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un
unpronounone.
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UN
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un-
un-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 ).
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'un
un
1 Americanpronoun
abbreviation
prefix
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denoting reversal of an action or state
uncover
untangle
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denoting removal from, release, or deprivation
unharness
unman
unthrone
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(intensifier)
unloose
abbreviation
pronoun
prefix
Usage
This spelling is intended to reflect a dialectal or informal pronunciation
Synonym Usage
See in- 3.
Etymology
Origin of un-3
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-4
Middle English, Old English un-, on-; cognate with Gothic and-, Dutch ont-, German ent-; akin to Latin ante, Greek antí; cf. ante-, anti-
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Un- or underguarded sections of the river are extremely vulnerable.
From Slate • Jun. 18, 2019
When I visited Ledgers and Lists, I discovered he only taught one class: Un- likely Maths.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
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The Un- bumt, they called her, and Mother of Dragons.
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
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Un- til one is able to prevent bad results, he should avoid their occasion.
From Science and Health, with Key to the Scriptures by Eddy, Mary Baker
Un- "blushing falsehoods and literary forgeries of the "vilest character darkened the pages of his historical "writings."
From The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. 5 (of 12) Dresden Edition?Discussions by Ingersoll, Robert Green
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.