un-
Definition of un-
1 : not : in-, non- —in adjectives formed from adjectives <unambitious> <unskilled> or participles <undressed>, in nouns formed from nouns <unavailability>, and rarely in verbs formed from verbs <unbe> —sometimes in words that have a meaning that merely negates that of the base word and are thereby distinguished from words that prefix in- or a variant of it (as im-) to the same base word and have a meaning positively opposite to that of the base word <unartistic> <unmoral>
2 : opposite of : contrary to —in adjectives formed from adjectives <unconstitutional> <ungraceful> <unmannered> or participles <unbelieving> and in nouns formed from nouns <unrest>
Origin of un-
Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German un- un-, Latin in-, Greek a-, an-, Old English ne not — more at no
un-
Definition of un-
1 : do the opposite of : reverse (a specified action) : de- 1a, dis- 1a —in verbs formed from verbs <unbend> <undress> <unfold>
2 a : deprive of : remove (a specified thing) from : remove —in verbs formed from nouns <unfrock> <unsex> b : release from : free from —in verbs formed from nouns <unhand> c : remove from : extract from : bring out of —in verbs formed from nouns <unbosom> d : cause to cease to be —in verbs formed from nouns <unman>
3 : completely <unloose>
un·abrad·ed
un·ab·sorbed
un·ab·sor·bent
un·ac·a·dem·ic
un·ac·a·dem·i·cal·ly
Origin of un-
Middle English, from Old English un-, on-, alteration of and- against — more at ante-
Learn More about un
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Spanish Central: Translation of "UN" Nglish: Translation of "UN" for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of "UN" for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about "UN"
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