

unlawful (adj.)

"contrary to law, illegal," c. 1300, from un- (1) "not" + lawful. Unlawful assembly is recorded in statutes from late 15c. Related: Unlawfully. Old English had a noun unlagu ("unlaw") "illegal action, abuse of law."

unleaded (adj.)

1610s, "having no lead," from un- (1) "not" + leaded (see lead (v.2)). In reference to gasoline, from 1965. In reference to printing, from 1902.

unlearn (v.)

mid-15c., from un- (2) "reverse, opposite of" + learn (v.).

unlearned (adj.)

c. 1400, "ignorant," from un- (1) "not" + learned (adj.). From 1530s as "not acquired by learning," from past participle of learn (v.). Old English had unlæred.

unleash (v.)

1670s, from un- (2) "reverse, opposite of" + leash (v.). Related: Unleashed; unleashing.

unleavened (adj.)

1520s, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of leaven (v.).

unless (conj.)

mid-15c., earlier onlesse, from (not) on lesse (than) "(not) on a less compelling condition (than);" see less. The first syllable originally was on, but the quality of negation in the word and the lack of stress changed it to un-. "Except could once be used as a synonym for unless, but the words have now drawn entirely apart" [Century Dictionary].

unlettered (adj.)

mid-14c., "not possessed of book-learning," from un- (1) "not" + lettered. An Englished form of illiterate. Similar formation in Middle Dutch ongelettert.

unlicensed (adj.)

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

unlike (adj.)

c. 1200, "not resembling," from un- (1) "not" + like (adj.). Similar formation in Old English ungelic, Old Frisian unlik, Old Norse ulikr, Middle Danish ulige, German ungleich.

unlikely (adj.)

late 14c., "not likely to occur," from un- (1) "not" + likely (adj.). Similar formation in Old Norse ulikligr, Middle Danish uligelig. Meaning "not likely to be true" is recorded from 1590s. Related: Unlikeliness; unlikelihood.

unlike (adv.)

c. 1300, "unevenly," from un- (1) "not" + like (adv.) (see like (adj.)). From 1590s as "in a manner differing."

unlikely (adv.)

mid-15c., "improbably," from un- (1) "not" + likely (adv.) (see likely (adj.)).

unlimber (v.)

1760, "to free (a gun) from its limber," usually for the purpose of bringing it into action, from un- (2) "opposite of" + limber "attach a gun to its limber" (see limber (n.)). Figurative sense is attested from 1864. Related: Unlimbered; unlimbering.

unlimited (adj.)

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

unlink (v.)

c. 1600, from un- (2) "reverse, opposite of" + past participle of link (v.). Related: Unlinked; unlinking.

unlisted (adj.)

1640s, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of list (v.3). In reference to stocks, attested from 1905; of phone numbers, from 1937 (American English).

unlivable (adj.)

1834, "incapable of being lived in," from un- (1) "not" + livable.

unload (v.)

1520s, in reference to cargo, from un- (2) + load (v.). Figurative sense (in reference to feelings, etc.) is recorded from 1590s. Used in reference to sales of stocks by 1870, hence U.S. colloquial sense "dispose of property the holding of which is risky" (1881). Related: Unloaded; unloading.

unlock (v.)

c. 1400, from un- (2) "reverse, opposite of" + lock (v.). Figurative sense is attested from 1530s. Old English had unlucan "to unlock, open." Related: Unlocked; unlocking.

unlooked (adj.)

c. 1300, "neglected," from un- (1) "not" + past participle of look (v.). With for, "unexpected," attested from 1530s.

unloose (v.)

mid-14c., "relax;" late 14c., "to set free," from un- (2), used here emphatically, + loose (v.). Old English had unliesan "unloose, set free." Related: Unloosed; unloosing.

unlovely (adj.)

late 14c., "not evoking feelings of love," from un- (1) "not" + lovely. Meaning "ugly" is recorded from 1390s.

unloved (adj.)

late 14c., from un- (1) "not" + past participle of love (v.). A verb, unlove (with un- (2)) is attested from late 14c. Old English unlofod meant "unpraised."

unlucky (adj.)

1520s, "marked by misfortune or failure," from un- (1) "not" + lucky (adj.). Similar formation in West Frisian unlokkich, Mliddle Low German unluckich. Sense of "boding ill" is recorded from 1540s; that of "having bad luck" is from 1550s; that of "bringing bad luck" is from 1580s. Related: Unluckily; unluckiness.

unmade (adj.)

mid-13c., "not yet made, unfinished, incomplete," from un- (1) "not" + past participle of make (v.).

unmaking (n.)

"ruin, destruction," 1590s, verbal noun from unmake (v.).

unmake (v.)

late 14c., "bring down, dethrone;" early 15c., "undo, destroy, reduce to an unmade state," from un- (2) "reverse, opposite of" + make (v.). Similar formation in Middle Dutch ontmaken, German entmachen.

unmanned (adj.)

"not furnished with a crew," 1540s, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of man (v.).

unman (v.)

1590s, "to deprive of the attributes of a human being," from un- (2) + verbal derivative of man (n.). Meaning "to deprive of manly courage" is attested from c. 1600; that of "to emasculate" is from 1680s.

unmanageable (adj.)

1630s, from un- (1) "not" + manageable (adj.). Related: Unmanageably; unmanageableness.

unmanaged (adj.)

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

unmanly (adj.)

late 15c., "degrading to a human,"from un- (1) "not" + manly (adj.). Similar formation in Middle Dutch onmamlijc, German unmännlich. Meaning "not having the qualities or attributes of a man" (as opposed to a woman or child) is from 1540s. Old English had unmennisclic "inhuman" (adj.); unmann (n.) "monster; wicked man."

unmannerly (adj.)

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

unmarred (adj.)

c. 1200, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of mar (v.).

unmarked (adj.)

c. 1400, "having been given no mark," from un- (1) "not" + past participle of mark (v.). Similar formation in Old Norse umarkaðr. Meaning "not noticed or observed" is recorded from 1530s.

unmarketable (adj.)

1650s, from un- (1) "not" + marketable (adj.).

unmarried (adj.)

c. 1300, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of marry (v.). In former use most often applied to one who has never married.

unmask (v.)

1580s in figurative sense, c. 1600 in literal sense (transitive and intransitive), from un- (2) "reverse, opposite of" + mask (v.). Related: Unmasked; unmasking.

unmastered (adj.)

1560s, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of master (v.).

unmatched (adj.)

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

unmeaning (adj.)

"having no signification," 1709, from un- (1) "not" + present participle of mean (v.).

unmeasurable (adj.)

late 14c., from un- (1) "not" + measurable (adj.). Related: Unmeasurably.

unmediated (adj.)

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

unmeet (adj.)

Old English unmæte "immoderate, excessive," from un- (1) "not" + meet (adj.). Similar formation in Old High German unmazi. Meanings "unfitting" and "unsuited" (for some purpose) are from 1520s.

unmentionable (adj.)

"that may not be or should not be mentioned," 1833, from un- (1) "not" + mentionable (adj.). Humorous use of unmentionables "trousers" is attested by 1806 (see inexpressible); from 1910 as "underwear," both on notion of "articles of dress not to be mentioned in polite circles."