- unload (v.)
- 1520s, in reference to cargo, from un- (2) + load (v.). Figurative sense (in reference to feelings, etc.) is recorded from 1590s. Related: Unloaded; unloading.
- unlock (v.)
- c.1400, from un- (2) + lock (v.). Figurative sense is attested from 1530s. Related: Unlocked; unlocking.
- unlooked (adj.)
- c.1300, "not attended to, neglected," from un- (1) "not" + past participle of look (v.). With for, "unexpected," attested from 1530s.
- unloose (v.)
- late 14c., "to set free," from un- (2), used here emphatically, + loose. Related: Unloosed; unloosing.
- unloved (adj.)
- late 14c., from un- (1) "not" + past participle of love (v.).
He that can love unloved again,
Hath better store of love than brain
[Robert Ayton (1570-1638)] - unlovely (adj.)
- late 14c., "not evoking feelings of love," from un- (1) "not" + lovely. Meaning "ugly" is recorded from 1390s.
- unlucky (adj.)
- 1520s, "marked by misfortune or failure," from un- (1) "not" + lucky. Cf. 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.
- unmade (adj.)
- mid-13c., "not yet made," from un- (1) "not" + past participle of make. Unmake "to reduce to an unmade condition" is recorded from early 15c. (cf. Middle Dutch ontmaken, German entmachen); figurative sense of "to ruin" is recorded from c.1600.
- 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. Related: Unmanageably.
- unmanly (adj.)
- "degrading to a human," late 15c. (cf. Middle Dutch onmamlijc, German unmännlich); see unman + -ly (1).
- unmanned (adj.)
- "not furnished with a crew," 1540s, from un- (2) + man (v).
- unmarked (adj.)
- c.1400, "having been given no mark," from un- (1) "not" + past participle of mark (v.). Cf. Old Norse umarkaðr. Meaning "not noticed or observed" is recorded from 1530s.
- unmarred (adj.)
- c.1200, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of mar.
- unmarried (adj.)
- c.1300, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of marry.
- unmask (v.)
- 1580s in figurative sense, c.1600 in literal sense, from un- (2) + mask (v.). Related: Unmasked; unmasking.
- unmatched (adj.)
- 1580s, "unrivaled," from un- (1) "not" + past participle of match (v.).
- unmeasurable (adj.)
- late 14c., from un- (1) "not" + measurable.
- unmediated (adj.)
- 1640s, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of mediate.
- unmeet (adj.)
- Old English unmæte "immoderate, excessive," from un- (1) "not" + meet (adj.). Cf. Old High German unmazi. Meanings "unfitting" and "unsuited" (for some purpose) are from 1520s.
- unmentionable (adj.)
- 1837, from un- (1) "not" + mentionable. Unmentionables "trousers" is attested from 1823; meaning "underwear" is recorded from 1910.
- unmerciful (adj.)
- late 15c., from un- (1) "not" + merciful. Related: Unmercifully.
- unmerited (adj.)
- 1640s, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of merit (v.).
"An ingenuous mind feels in unmerited praise the bitterest reproof. If you reject it you are unhappy, if you accept it you are undone." [Walter Savage Landor, "Imaginary Conversations"]
- unmet (adj.)
- c.1600, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of meet (v.).
- unmindful (adj.)
- late 14c., from un- (1) "not" + mindful.
- unmistakable (adj.)
- 1660s, from un- (1) "not" + mistake + -able. Related: Unmistakably.
- unmitigated (adj.)
- 1590s, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of mitigate.
- unmolested (adj.)
- 1530s, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of molest.
- unmoor (v.)
- late 15c., "to free from moorings," from un- (2) + moor (v.). Related: Unmoored.
- unmotivated (adj.)
- "lacking in motivation," by 1920, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of motivate. Meaning "lacking in motive" is attested from 1872.
- unmoved (adj.)
- late 14c., "not affected by emotion or excitement," from un- (1) "not" + past participle of move (v.).
- unmuzzled (adj.)
- c.1600, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of muzzle (v.).
- unnamed (adj.)
- c.1500, "not mentioned by name." from un- (1) "not" + past participle of name (v.). Cf. Old Frisian unnamed, Middle Dutch ongenaemt.
- unnatural (adj.)
- early 15c., "not in accord with physical nature," from un- (1) "not" + natural (adj.). Meaning "artificial" is attested from 1746; that of "at variance with moral standards" is from 1520s.
- unnecessary (adj.)
- 1540s, from un- (1) "not" + necessary. Related: Unnecessarily.
- unneeded (adj.)
- 1725, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of need (v.).
- unnerve (v.)
- 1620s, "to destroy the strength of," from un- (2) + nerve. Meaning "to deprive of courage" is recorded from 1704. Related: Unnerved; unnerving.
- unnoticed (adj.)
- 1720, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of notice (v.).
- unobserved (adj.)
- 1610s, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of observe.
- unobstructed (adj.)
- 1650s, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of obstruct.
- unobtainable (adj.)
- 1775, from un- (1) "not" + obtainable. Related: Unobtainability.
- unobtrusive (adj.)
- from un- (1) + obtrusive. Related: Unobtrusively; unobtrusiveness.
- unoccupied (adj.)
- late 14c., "idle," from un- (1) "not" + past participle of occupy. In reference to ground, etc., attested from early 15c.
- unofficial (adj.)
- 1798, from un- (1) "not" + official (adj.). Related: Unofficially.
- unopposed (adj.)
- 1650s, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of oppose.
- unorganized (adj.)
- 1680s, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of organize.
- unoriginal (adj.)
- 1660s, "having no origin, uncreated," from un- (1) "not" + original (adj.). Meaning "derivative, second-hand" is recorded from 1774.
- unorthodox (adj.)
- 1650s, from un- (1) "not" + orthodox.
- unorthodoxy (n.)
- 1704, from unorthodox + -y (1).
- unostentatious (adj.)
- 1747, from un- (1) "not" + ostentatious. Related: Unostentatiously.