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• un
  un

  pronoun

  one.
• UN
  UN

  abbreviation

  United Nations.
• 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 ).
• 'un
  'un

  pronoun

  a spelling of one

un

¹ American  

[uhn] / ən /

Or 'un

pronoun

Dialect.

1. one.

   young uns; He's a bad un.

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UN ² American  

Or U.N.

abbreviation

1. United Nations.

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un- ³ American  

1. 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- ⁴ American  

1. a prefix freely used in English to form verbs expressing a reversal of some action or state, or removal, deprivation, release, etc. (unbend; uncork; unfasten , etc.), or to intensify the force of a verb already having such a meaning (unloose ).

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un- ¹ British  

prefix

1. denoting reversal of an action or state

   uncover

   untangle

2. denoting removal from, release, or deprivation

   unharness

   unman

   unthrone

3. (intensifier)

   unloose

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UN ² British  

abbreviation

1. United Nations

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'un ³ British  

/ ən /

pronoun

1. a spelling of one

   that's a big 'un

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un- ⁴ British  

prefix

1. (freely used with adjectives, participles, and their derivative adverbs and nouns: less frequently used with certain other nouns) not; contrary to; opposite of

   uncertain

   uncomplaining

   unemotionally

   untidiness

   unbelief

   unrest

   untruth

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Usage

This spelling is intended to reflect a dialectal or informal pronunciation

Related Words

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

In January, Kim Jong -un pledged to further develop his nuclear arsenal.

From BBC • Aug. 29, 2021

Si hay lo que Jones llama un “eslabón débil” -un músculo que no es tan fuerte como los demás- la lesión se abrirá paso allí.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 29, 2021

North Korea’s release of the three Americans came ahead of a June 12 summit between Mr. Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong -un on denuclearization.

From Washington Times • May 10, 2018

Un miembro del grupo les mostró la forma en que evitan colocar un pesado horno en el escenario -un peligro potential- construyendo uno con recipientes de plástico que parece absolutamente verdadero.

From Washington Times • Oct. 26, 2014

From 1803 to 1808, all converts were drawn from twelve places having recognizable names, ending in -an, -en, -in, or -un, characteristic Costanoan word endings.

From The Aboriginal Population of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, California by Cook, Sherburne Friend