英语词源字典 U

-ule suffix meaning "small, little" (capsule, module, etc.), from Fr. -ule, from L. diminutive suffix -ulus (fem. -ula, neut. -ulum). -ulent from L. adj. suffix -ulentus "full of." u for historical evolution, see V. Used punningly for you by 1588 ["Love's Labour's Lost," V.i.60], not long after the pronunciation shift that made the vowel a homonym of the pronoun. As a simple shorthand (without intentional word-play), it is recorded from 1862. Common in business abbreviations since 1923 (e.g. U-Haul, attested from 1951). U-bahn Ger. or Austrian subway system, 1938 (originally in ref. to Berlin), from Ger. U-bahn, short for Untergrund-bahn, lit. "underground railway." U-boat 1916 (said to have been in use from 1913), partial translation of Ger. U-boot, short for Unterseeboot, lit. "undersea boat." U-turn 1934, from u + turn (n.). So called in ref. to the shape of the path described. U.K. abbreviation for United Kingdom, attested from 1892. U.N. abbreviation for United Nations, attested from 1946. U.S. abbreviation for United States, attested from 1834. ubi "place, location, position," 1614, common in Eng. c.1640-1740. from L. ubi "where," ult. from PIE *kwo-bhi- (cf. Skt. kuha, O.C.S. kude "where"), locative case of pronomial base *kwo-. Ubi sunt, lit. "where are" (1914), in ref. to lamentations for the mutability of things is from a phrase used in certain M.L. Christian works. ubiquity 1579, from M.Fr. ubiquité (17c.), from L. ubique "everywhere," from ubi "where" (see ubi) + que "any, also, ever," a suffix that can give universal meaning to the word it is attached to. Originally a Lutheran theological position maintaining the omnipresence of Christ. Ubiquitous in the sense of "turning up everywhere" is first recorded 1837, originally a jocular extension of the theological word. udder O.E. udder "milk gland of a cow, goat, etc.," from P.Gmc. *udr- (cf. O.Fris., M.Du. uder, O.H.G. utar, Ger. Euter, and, with unexplained change of consonant, O.N. jugr), from PIE *udhr- (cf. Skt. udhar, Gk. outhar, L. uber "udder"). UFO 1953, abbreviation of Unidentified Flying Object, which is attested from 1950. Ufology is first attested 1959. Ugaritic 1936, "pertaining to Ugarit," ancient city of northern Syria, and esp. to the language first discovered there 1929 by Claude Schaeffer, from Ugarit, which probably is ult. from Sumerian ugaru "field." ugh 1765, imitative of the sound of a cough; as an interjection of disgust, recorded from 1837. ugly c.1250, uglike "frightful or horrible in appearance," from O.N. uggligr "dreadful, fearful," from uggr "fear, apprehension, dread" (perhaps related to agg "strife, hate") + -ligr "-like." Meaning softened to "very unpleasant to look at" c.1375. Extended sense of "morally offensive" is attested from c.1300; that of "ill-tempered" is from 1687. Among words for this concept, ugly is unusual in being formed from a root for "fear, dread." More common is a compound meaning "ill-shaped" (e.g. Gk. dyseides, L. deformis, Ir. dochrud, Skt. ku-rupa). Another Gmc. group has a root sense of "hate, sorrow" (see loath). Verb uglify is attested from 1576. Ugly duckling (1877) is from the story by Hans Christian Andersen, first translated from Danish to English 1846. Ugly American "U.S. citizen who behaves offensively abroad" is first recorded 1958 as a book title. uh inarticulate sound, attested from 1605; uh-huh, spoken affirmative (often ironic or non-committal) is recorded from 1904; negative uh-uh is attested from 1924. UHF 1937, abbreviation of ultra-high frequency (1932) in ref. to radio frequencies in the range of 300 to 3,000 megahertz. uhlan "cavalryman," 1753, from Ger. Uhlan, from Pol. ulan "a lancer," from Turk. oghlan "a youth." For sense evolution, cf. infantry. ukase 1729, "decree issued by a Russian emperor," from Rus. ukaz "edict," from ukazat' "to show, decree," from O.C.S. ukazati, from u-, intens. prefix, + kazati "to show, order," which is related to the first element of Casimir. Ukraine from Rus. Ukraina, lit. "border, frontier," from u- "at" + krai "edge." ukulele 1896, from Hawaiian 'ukulele, lit. "leaping flea," from 'uku "louse, flea" + lele "to fly, jump, leap." So called from the rapid motion of the fingers in playing it. It developed from a Port. instrument introduced to the islands c.1879. Abbreviated form uke is attested from 1915. ulcer c.1400, from O.Fr. ulcere, from V.L. ulcerem, from L. ulcus (gen. ulceris) "ulcer," from PIE base *elk-es- "wound" (cf. Gk. elkos). ulema "scholars of Muslim religious law," 1688, from Arabic 'ulema "learned men, scholars," pl. of 'alim "learned," from 'alama "to know." ullage "amount by which a cask or bottle falls short of being full," 1481, from Anglo-Fr. ulliage (1329), Anglo-L. oliagium (1297), O.Fr. ouillage, from ouiller "to fill up (a barrel) to the bung," lit. "to fill to the eye," from ueil "eye," from L. ochulus. ulna inner bone of the forearm, 1541, from L., lit. "elbow," related to O.E. eln (see elbow). Ulrich masc. proper name, from Ger., from O.H.G. Uodalrich, lit. "of a rich home," from uodal "home, nobolity" (related to O.E. ?eele "noble," O.N. oeal "home"). Ulster northernmost of the four provinces of Ireland, 14c., from Anglo-Fr. Ulvestre (c.1225), Anglo-L. Ulvestera (c.1200), corresponding to O.N. Ulfastir, probably from Ir. Ulaidh "men of Ulster" + suffix also found in Leinster, Munster, and perhaps representing Ir. tir "land." ult. see ultimo. ulterior 1646, from L. ulterior "more distant, further," comparative of *ulter "beyond" (see ultra). The sense in ulterior motives is first attested 1735. ultimate 1654, from L.L. ultimatus, pp. of ultimare "to be final, come to an end," from ultimus "last, final," superlative of *ulter "beyond" (see ultra). Ultimate Frisbee is attested from 1972. ultimatum 1731, from Mod.L., from M.L. adj. ultimatum "last possible, final," from L. ultimatum, neut. of ultimatus (see ultimate). Hamilton and others use the L. plural ultimata. In slang c.1820s, ultimatum was used for "the buttocks." ultimo "in the month preceding the present," 1616, common in abbreviated form ult. in 18c.-19c. correspondence and newspapers, from L. ultimo (mense) "of last (month)," abl. sing. masc. of ultimus "last" (see ultimate). Earlier it was used in the sense of "on the last day of the month specified" (1582). ultra- prefix meaning "beyond" (ultraviolet) or "extremely" (ultramodern), from L. ultra- from ultra (adv. and prep.) "beyond, on the further side," from PIE *al- "beyond." In common use from early 19c., it appears to have arisen from Fr. political designations. As its own word, a noun meaning "extremist" of various stripes, it is first recorded 1817, from Fr. ultra, shortening of ultra-royaliste "extreme royalist." ultralight (adj.) 1974, from ultra- + light (adj.). As a noun meaning "ultralight aircraft" it is recorded from 1982. ultramarine 1598, "blue pigment made from lapis lazuli," from M.L. ultramarinus, lit. "beyond the sea," from ultra- "beyond" + marinus "of the sea." So called because the mineral was imported from Asia by sea. ultramontane 1592, from M.Fr. ultramontain "beyond the mountains" (especially the Alps), from O.Fr. (1323), from L. ultra "beyond" + stem of mons (see mountain). Used especially of papal authority, though "connotation varies according to the position of the speaker or writer." [Weekley] ultrasonic 1923, "having frequency beyond the audible range," from ultra- + sonic. For sense, see supersonic. First record of ultrasound is from 1923; in ref. to ultrasonic techniques of detection or diagnosis it is recorded from 1958. ultraviolet "beyond the violet end of the visible spectrum," 1840, from ultra- + violet. Ultra-red (1870) was a former name for what now is called infra-red. ululation 1599, from L. ululationem (nom. ululatio) "a howling or wailing," from pp. stem of ululare "ululate," a reduplicated imitative base (cf. Gk. ololyzein "to cry aloud," Skt. ululih "a howling," Lith. uluti "howl," Gael. uileliugh "wail of lamentation," O.E. ule "owl"). Ulysses L. name for Odysseus, from L. Ulysses, Ulixes. Famous for wandering as well as craftiness and ability at deceit. For -d- to -l- alteration, see lachrymose. um a sound denoting hesitation, 1672. Umayyad "member of a Muslim dynasty which ruled the Caliphate 661-750 C.E. and in 756 C.E. founded an emirate in Spain," 1758, from Arabic, from Umayya, proper name of an ancestor of Muhammad from whom the dynasty claimed descent. umber brown earthy pigment, 1568, from M.Fr. ombre (in terre d'ombre), or It. ombra (in terra di ombra), both from either L. umbra "shade, shadow" (see umbrage) or from Umbra, fem. of Umber "belonging to Umbria," region in central Italy from which the coloring matter first came. Burnt umber, specially prepared and redder in color, is attested from c.1650. umbilical "pertaining to the navel," 1541, from M.L. umbilicalis "of the navel," from L. umbilicus "navel," from PIE *onobh- (source of Gk. omphalos and related to *nobh, source of navel). First record of umbilical cord is from 1753. Umbilicus for "navel" is attested from 1693 but mostly is confined to medical writing. umbles "edible inner parts of a deer or other animal," c.1400, see humble. umbra 1599, "phantom, ghost," a fig. use from L. umbra "shade, shadow" (see umbrage). Astronomical sense of "shadow cast by the earth or moon during an eclipse" is first recorded 1679. Meaning "an uninvited guest accompanying an invited one" is from 1696. umbrage 1426, "shadow, shade," from M.Fr. ombrage "shade, shadow," from L. umbraticum, neut. of umbraticus "of or pertaining to shade," from umbra "shade, shadow," from PIE base *andho- "blind, dark" (cf. Skt. andha-, Avestan anda- "blind, dark"). Many fig. uses 17c.; main remaining one is the meaning "suspicion that one has been slighted," first recorded 1620; hence phrase to take umbrage at, attested from 1680. umbrageous "shady," 1587, from Fr. ombrageux, from O.Fr. umbrageus, from umbre "shade," from L. umbra (see umbrage). umbrella 1609, first attested in Donne's letters, from It. ombrello, from L.L. umbrella, altered (by influence of umbra) from L. umbella "sunshade, parasol," dim. of umbra "shade, shadow" (see umbrage). A sunshade in the Mediterranean, a shelter from the rain in England; in late 17c. usage, usually as an Oriental or African symbol of dignity. Said to have been used by women in England from c.1700; the first rain-umbrella carried by a man there was traditionally c.1760, by Jonas Hathaway, noted traveler and philanthropist. Fig. sense of "authority, unifying quality" (usually in a phrase such as under the umbrella of) is recorded from 1948. umiak "large Eskimo boat," c.1743, from Eskimo umiaq "an open skin boat." Said by 18c.-19c. sources to be a "woman's boat," as opposed to the kayak, which was worked exclusively by men. umlaut 1852, from Ger., "change of sound," from um "about" (see ambi-) + laut "sound," from O.H.G. hlut (see listen). Coined 1774 by poet Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock (1724-1803) but first used in its current sense 1819 by linguist Jakob Grimm (1785-1863). umma "the Islamic community," founded by Muhammad and bound to one another by religious ties and obligations, 1855, from Arabic 'umma "people, community, nation." umpire c.1400, noumper, from O.Fr. nonper "odd number, not even," in reference to a third person to arbitrate between two, from non "not" + per "equal," from L. par. Initial -n- lost by c.1440 due to faulty separation of a noumpere, heard as an oumpere. Originally legal, the gaming sense first recorded 1714 (in wrestling). Short form ump is attested from 1915. The verb is first recorded 1609, from the noun. umpty 1905, "of an indefinite number," originally Morse code slang for "dash," influenced by association with numerals such as twenty, thirty, etc.; umpteen (1917) is World War I army slang, from umpty + teen. un- (1) prefix of negation, O.E. un-, from P.Gmc. *un- (cf. O.Fris., O.H.G., Ger. un-, Goth. un-, Du. on-), from PIE *n- (cf. Skt. a-, an- "not," Gk. a-, an-, O.Ir. an-, L. in-), a variant of PIE base *ne- "not" (cf. Avestan na, O.C.S., Lith. ne "not," L. ne "that not," Gk. ne- "not," O.Ir. ni, Corn. ny "not"). Freely and widely used since O.E. times in compounds with native and imported words, it disputes with Latin-derived cognate in- the right to form the negation of certain words (indigestable/undigestable, etc.). Often euphemistic (e.g. untruth for "lie"). The most prolific of Eng. prefixes, it even is used to make words from phrases (e.g. uncalled-for, 1610; undreamed-of, 1636; uncome-at-able, 1694; unputdownable, 1947, of a book). As a prefix in telegram-ese to replace not and save the cost of a word, it is first attested 1936. un- (2) prefix of reversal (e.g. unhand, undo, unbutton), O.E. on-, un-, from P.Gmc. *andi- (cf. O.S. ant-, O.N. and-, Du. ont-, O.H.G. ant-, Ger. ant-, Goth. and- "against"), from PIE *anti "facing opposite, near, in front of, before" (see ante). un-American 1818, from un- (1) "not" + American (see America). "Everything is un-American that tends either to government by a plutocracy or government by a mob." [Theodore Roosevelt, 1917] un-British 1746, from un- (1) "not" + British. un-English "lacking in qualities regarded as typically English," 1633, from un- (1) "not" + English (1). unabated 1611, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of abate. unable (adj.) c.1380, from un- (1) "not" + able. Modeled on O.Fr. inhabile or L. inhabilis. unabridged 1599, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of abridge. Since 19c. chiefly in ref. to literary works. unacceptable 1483, from un- (1) "not" + accept + -able. unaccompanied 1545, "not in the company of others," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of accompany. Musical sense is first recorded 1818. unaccountable 1643, "inexplicable," from un- (1) "not" + account + -able. Meaning "not liable to be called to account" is recorded from 1649. unaccustomed 1526, "not customary, unfamiliar," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of accustom. Meaning "not accustomed or habituated" (to) is first attested 1611. unacquainted 1529, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of acquaint. unadorned 1634, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of adorn. unaffected c.1586, "not influenced, untouched in mind or feeling," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of affect. Meaning "not adopted or assumed, genuine" is recorded from 1592; that of "not acted upon or altered (by something)" is first attested 1830. unafraid 1423, from un- (1) "not" + afraid. unaided 1667, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of aid. unaltered 1551, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of alter. Unalterable is attested from 1611. unambiguous 1751, from un- (1) "not" + ambiguous. unanimous 1611 (implied in unanimously), from L. unanimus "of one mind," from unus "one" (see one) + animus "mind" (see animus). Unanimity is recorded from 1436, from O.Fr. unanimite (14c.), from L. unanimitas, from unanimus. unanswered 1390, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of answer. unapproachable 1581, of places, from un- (1) "not" + approach + -able. Of persons, "distant, aloof," attested from 1848. unarmed 1297, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of arm (v.). unasked c.1255, "uninvited," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of ask. unassisted 1614, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of assist. unassuming "unpretentious," 1726, from un- (1) "not" + inf. of assume. unattached 1498, "not arrested or seized," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of attach. Meaning "not associated with any body or institution" is recorded from 1796; sense of "single, not engaged or married" is first attested 1874. unattainable 1662, from un- (1) "not" + attain + -able. unattractive 1775, from un- (1) "not" + attractive (see attract). unauthorized 1596, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of authorize. unavailable 1549, "ineffectual," from un- (1) "not" + avail + -able. Meaning "incapable of being used" is recorded from 1855. Unavailing (1670) has taken up the older sense of the word. unavoidable 1577, from un- (1) "not" + avoid + -able. unawares 1535, "without being aware," from un- (1) "not" + aware + adverbial genitive -s. Meaning "without being noticed" is recorded from 1667. Form unaware is recorded from 1592. unbalanced 1650, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of balance. Earliest use is in ref. to the mind, judgment, etc. Of material things, it is recorded from 1732. unbearable c.1449, from un- (1) "not" + bear (v.) + -able. unbeaten c.1275, "not beaten or struck," from un- (1) + pp. of beat. In the sense of "undefeated" it is first recorded 1757. unbecoming 1598, from un- (1) "not" + becoming "fitting" (see become). unbeknownst 1848, vulgar formation from unbeknown (1636). No clear reason for the -st, but since 19c. this has become the dominant form. unbelief c.1160, "absence or lack of religious belief," from un- (1) "not" + belief. Unbelievable is first attested 1548; unbeliever "infidel" is recorded from 1526. unbend "to relax a bow by unstringing it," c.1250, from un- (2) + bend. Fig. meaning "to become genial, relax" (1748) has a sense opposite to that of unbending "inflexible, obstinate" (1688), which does not derive from the bowstringing image. unbeseeming 1583, "not befitting, inappropriate," from un- (1) "not" + beseeming. A common 17c. word. unbiased 1607, lit., in ref to throws at bowls, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of bias. Fig. sense of "impartial, unprejudiced" is recorded from 1647. unbidden O.E. unbedene, "not asked or invited," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of bid. Cf. M.Du. ongebeden, Ger. ungebeten, O.N. ubeeinn. unbind O.E. unbindan, "to free from binding," from un- (2) + bind. Cf. Ger. entbinden, Du. ontbinden. Lit. and fig. senses both present in O.E. "Su? hu?t eu unbindes ofer eoreu bie unbunden in heofnum." [Lindisfarne Gospels, Matt. XVI.19] Unbound is from O.E. unbunden, in lit. sense. Fig. sense first attested 1390; of books from 1541. unblemished c.1300, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of blemish. Originally in moral sense; material sense is attested from c.1450. unborn (adj.) O.E. unboren "not yet born, stillborn," from un- (1) "not" + born. Cf. O.Fris. unbern, Du. ongeboren, O.H.G. ungiporan, Ger. ungeboren. unbounded 1598, "not limited in extent," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of verb form of bound (n.). Sense of "generous, profuse, liberal" is recorded from 1704. unbreakable c.1480, from un- (1) "not" + break + -able. unbridled c.1374, originally in fig. sense of "unrestrained, ungoverned," from un- (1) "not" + bridled (see bridle). Cf. M.Du. ongebreidelt. Lit. sense of "not fitted with a bridle" (of horses) is not recorded before 1553. The verb unbridle is attested from c.1400 in the lit. sense; c.1440 in the fig. sense. unbroken c.1300, in ref. to vows or compacts, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of break. Attested from 1495 in ref. to material things; 1513 in ref. to courage, spirit, etc.; 1538 in ref. to horses; 1561 in ref. to the flow of time. unbuckle c.1386, from un- (2) + buckle (v.). unburden 1538, "to unload" (trans.), from un- (2) + burden (v.). Cf. Ger. entbürden. Refl. sense is recorded from 1589. unburied O.E. unbyrged, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of bury (v.). unbutton c.1325, from un- (2) + button (v.). uncalled c.1400, "not summoned," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of call (v.). Cf. Swed. okallad, Dan. ukaldet. With for and sense of "unnecessary, intrusive" it is first attested 1610. uncanny 1596, "mischievous;" 1773 in the sense of "associated with the supernatural," originally Scottish and northern English, from un- (1) "not" + canny. uncertain c.1300, "of indeterminate time or occurrence," from un- (1) "not" + certain (adj.). Meaning "not fully confident" is recorded from c.1380 (implied in uncertainty). unchain 1582, from un- (2) + chain (v.). Fig. sense of "to liberate" is recorded from 1793. unchanged 1387, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of change (v.). Unchangeable is attested from 1340. uncharacteristic 1753, from un- (1) "not" + characteristic (adj.). unchaste 1382, from un- (1) "not" + chaste. unchecked 1469, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of check (v.). unchristian 1555, "not professing Christianity" (of persons), from un- (1) "not" + Christian. Meaning "at variance with Christian principles" (of actions) is recorded from 1581. unchurched 1681, from un- (1) "not" + churched "committed or belonging to a church" (see church). A verb, unchurch "to remove or exclude (someone) from membership in a church" is recorded from 1620. uncial 1650, "pertaining to an ounce," from L. uncialis "of an inch, of an ounce," from uncia "a twelfth part" (see inch). In ref. to letters, it is attested from 1712, from L.L. litter? unciales (Jerome), probably meaning "letters an inch high," from L. uncialis "of an inch, inch-high." uncirculated 1775, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of circulate (see circulation). uncivilized 1607, "barbarous," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of civilize. Uncivil in the same sense is recorded from 1553; it later came to mean "impolite" (1591). unclassified 1865, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of classify. uncle c.1290, from O.Fr. oncle, from L. avunculus "mother's brother," lit. "little grandfather," dim. of avus "grandfather," from PIE root *awo- "grandfather, adult male relative other than one's father" (cf. Arm. hav "grandfather," Lith. avynas "maternal uncle," O.C.S. uji "uncle," Welsh ewythr "uncle"). Replaced O.E. eam (usually maternal; paternal uncle was f?dera), which represents the Gmc. form of the root (cf. Du. oom, O.H.G. oheim "maternal uncle," Ger. Ohm "uncle"). Also from Fr. are Ger., Dan., Swed. onkel. First record of Dutch uncle (and his blunt, stern, benevolent advice) is from 1838; Welsh uncle (1747) was the first cousin of one's parent. To say uncle as a sign of submission in a fight is N.Amer., attested from 1918, of uncertain signification. Uncle Sam symbol of the United States of America, 1813, coined during the war with Britain as a contrast to John Bull, and no doubt suggested by the initials U.S. "[L]ater statements connecting it with different government officials of the name of Samuel appear to be unfounded" [OED]. The common figure of Uncle Sam began to appear in political cartoons c.1850. Only gradually superseded earlier Brother Jonathan (1776), largely through the popularization of the figure by cartoonist Thomas Nast. British in World War I sometimes called U.S. soldiers Sammies. Uncle Tom "servile black man," 1922, somewhat inaccurately in ref. to the humble, pious, but strong-willed main character in Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel, "Uncle Tom's Cabin" (1852). As a verb, attested from 1937. unclean O.E. uncl?ne, "morally impure, defiled, unfit for food," from un- (1) "not" + clean (adj.). Lit. sense of "dirty" is recorded from c.1250. unclear c.1300, "not easy to understand," from un- (1) "not" + clear (adj.). Cf. M.Du. onclaer, Du. onklaar, Ger. unklar, O.N. uklarr, Dan. uklar, Swed. oklar. Of persons, in sense of "uncertain, doubtful," it is recorded from 1671. Uncleared is recorded from 1637 in ref. to debts, 1772 in ref. to land. unclothe c.1300, unclote (trans.), from un- (2) + clothe (v.). Refl. sense is attested from 1382. uncomfortable c.1425 (implied in uncomfortably) "causing discomfort," from un- (1) "not" + comfortable. Meaning "feeling discomfort, ill-at-ease" is attested from 1796. uncommitted c.1381, "not delegated," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of commit. Meaning "not pledged to any particular course or party" is attested from 1814. uncommon 1548, "not possessed incommon," from un- (1) "not" + common (adj.). Meaning "not commonly occurring, unusual, rare" is recorded from 1611. uncompensated 1774, "not compensated by any good," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of compensate. Meaning "not recompensed" is attested from 1830. uncompromising 1828, from un- (1) "not" + gerundive of compromise. unconcerned c.1635, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of concern. unconditional 1666, from un- (1) "not" + conditional (see condition). Unconditional surrender is attested from 1830. unconfirmed 1565, "not having received the rite of confirmation," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of confirm. Meaning "not supported by further evidence" is attested from 1671. unconscionable 1565, "showing no regard for conscience," from un- (1) + now rare conscionable "conscientious" (1549), from conscioned "having a conscience." unconscious (adj.) 1712, "unaware, not marked by conscious thought," from un- (1) "not" + conscious. Meaning "temporarily insensible, knocked out" is recorded from 1860. In psychology, the noun the unconscious (1884) is a loan-translation of Ger. das Unbewusste. The adj. in this sense is recorded from 1912. unconstitutional 1734, from un- (1) "not" + constitutional (see constitution). uncontested 1678, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of contest. uncontrolled 1513, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of control. unconventional 1839, from un- (1) "not" + conventional (see convention). "A 19 cent. epithet for a certain type of affectation." [Weekley] unconverted 1648, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of convert. unconvinced 1675, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of convince. Unconvincing is recorded from 1653. uncool 1953, in hipster slang, from un- (1) "not" + slang sense of cool (adj.). uncoordinated 1892, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of coordinate (see coordination). uncouple c.1300, from un- (2) + couple (v.). Cf. M.Du. ontcoppelen. uncouth O.E. uncue "unknown, uncertain, unfamiliar," from un- (1) "not" + cue "known, well-known," pp. of cunnan "to know" (see can (v.)). Meaning "strange, crude, clumsy" is first recorded 1513. The compound (and the thing it describes) widespread in IE languages, cf. L. ignorantem,, O.N. ukuer, Goth. unkunts, Skt. ajnatah, Armenian ancanaut', Gk. agnotos, O.Ir. ingnad "unknown." uncover c.1300, from un- (2) + cover (v.). Earliest use is fig.; lit. sense is attested from 1375. uncritical 1659, from un- (1) "not" + critical (see critic). Cf. Du. onkritisch, Ger. unkritisch, Dan. unkritisk. unction 1387, "act of anointing as a religious rite," from L. unctionem (nom. unctio) "anointing," from unctus, pp. of ungere "to anoint" (see unguent). unctuous 1387, "oily," from O.Fr. unctueus, from M.L. unctuosus "greasy," from L. unctus "act of anointing," from pp. stem of unguere "to anoint" (see unguent). Fig. sense of "blandly ingratiating" is first recorded 1742, perhaps in part with a literal sense, but in part a sarcastic usage from unction in the meaning "deep spiritual feeling" (1692), such as comes from having been anointed in the rite of unction. uncut 1426, "not gashed or wounded," from un- (1) "not" + cut (v.). Of books, "not having the leaves slit open" it is recorded from 1828; of plays, etc., "without excisions," it is attested from 1896. undated "left without indication of date," 1570, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of date (v.) "assign a date to." Cf. Ger. undatirt, Du. ongedateerd, Swed. odaterad. undaunted 1442, with ref. to horses, "untamed, not broken in," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of daunt (v.). In ref. to persons, meaning "intrepid" is recorded from 1587. undead (adj.) "neither dead nor alive," c.1400, from un- (1) "not" + dead. undecided 1540, "not decided, unsettled," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of decide (v.). undefeated 1775, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of defeat (v.). undefended 1564, "not defended, unprotected," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of defend (v.). Attested earlier in a now-obsolete sense of "unforbidden" (1399). undefiled c.1300, undefylde, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of defile (v.). Originally of morals; sexual sense is attested from c.1450. Physical sense of "not made dirty" is from 1590. undefined 1611, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of define (v.). undelivered 1472, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of deliver. undemanding 1939, from un- (1) "not" + gerundive of demand (v.). undemonstrative 1846, "not characterized by outward expression of feelings," from un- (1) "not" + demonstrative (see demonstration). undeniable 1547, from un- (1) "not" + deny + -able. under (prep., adv.) O.E. under, from P.Gmc. *under- (cf. O.Fris. under, Du. onder, O.H.G. untar, Ger. unter, O.N. undir, Goth. undar), from PIE *ndhero- "lower" (cf. Skt. adhah "below;" Avestan athara- "lower;" L. infernus "lower," infra "below"). Notion of "subordination" was present in O.E. Also used in O.E. as a preposition meaning "between, among," as still in under these circumstances, etc. (though this may be an entirely separate root; see understand). Productive as a prefix in O.E. times, as in Ger. and Scand. Under the table is from 1921 in the sense of "very drunk," 1940s in sense of "illegal." To get something under (one's) belt is from 1954; to keep something under (one's) hat "secret" is from 1885; to have something under (one's) nose "in plain sight" is from 1548; to speak under (one's) breath "in a low voice" is attested from 1832. To be under (someone's) thumb "entirely controlled" is recorded from 1754. under-achiever 1953, from under + achiever (see achieve). Under-achievement is recorded from 1951. under-age (adj.) 1594, from under + age. under-employed 1908, "not used to optimum capacity," originally in ref. to working persons, from under + pp. of employ. under-nourished 1910, from under + pp. of nourish. under-rate 1650, "to esteem at too little worth," from under + rate (v.). under-sea 1613, from under + sea. under-utilize 1954, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of utilize. underarm 1816, "underhand" (in ref. to a style of throwing), from under + arm. First attested 1908 in dressmaking sense of "seams on the lower half of the arm-hole;" as a euphemism for armpit, it is attested from 1930s, popularized by advertisers. underbelly 1607, from under + belly. In fig. sense of "most vulnerable part" it is recorded from Churchill's 1942 speech. Sometimes used erroneously in sense of "seamy or sordid part" of anything. underbred "of inferior breeding, vulgar," 1650, from under + pp. of breed (v.). Of animals, "not pure bred," attested from 1890. underbrush 1775, "shrub and small trees in a forest," from under + brush (n.). Originally Amer.Eng.; cf. undergrowth, attested in the same sense from 1600. undercarriage 1794, from under + carriage. Meaning "landing gear of an aircraft" is recorded from 1911. underclass "subordinate social class," 1918, from under + class (n.). A loan-translation of Swed. underklass. underclassman "sophomore or freshman," 1896, from under + class in the school form sense + man. undercover 1854, sheltered," from under + cover. Sense of "operating secretly" attested from 1920. undercurrent 1663, "stream of water or air flowing beneath the surface or beneath another current," a hybrid formed from under + current. The fig. sense of "suppressed or underlying character" is attested from 1817. undercut (v.) 1382, "to cut down or off," from under + cut (v.). In the commercial sense of "to sell at lower prices" (or work at lower wages) it is first attested 1884. Fig. sense of "render unstable, undermine" is recorded from 1955, from earlier lit. meaning "cut so as to leave the upper portion larger than the lower" (1874). underdeveloped 1892, in the photography sense, under + pp. of develop. In ref. to countries or regions, recorded from 1949. underdog "the beaten dog in a fight," 1887, from under + dog. Cf. top dog "dominant person in a situation or hierarchy." underdone 1683, in ref. to cooked meat, from under + pp. of do. underdressed "too plainly dressed," 1784, from under + pp. of dress (v.). underestimate (v.) 1812, "to estimate at too low an amount," from under + estimate (v.). Meaning "to rank too low, undervalue" is recorded from 1850. underfoot (adv.) c.1200, underfot "under the feet," from under + foot. Cf. M.Du. ondervoete. As an adj., attested from 1596; in ref. to persons, "continually in the way," it is recorded from 1891. undergo O.E. undergan "undermine," from under + gan (see go). Cf. M.Du. ondergaen, O.H.G. untarkun, Ger. untergehen, Dan. undergaa. Sense of "submit to, endure" is attested from c.1300. Meaning "to pass through" (an alteration, etc.) is attested from 1634. undergraduate 1630, a hybrid formed from under + graduate (n.). British used fem. form undergraduette in 1920s-30s. underground (adv.) 1571, "below the surface," from under + ground (n.). Adj. is attested from 1610; fig. sense of "hidden, secret" is attested from 1632; adj. meaning "subculture" is from 1953, from World War II application to resistance movements against German occupation, on analogy of the dominant culture and Nazis. Noun sense of "underground railway" is from 1887 (phrase underground railway itself is attested from 1834). Underground Railroad "network of U.S. anti-slavery activists helping runaways elude capture," attested from 1852 but said to date from 1831, coined in jest by bewildered trackers after their slaves vanished without a trace. undergrowth 1600, from under + growth (see grow). underhand (adv.) O.E. under hand "in subjection," from under + hand. Sense of "secret, stealthy, surreptitious" first recorded 1538. For sense development, cf. M.Du. onderhanden "by degrees, slowly," Du. onderhandsch "secret, private." The adj. is attested from 1545. underlay O.E. under lecgan "to support by placing something beneath;" see under + lay (v.). underlie O.E. under licgan "to be subordinate to, to submit to;" see under + lie (v.2). Meaning "to lie under or beneath" is attested from 1600; fig. sense of "to be the basis of" is attested from 1852 (implied in underlying). underline (v.) 1721, from under + line (v.). Cf. Du. onderlijnen. The noun is attested from 1888. underling c.1175, from under + dim. suffix -ling. undermine c.1300, undermyne, from under + mine (v.). The fig. sense is attested from c.1430. Cf. Du. ondermijnen, Dan. underminere, Ger. unterminiren. underneath O.E. underneoean, from under + neoean "below" (see beneath). underpants 1931, from under + pants. Drove out drawers, knickers in this sense. underpass 1904, Amer.Eng., from under + pass. underpinning 1489, "action of supporting or strengthening from beneath," from under + pp. of pin (v.). Fig. sense of "prop, support" is recorded from 1589. underprivileged (adj.) 1896, from under + pp. of privilege (v.). Noun use is attested from 1935. underscore (v.) 1771, "to draw a line under," from under + score (v.). The fig. sense of "to emphasize" is attested from 1891. Noun meaning "a line drawn below (something)" is recorded from 1901. undershirt 1648, from under + shirt. Cf. N.Fris. onnersjürt, Dan. underskjorte. undershoot 1661, "to shoot too low," from under + shoot (v.). In ref. to aircraft or pilots, recorded from 1918. Undershot as a type of water wheel is recorded from 1610. underside c.1680, from under + side (n.). Cf. Du. onderzijde, Dan. underside, Ger. unterseite. undersign (v.) 1580, from under + sign (v.). understand O.E. understandan "comprehend, grasp the idea of," probably lit. "stand in the midst of," from under + standan "to stand" (see stand). If this is the meaning, the under is not the usual word meaning "beneath," but from O.E. under, from PIE *nter- "between, among" (cf. Skt. antar "among, between," L. inter "between, among," Gk. entera "intestines;" see inter-). But the exact notion is unclear. Perhaps the ult. sense is "be close to," cf. Gk. epistamai "I know how, I know," lit. "I stand upon." Similar formations are found in O.Fris. (understonda), M.Dan. (understande), while other Gmc. languages use compounds meaning "stand before" (cf. Ger. verstehen, represented in O.E. by forstanden ). For this concept, most I.E. languages use fig. extensions of compounds that lit. mean "put together," or "separate," or "take, grasp." understanding O.E. understandincge "comprehension," from understand (q.v.). Meaning "mutual agreement" is attested from 1803. understatement 1799, from under + statement. Understated, with ref. to clothing, is recorded from 1957. understorey 1945, in ref. to forest vegetation, from under + storey. understudy (v.) 1874, in the theatrical sense, from under + study (v.). The noun is attested from 1882. undertake c.1200, "to entrap," in the same sense as O.E. underniman (cf. Du. ondernemen, Ger. unternehmen), of which it is a partial loan-translation, from under + take. Cf. also Fr. entreprendre "to undertake," from entre "between, among" + prendre "to take." The under in this word may be the same one that also may form the first element of understand. Meaning "to accept" is attested from c.1250; that of "to take upon oneself, to accept the duty of" is from c.1300. Undertaking "enterprise" is recorded from c.1425. undertaker c.1400, "a contractor or projector of any sort," agent noun from undertake (q.v.). The specialized sense (1698) emerged from funeral-undertaker. undertone 1762, "low or subdued tone," from under + tone. Fig. sense of "undercurrent of feelings, etc.," is attested from 1861. undertow 1817, from under + tow. undervalue 1596, "to rate as inferior in value" (to), from under + value (v.). Sense of "to estimate or esteem too low" is recorded from 1611. Meaning "to rate at too low a monetary value" is attested from 1622. underwater (adj.) 1627, from under + water. underway (adv.) 1934, of ships, "having begun to move," from under + way. In ref. to projects, activities, etc., it is attested from 1935. underwear 1872, from under + wear (n.). So called because it is worn under one's clothing. underweight 1899, from under- + weight. underwhelm 1956, a facetious play on overwhelm. underworld 1608, "the lower world, Hades," also "the earth," as distinguished from heaven (1609). Cf. Ger. unterwelt, Du. onderwereld, Dan. underverden. Meaning "lower level of society" is first recorded 1890; "criminals and organized crime collectively" is attested from 1900. underwrite c.1430, loan-translation of L. subscribere (see subscribe). Used literally at first; modern sense of "to accept the risk of insurance" (1622) is from notion of signing a marine insurance policy. Meaning "to support by a guarantee of money" is recorded from 1890. undeserved c.1374, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of deserve. undesirable (adj.) 1667, "not to be desired, objectionable," from un- (1) "not" + desire + -able. The noun meaning "undesirable person or thing" is first attested 1883. Undesired "not asked or invited" is recorded from 1470. undetected c.1593, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of detect. Undetectable is recorded from 1863. undetermined 1442, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of determine. undeveloped 1736, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of develop. In ref. to film, it is attested from 1939. undies 1906, diminutive euphemistic abbreviation for women's underwear (or undergarments). undifferentiated 1862, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of differentiate (see difference). undigested 1528, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of digest (v.). Fig. sense is recorded from c.1610. undignified 1689, of clergy, "not holding a position of dignity," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of dignify (see dignity). Meaning "lacking in dignity of manner" is attested from 1782. undine 1821, from Mod.L. Undina (1657), coined by Paracelsus ("De Nymphis") for a water spirit in his alchemical system, from L. unda "a wave" (see water). Popularized by Ger. romance "Undine, eine Erz?hlung" (1811) by Baron F.H.C. La Motte Fouqué. Undinism (1928) was coined by sex researcher Havelock Ellis to describe the fetish for urine (which Ellis had); nowadays it would be called urophilia. undisciplined 1382, "untrained," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of discipline (v.). Cf. Ger. undisciplinirt, Swed. odisciplinerad. Specific meaning "not subject to military discipline" is attested from 1718. undisclosed 1570, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of disclose. undiscovered 1542, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of discover. undisguised c.1500, in ref. to things, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of disguise. Of persons, attested from 1671. undismayed 1615, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of dismay. undisputed 1570, "not argued with," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of dispute. Meaning "not called into question" is attested from 1625. undistinguished 1598, "not kept distinct," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of distinguish. Meaning "not elevated above others" is attested from 1600. undisturbed 1610, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of disturb. undivided c.1412, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of divide. undo O.E. undon "to unfasten and open" (a window or door), "to unfasten by releasing from a fixed position," from un- (2) + do. Undone "not accomplished" is recorded from c.1300; sense of "destroyed" is recorded from 1340; the notion is of "to annul something that was done." Undoing "action of bringing to ruin" is recorded from 1398. undocumented 1883, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of document (v.). undomesticated 1834, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of domesticate (see domestic). Undomestic "not caring for home life" is recorded from 1754. undoubted c.1460, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of doubt (v.). undress (v.) 1596, "to shed one's clothing," from un- (2) + dress (v.). Trans. sense of "to strip off (someone's) clothing" is recorded from 1615. The noun meaning "state of partial or incomplete dress" is attested from 1685. Undressed "naked (or nearly so)" is recorded from 1613. undue 1387, "not owing or payable," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of due. Formed on model of O.Fr. indeu, L. indebitus. Meaning "not appropriate, unseasonable" is recorded from 1398. Sense of "unjustifiable" is attested from 1399 (implied in unduly). Meaning "excessive" is first recorded 1684. undulation 1646, from M.L. *undulatio, from L.L. undulatus "wavy, undulated," from undula "wavelet," dim. of L. unda "wave" (see water). The verb undulate is attested from 1664. undying c.1300, "immortal," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of die (v.). Fig. sense, of feelings, etc., is recorded from c.1765. unearned c.1200, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of earn. Unearned income is recorded from 1889. unearth "to dig up," c.1450, from un- (2) + earth (v.) "to bury in the ground" (see earth). unearthly 1611, "heavenly, sublime," from un- (1) "not" + earthly (see earth). Sense of "ghostly, weird" first recorded 1802. uneasy c.1290, "not comforting," from un- (1) "not" + easy. Meaning "disturbed in mind" is attested from 1680. uneducated 1588, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of educate. unemotional 1876, from un- (1) "not" + emotional (see emotion). unemployed 1600, "at leisure, not occupied," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of employ. Meaning "temporarily out of work" is from 1667. The noun meaning "unemployed persons collectively" is from 1782; unemployment first recorded 1888. unencumbered 1722, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of encumber. unenlightened 1662, "not lit up," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of enlighten. Meaning "not mentally illuminated" is attested from c.1656. unequal 1535, "unjust, unfair," from un- (1) "not" + equal. Meaning "not the same in amount, size, quality, etc." is recorded from 1565. Sense of "inadequate, insufficient" (to some task) is attested from 1694. unequivocal 1784, from un- (1) "not" + equivocal (see equivocation). unerring 1645 (implied in unerringly), from un- (1) "not" + gerundive of err. unethical 1871, from un- (1) "not" + ethical (see ethics). uneven O.E. unefen "unequal," from un- (1) "not" + even. Cf. O.Fris. oniovn, M.Du. oneven, O.H.G. uneban, Ger. uneben, O.N. ujafn. Meaning "irregular, broken, rugged" (in ref. to terrain, etc.) is recorded from c.1275. uneventful 1800, from un- (1) "not" + eventful (see event). unexamined 1495, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of examine. unexceptionable 1664, from un- (1) "not" + exception + -able. unexpected c.1586, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of expect. unexplained 1721, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of explain. unfailing 1382, "never coming to an end, unceasing," from un- (1) "not" + gerundive of fail. unfair O.E. unf?gr "unlovely," from un- (1) "not" + fair. Cf. O.N. ufagr, Goth. unfagrs. Meaning "wicked, evil, bad" is recorded from c.1300. Sense of "not equitable, unjust" is first recorded 1713. unfaithful 1340 (implied in unfaithfully) "acting falsely," from un- (1) "not" + faithful (see faith). In M.E. it also had a sense of "infidel, unbelieving, irreligious" (1382). Sense of "not faithful in marriage" is attested from 1828. unfamiliar 1594, from un- (1) "not" + familiar. unfashionable 1563, "incapable of being shaped," from un- (1) "not" + fashionable (see fashion). Meaning "not in accordance with prevailing fashion" is attested from 1648. unfasten c.1225, from un- (2) + fasten. unfathomable 1617, originally in the fig. sense, of feelings, conditions, etc., from un- (1) "not" + fathom (v.) + -able. Lit. sense attested from c.1676. unfavorable 1460 (implied in unfavorably), from un- (1) "not" + favor (v.) + -able. "We must not indulge in unfavorable views of mankind, since by doing it we make bad men believe that they are no worse than others, and we teach the good that they are good in vain." [Walter Savage Landor, "Imaginary Conversations"] unfeeling late O.E., "having no sensation," from un- (1) "not" + feeling (see feel). Meaning "devoid of kindly or tender feelings" is recorded from 1596. unfeigned c.1374, "sincere, genuine, true, real," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of feign. unfetter 1362, from un- (2) + fetter (v.). The fig. sense is recorded from c.1374. unfinished 1553, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of finish. unfit (adj.) 1545, "not suitable" (in ref. to things), from un- (1) "not" + pp. of fit (see fit (adj.)). In ref. to persons or human qualities, attested from 1551. The verb meaning "to render unfit" is recorded from 1611. unflappable 1958, from un- (1) "not" + flap (v.) + -able. Originally used in ref. to Harold Macmillan, British P.M. 1957-63. unflattering 1581, from un- (1) "not" + gerundive of flatter. unfledged 1602, of persons, "immature, not experienced," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of fledge. Lit. sense of "not yet covered in feathers" is recorded from 1611. unflinching 1728, from un- (1) "not" + gerundive of flinch. unfold O.E. unfealdan, "to open or unwrap the folds of," also fig., "to disclose, reveal," from un- (2) + fold (v.). Cf. M.Du. ontvouden, Ger. entfalten. Refl. sense is attested from c.1374. unforeseen 1651, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of foresee. Cf. M.Du. onvoresien, Du. onvoorzien, M.H.G. unvorsen. unforgettable 1806, from un- (1) "not" + forgetable (see forget). unforgiven 1425, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of forgive. Unforgiving is attested from 1713. unformed 1325, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of form (v.). unfortunate (adj.) 1530, "unlucky," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of fortunate (see fortune). In late 18c.-early 19c., unfortunate woman was a polite way to say "prostitute." The noun meaning "one who is not fortunate" is recorded from 1638. Unfortunately is attested from 1548, originally "not successfully, to a regrettable extent." The proper meaning is now rare; the main modern sense of "sad to say" is first recorded 1706 in parenthetical or detached use. unfounded 1648, "having no foundation or basis," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of found (1). unfree c.1300, from un- (1) "not" + free (adj.). Cf. M.Du. onvri, O.H.G. unfri, Ger. unfrei, M.Da. ufri. unfrequented 1588, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of frequent (v.). unfriendly 1425, "not characteristic of friends," from un- (1) "not" + friendly (see friend). Cf. M.Du. onvriendelijc, M.H.G. unvriuntlich, Ger. unfreundlich. Meaning "hostile, inimical" is recorded from 1483. A noun unfriend "enemy" is recorded from c.1275, chiefly in Scottish, still in use 19c. unfruitful 1388, "barren," from un- (1) "not" + fruitful (see fruit). Originally lit.; fig. sense is attested from c.1400. unfulfilled 1382, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of fulfill. unfunny 1858, from un- (1) "not" + funny. unfurl 1641, from un- (2) + furl (v.). unfurnished 1541, "not equipped, unprepared," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of furnish. In ref. to houses, apartments, etc., "not provided with furniture," it is recorded from 1581. ungainly 1611, originally "unfit, improper," from M.E. ungeinliche, from ungein (c.1400) "inconvenient" (from un- (1) "not" + O.N. gegn "convenient") + -like. ungird O.E. ongyrde, from un- (2) + gird. Cf. M.Du. ontgorden, O.H.G. ingurten, Ger. entgürten. unglue 1548, from un- (2) + glue (v.). Unglued in fig. sense is recorded from 1922. ungodly 1526, "irreligious, not god-fearing, not in accordance with the laws of God," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of godly (adj.). Cf. M.Du. ongodelijc, Ger. ung?ttlich, M.Swed. ogudhlik. Colloquial sense of "outrageous, dreadful" is recorded from 1887. ungrammatical 1654, from un- (1) "not" + grammatical (see grammar). ungrateful 1553, from un- (1) "not" + grateful. ungual "pertaining to a nail or claw," 1834, from L. unguis "a claw, nail" (cognate with Gk. onyx, O.E. n?gel, O.N. nagl "nail;" see nail). unguarded 1593, "not furnished with a guard," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of guard. Sense of "not on one's guard, not taking heed" is attested from 1640. unguent "ointment," c.1440, from L. unguentem "ointment," from stem of unguere "to anoint or smear with ointment," from PIE base *ongw- "to salve, anoint" (cf. Skt. anakti "anoints, smears," Armenian aucanem "I anoint," O.Pruss. anctan "butter," O.H.G. ancho, Ger. anke "butter," O.Ir. imb, Welsh ymenyn "butter"). ungulate (adj.) "hoofed," 1802, from L.L. ungulatus "hoofed," from ungula "hoof, claw, talon," dim. (in form but not sense) of unguis "nail" (see ungual). Ungulata, the order of hoofed mammals, is recorded from 1839. unh-unh sound expressing negation or denial, attested from 1951. unhallowed O.E. unhalgod, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of hallow. unhand 1602, "to release from one's grasp," from un- (2) + verbal derivative of hand (n.). unhappy c.1300, "causing misfortune or trouble (to oneself or others)," from un- (1) "not" + happy. Meaning "unfortunate, unlucky" is recorded from 1375; sense of "miserable, wretched" is recorded from 1390 (originally via misfortune or mishap). Unhappily is attested from c.1340 (cf. O.N. unheppiliga). unharmed 1340, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of harm. unharness c.1435, "divest of armor," from un- (2) + harness (v.). Cf. Du. ontharnassen "to disarm." Meaning "to free (a horse) from harness" is recorded from 1611. unhealthy 1595, "injurious to health," from un- (1) "not" + healthy. Earlier unhealthsome (1544), unhealthful (1580). Of persons, "sickly," it is attested from 1611. unheard c.1300 "not detected by sense of hearing," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of hear. Meaning "unknown, new" is attested from c.1375 (O.E. had ungehered in this sense). Usually with of since 1592. Cf. O.N. oheyrer, Dan. uh?rt, M.Du. ongehoort, O.H.G. ungehoret. unhinge used earlier in the mental sense of "to disorder" the mind, etc. (1612) than in the literal one of "to take (a door, etc.) off its hinges" (1616); from un- (2) + a verb derivative of hinge. unhitch 1622, from un- (2) + hitch (v.). unholy O.E. unhalig, "impious, profane, wicked," from un- (1) "not" + halig (see holy). Cf. M.Du. onheilich, O.N. uheilagr, Dan. unhellig, Swed. ohelig. In ref. to actions, it is attested from 1382. Colloquial sense of "awful, dreadful" is recorded from 1842. unhorse 1390, "to throw (someone) from his horse," from un- (2) + verbal derivative of hand (n.). Cf. M.Du. ontorsen. uni- comb. form meaning "having one only," from L. uni-, comb. form of unus (see one). Uniate "pertaining to an Eastern Christian church that acknowledges the supremacy of the Pope," 1833, from Rus. uniyat, from unia "unity, union," from L. unus "one" (see one). unicameral 1853, from uni- "one" + L.L. camera "chamber" (see camera). unicorn c.1225, from O.Fr. unicorne, from L.L. unicornus (Vulgate), from noun use of L. unicornis (adj.) "having one horn," from uni- "one" (see uni-) + cornus "horn" (see horn). The L.L. word translates Gk. monoceros, itself rendering Heb. re'em, which was probably a kind of wild ox. According to Pliny, a creature with a horse's body, deer's head, elephant's feet, lion's tail, and one black horn two cubits long projecting from its forehead. Cf. Ger. Einhorn, Welsh ungorn, Bret. uncorn, O.C.S. ino-rogu. unicycle 1869, Amer.Eng., from L. uni- "one" (see uni-) + -cycle, from bicycle (from Gk. kyklos "circle, wheel"). unidentified 1860, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of identify. uniform (adj.) 1540, "of one form," from M.Fr. uniforme (14c.), from L. uniformis "having one form," from uni- "one" (see uni-) + forma "form" (see form). The noun meaning "distinctive clothes worn by one group" is first attested 1748, from Fr. uniforme. uniformity 1432, from O.Fr. uniformite (14c.), from L.L. uniformitatem (nom. uniformitas), from L. uniformis (see uniform). unify 1502, "to make into one," from M.Fr. unifier (14c.), from L.L. unificare "make one," from L. uni- "one" (see uni-) + root of facere "to make" (see factitious). Unification is attested from 1851; the Unification Church was founded 1954 in Korea by Sun Myung Moon. Unified is attested from 1862. Unified (field) theory in physics is recorded from 1935. unilateral 1802, from Mod.L. unilateralis, from unum, neut. of unus "one" (see one) + latus (gen. lateralis) "side" (see oblate (n.)). Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) may have been the first to use it in the legal sense of "made or entered into by one party." Unilateral disarmament is recorded from 1929. Unilateralism is recorded from 1926, and seems to have been used in the sense of "advocate of unilateral disarmament." Meaning "pursuit of a foreign policy without allies" is attested from 1964. "It is useless for the sheep to pass resolutions in favor of vegetarianism, while the wolf remains of a different opinion." [William Ralph Inge, "Outspoken Essays," 1919] unimpaired 1583, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of impair. Rare before c.1760. unimpeachable 1784, from un- (1) "not" + impeach (v.) + -able. unimpeded 1760, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of impede. unimportant 1750, from un- (1) "not" + important. Used earlier in a sense of "unassuming, modest" (1727). unimpressed 1861, "not awed," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of impress. Used earlier in a sense of "not subjected to restraint" (1743). Unimpressive is recorded from 1796. unimproved 1665, "not made better," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of improve. Sense of "not developed or taken advantage of" is recorded from 1781. uninformed 1597, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of inform. Originally in ref. to some specific matter or subject; general sense of "uneducated, ignorant" is recorded from 1647. uninhabitable 1448, from un- (1) "not" + inhabit (v.) + -able. Uninhabited is attested from 1571. uninhibited 1880, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of inhibit. unintelligible 1616, "incapable of being understood," from un- (1) "not" + intelligible. uninterested c.1646, "unbiased," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of interest. It later meant "disinterested" (1661); sense of "unconcerned, indifferent" is recorded from 1771. This is the correct word for what often is miscalled disinterested. uninterrupted 1602, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of interrupt. uninvited 1631, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of invite. Uninviting is recorded from 1686. union 1410, "action of joining one thing to another," from O.Fr. union (12c.), from L.L. unionem (nom. unio) "oneness, unity, a uniting," also in L. meaning "a single pearl or onion," from unus "one," from PIE *oinos (see one). Sense of "action of uniting into one political body" is attested from 1547. Meaning "group of people or states" is from 1660. Short for trade union, it is recorded from 1833. U.S. political sense is attested from 1775; used especially during the Civil War, in ref. to the remainder of the United States after the Southern secession. Unionize "make into a union" is attested from 1841. Union Jack 1674, from union + jack (n.); properly a small British union flag flown as the jack of a ship, but it has long been in use as a general name for the union flag. The Union flag (1634) was introduced to symbolize the union of the crowns of England and Scotland (in 1603) and was formed of a combination of the cross saltire of St. Andrew and the cross of St. George. The cross saltire of St. Patrick was added 1801 upon the union of parliaments of Great Britain and Ireland. unique 1602, "single, solitary," from Fr. unique, from L. unicus "single, sole," from unus "one" (see one). Meaning "forming the only one of its kind" is attested from 1618; erroneous sense of "remarkable, uncommon" is attested from mid-19c. unisex "sexually indistinguishable or neutral," 1968, from uni- + sex. unison 1574, from M.Fr. unisson "unison, accord of sound" (16c.), from M.L. unisonus "having one sound, sounding the same," from L.L. unisonius "in immediate sequence in the scale, monotonous," from L. uni- "one" (see one) + sonus "sound" (see sound (n.1)). Sense of "harmonious agreement" is first attested 1650. unit 1570, "single number regarded as an undivided whole," alteration of unity on the basis of digit. Popularized in John Dee's Eng. translation of Euclid, to express Gk. monas (Dee says unity formerly was used in this sense). Meaning "single thing regarded as a member of a group" is attested from 1642. 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. Unitarian 1687, "one who rejects the doctrine of the Trinity," from Mod.L. unitarius (1656), from L. unitas (see unity). unite 1432, from L. unitus, pp. of unire "to unite," from unus "one" (see one). United Kingdom is recorded from 1737. The phrase United States has been used since 1617, originally with ref. to Holland; the North American republic first so called in 1776. United Nations (1942) originally meant "the Allied nations at war with the Axis powers;" the international body (officially the United Nations Organization) was chartered in 1945. United Provinces were the seven northern provinces of the Netherlands, allied from 1579, later developing into the kingdom of Holland. unity c.1300, from Anglo-Fr. unite, O.Fr. unite (c.1200), from L. unitatem (nom. unitas) "oneness, sameness, agreement," from unus "one" (see one). universal c.1374, from O.Fr. universel (12c.), from L. universalis "of or belonging to all," from universus "all together, whole, entire" (see universe). In mechanics, a universal joint (1676) is one which allows free movement in any direction; in theology universalism (1805) is the doctrine of universal salvation (universalist in this sense is attested from 1626). Universal product code is recorded from 1974. universe 1589, "the whole world, cosmos," from O.Fr. univers (12c.), from L. universum "the universe," noun use of neut. of adj. universus "all together," lit. "turned into one," from unus "one" (see one) + versus, pp. of vertere "to turn" (see versus). Properly a loan-translation of Gk. to holon "the universe," noun use of neut. of adj. holos "whole" (see safe (adj.)). university c.1300, "institution of higher learning," also "body of persons constituting a university," from Anglo-Fr. université, O.Fr. universitei (13c.), from M.L. universitatem (nom. universitas), in L.L. "corporation, society," from L., "the whole, aggregate," from universus "whole, entire" (see universe). In the academic sense, a shortening of universitas magistrorum et scholarium "community of masters and scholars;" superseded studium as the word for this. unjust 1382, of persons, from un- (1) "not" + just. Of actions, attested from c.1400. unjustified c.1340, "not punished or executed," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of justify. Meaning "not proven to be right or proper" is attested from 1685. unkempt 1579, from un- (1) "not" + kempt "well-combed, neat," from variant pp. of O.E. cemban "to comb," from P.Gmc. *kambijan, from *kamb- "comb" (see comb). Form unkembed iss recorded from 1390. The verb kemb is rare after 1400s, but its negative pp. form endures. unkind c.1225 (implied in unkindly), "strange, foreign, unnatural," from un- (1) "not" + kind. Meaning "lacking in kindness" is recorded from 1362. unknown (adj.) c.1300, "strange, unfamiliar" (of persons, places), from un- (1) "not" + pp. of know. Cf. O.E. ungecnawen. In ref. to facts, attested from c.1330. The noun meaning "unknown person" is recorded from 1597. unlace c.1300, from un- (2) + lace (v.). unlamented 1595, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of lament. unlawful c.1300, from un- (1) "not" + lawful (see law). Unlawful assembly is recorded in statutes from 1485. unleaded 1611, from un- (1) "not" + leaded (see lead (n.)). In ref. to gasoline, from 1965. unleash 1671, from un- (2) + verbal derivative of leash (n.). unless 1467, earlier onlesse (c.1440), from on lesse (than) "on a less condition (than)," the first syllable originally on, but the negative connotation and the lack of stress changed it to un-. unlettered c.1340, "not possessed of book-learning," from un- (1) "not" + lettered (see letter (n.)). An Anglicized form of illiterate. Cf. M.Du. ongelettert. unlicensed 1634, from un- (1) "not" + licensed (see licence). unlike c.1200, "Not resembling," from un- (1) "not" + like. Cf. O.E. ungelic, O.Fris. unlik, O.N. ulikr, M.Da. ulige. Unlikely "not likely to occur" is attested from 1375 (cf. O.N. ulikligr, M.Da. uligelig). Meaning "not likely to be true" is recorded from 1592. unlimber 1802, "to free (a gun) from its limber," usually for the purpose of bringing it into action, from un- (2) + limber (n.). Fig. sense is attested from 1864. unlimited c.1445, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of limit (v.). unlisted 1644, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of list (v.). In ref. to stocks, attested from 1905; of phone numbers, from 1937 (Amer.Eng.). unlivable 1869, from un- (1) "not" + livable (see live (v.)). unload 1523, in ref. to cargo, from un- (2) + load (v.). Fig. sense (in ref. to feelings, etc.) is recorded from 1593. unlock c.1400, from un- (2) + lock (v.). Fig. sense is attested from 1531. unlooked c.1300, "not attended to, neglected," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of look. With for, "unexpected," attested from 1535. unloose 1393, "to set free," from un- (2), used here emphatically, + loose. unloved 1395, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of love (v.). "He that can love unloved again, Hath better store of love than brain" [Robert Ayton (1570-1638)] unlovely 1377, "not evoking feelings of love," from un- (1) "not" + lovely. Meaning "ugly" is recorded from 1393. unlucky 1530, "marked by misfortune or failure," from un- (1) "not" + lucky (see luck). Cf. W.Fris. unlokkich, M.L.G. unluckich. Sense of "boding ill" is recorded from 1547; that of "having bad luck" is from 1552; that of "bringing bad luck" is from 1586. unmade c.1250, "not yet made," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of make. Unmake "to reduce to an unmade condition" is recorded from 1426 (cf. M.Du. ontmaken, Ger. entmachen); fig. sense of "to ruin" is recorded from 1605. unman 1598, "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 1684. Unmanly "degrading to a human" is attested from c.1475 (cf. M.Du. onmamlijc, Ger. unm?nnlich). Unmanned "not furnished with a crew" is from 1544. unmarked c.1400, "having been given no mark," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of mark (v.). Cf. O.N. umarkaer. Meaning "not noticed or observed" is recorded from 1533. unmarried 1297, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of marry. unmask 1586 in fig. sense, 1602 in lit. sense, from un- (2) + mask (v.). unmatched 1581, "unrivaled," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of match (v.). unmeet O.E. unm?te "immoderate, excessive," from un- (1) "not" + meet (adj.). Cf. O.H.G. unmazi. Meaning "unfitting" is from 1529; that of "unsuited" (for some purpose) is from c.1522. unmentionable (adj.) 1837, from un- (1) "not" + mentionable (see mention (v.)). Unmentionables "trousers" is attested from 1823; meaning "underwear" is recorded from 1910. unmitigated 1599, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of mitigate. unmolested 1531, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of molest. unmoor 1497, "to free from moorings," from un- (2) + moor (v.). unmoved c.1375, "not affected by emotion or excitement," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of move (v.). unnamed 1509, "not mentioned by name." from un- (1) "not" + pp. of name (v.). Cf. O.Fris. unnamed, M.Du. ongenaemt. unnatural c.1425, "not in accord with physical nature," from un- (1) "not" + natural. Meaning "artificial" is attested from 1746; that of "at variance with moral standards" is from 1529. unnecessary 1548, from un- (1) "not" + necessary. unnerve 1621, "to destroy the strength of," from un- (2) + nerve. Meaning "to deprive of courage" is recorded from 1704. unobserved 1612, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of observe. unobstructed 1659, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of obstruct. unoccupied c.1380, "idle," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of occupy. In ref. to ground, etc., attested from c.1425. unofficial 1798, from un- (1) "not" + official. unopposed 1659, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of oppose. unoriginal 1667, "having no origin, uncreated," from un- (1) "not" + original (adj.). Meaning "derivative, second-hand" is recorded from 1774. unorthodox 1657, from un- (1) "not" + orthodox. unpack 1472, from un- (2) + pack. Cf. Du. ontpakken. unpaid 1375, in ref. to persons, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of pay. Of debts, attested from 1483. unpalatable 1682, from un- (1) "not" + palatable (see palate). unparalleled 1594, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of parallel. unpaved 1533, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of pave. unperturbed 1420, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of perturb. unpleasant 1538, from un- (1) "not" + pleasant. unpolished 1382, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of polish (v.). In ref. to style, language, etc., attested from c.1489. unpopular 1647, from un- (1) "not" + popular. unpracticed 1551, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of practice (v.). unprecedented 1623, from un- (1) "not" + precedented (see precedent (n.)). In common use from c.1760. unpredictable 1857, from un- (1) "not" + predictable (see predict). unprejudiced 1613, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of prejudice. unprepared 1549, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of prepare (see preparation). unpretentious 1859, from un- (1) "not" + pretentious. unprincipled 1634, "not instructed" (in something), from un- (1) "not" + principled (see principle). Meaning "not honorable" is recorded from 1644. unproductive 1756, from un- (1) "not" + productive. unprofessional 1806, from un- (1) "not" + professional (see profession). unprofitable c.1325, from un- (1) "not" + profitable (see profit (n.)). unpromising 1663, from un- (1) "not" + promising (see promise). unprovoked 1585, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of provoke. unpublished 1607, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of publish. In ref. to an author, attested from 1934. unqualified 1556, "not having necessary qualifications, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of qualify. Meaning "not modified or limited" is recorded from 1796. unquestionable 1603, from un- (1) "not" + questionable (see question). unquote 1935, from un- (2) + quote (v.). Originally (obviously) in speaking, first written record is in a letter of e.e. cummings. unravel 1603, from un- (2) + ravel. unready c.1340, "not prepared," from un- (1) "not" + ready. In Eng. history, applied to Anglo-Saxon King Ethelred II (d.1016), where it preserves the fuller original sense of O.E. unger?d "ill-advised, rede-less, no-counsel" and plays on the king's name (which lit. means "good-counsel"). The epithet is attested from c.1210. unreal 1605, "not real," from un- (1) "not" + real (adj.). Slang sense of "wonderful, great" is first recorded 1965. "Hence horrible shadow, Vnreall mock'ry hence." ["Macbeth," III.iv.107] unreasonable c.1340, from un- (1) "not" + reasonable. unreconstructed 1867, "not reconciled to the outcome of the American Civil War," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of reconstruct. unrefined 1595, "not refined in manners," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of refine. Meaning "not free from gross matter" is recorded from c.1610. unreformed 1528, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of reform. unregenerate 1612, from un- (1) "not" + regenerate (see regeneration). unrelated 1661, "not akin," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of relate. Meaning "Not in any relationship" is attested from 1668; that of "not told" is from 1764. unrelenting 1588, from un- (1) "not" + relenting (see relent). unreliable 1840, from un- (1) "not" + reliable. First recorded in De Quincey, who said it was coined by Coleridge. unrepentant c.1380, from un- (1) "not" + repentant (see repent). unrequited 1542, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of requite. unresolved 1577, "undecided" (of questions), from un- (1) "not" + pp. of resolve (v.). Meaning "uncertain in opinion" is attested from 1597. unrest c.1340, from un- (2) + rest. Cf. W.Fris. onrest, M.L.G. unreste, Ger. unrast, M.Du. onruste. unrestrained 1586, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of restrain. unripe O.E. unripe "premature" (in ref. to death), from un- (1) "not" + ripe. Meaning "immature, not fully developed (of fruit, etc.) is recorded from c.1250. Cf. M.Du. onrijp, O.H.G. unrifi, Ger. unreif. unroll 1412, from un- (2) + roll (v.). unruffled 1659, in fig. sense, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of ruffle. Lit. meaning, in ref. to feathers, leaves, etc., is recorded from 1816. unruly 1400, from un- (1) "not" + obsolete ruly "amenable to rule," from rule. unsafe 1597, "involving risk or danger," from un- (1) "not" + safe (adj.). unsaid O.E. uns?d, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of say. Cf. M.Du. ongeseit, Ger. ungesagt, O.N. usager. unsalted c.1440, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of salt (v.). Cf. N.Fris. unsalted, Swed. osaltad, Dan. usaltet. unsatisfied c.1430, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of satisfy. Unsatisfactory is attested from 1637. unsaturated 1758, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of saturate. unsavory c.1225, "tasteless, insipid," from un- (1) "not" + savory (adj.). Meaning "unpleasant or disagreeable to the taste" is attested from c.1380; of persons, from 1401. unscathed c.1375, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of scathe. Mainly in Scottish before 19c. Cf. O.N. ostaeaer, Swed. oskadad. unschooled 1589, "untrained," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of school (v.). unscramble "restore to order," 1923, from un- (2) + scramble (v.). The original notion probably is from the old retort about the impossibility of unscrambling eggs. unscrupulous 1803, from un- (1) "not" + scrupulous (see scruple). unseal c.1425, from un- (2) + seal (v.). Cf. M.Du. ontsegelen, O.H.G. intsigilan. Unsealed is recorded from 1377. unseasonable c.1448, "inopportune," from un- (1) "not" + seasonable (see season (n.)). In ref. to weather, "not appropriate to the time of year," it is recorded from 1513. unseasoned 1582, "not made palatable by seasoning," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of season (v.). Meaning "not habituated by experience" is recorded from 1601. unseat 1596, "to throw down from a seat" (especially on horseback), from un- (2) + seat (v.). Meaning "to deprive of rank or office" is attested from 1611; especially of elected office in a representative body from 1834. unseemly 1310, "unfitting, indecent," from un- (1) "not" + seemly. Cf. O.N. usoemiligr. unseen c.1225, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of see (v.). Cf. O.E. ungesewen, M.Du. ongesien, Du. ongezien, O.H.G. unges?han, Ger. ungesehen, O.N. usenn. unselfish 1698, from un- (1) "not" + selfish. Cf. Dan. uselvisk, Swed. osj?lfvisk. unsettle 1598, "undo from a fixed position, from un- (2) + settle. Of the mind, feelings, etc., attested from 1644. Unsettled "not peaceful, not firmly established" is recorded from 1591. Meaning "not occupied by settlers" is attested from 1724. unshaken c.1460, "not agitated," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of shake. Meaning "not moved from a firm position" is recorded from 1548. unsightly c.1425, "displeasing to the eye," from un- (1) "not" + sightly (see sight). Cf. M.Du. onsichtlijc "invisible, ugly," M.H.G. unsihtlih "invisible." unsinkable 1655, from un- (1) "not" + sinkable (see sink (v.)). unskilled 1581, from un- (1) "not" + skilled (see skill). unsmiling 1826, from un- (1) "not" + smiling (see smile (v.)). unsociable 1600, from un- (1) "not" + sociable. unsolicited 1588, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of solicit. unsophisticated 1630, "unmixed," from un- (1) "not" + sophisticated (see sophistication). Meaning "ingenuous, natural, inexperienced" is recorded from 1665. unsought c.1225, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of seek. Cf. M.Du. ongesocht, Du. ongezocht, M.H.G. ungesuochet, Ger. ungesucht. unsound c.1320, of persons, "diseased, wounded," from un- (1) "not" + sound (adj.). Cf. M.L.G. unsund, M.Du. ongesont, Ger. ungesund. Meaning "morally corrupt" is recorded from c.1300; that of "not mentally healthy" is from 1547. Sense of "not based on reasoning or fact" is attested from 1595. unsparing "showing no mercy," 1586, from un- (1) "not" + sparing (see spare (v.)). unspeakable c.1400, "inexpressible," from un- (1) "not" + speakable (see speak). Meaning "indescribably bad or wicked" is recorded from 1831. unspoiled c.1500, "not plundered," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of spoil (v.). Meaning "not deteriorated" is attested from 1732. unspoken 1375, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of speak. Cf. M.Du. ongesproken, M.L.G. ungesproken. unsportsmanlike 1754, from un- (1) "not" + sportsmanlike (see sport (n.)). Unsporting is attested from 1859. unstable c.1225, "apt to move," from un- (1) "not" + stable (adj.). Cf. M.H.G. unstabel. Meaning "liable to fall" is recorded from c.1300; sense of "fickle" is attested from c.1290. unsteady 1598, from un- (1) "not" + steady (adj.). Cf. O.Fris. unstadich, Ger. unst?tig, M.Du. onstadich. unstinted 1480, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of stint (v.). unstrung 1598, "with strings relaxed" (of a harp, etc.), from un- (1) "not" + pp. of string (v.). Transf. sense of "weakened, unnerved" is recorded from 1692. unsuccessful 1617, from un- (1) "not" + successful (see success). unsung 1422, "not uttered in a song," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of sing. Cf. Ger. ungesungen. Meaning "not celebrated" is recorded from 1667. unsupervised 1899, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of supervise. unsure c.1400, "not safe against attack," also "lacking certainty," from un- (1) "not" + sure. unsuspected 1530, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of suspect (v.). untainted 1590, in the moral sense; c.1600 in the physical sense; from un- (1) "not" + pp. of taint (v.). untamed c.1340, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of tame. Cf. O.N. utamdr, O.H.G. ungizamot. untangle 1550, from un- (2) + tangle. untempered 1577, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of temper. Cf. M.Du. ongetempert, M.H.G. ungetempert. untenable 1647, "incapable of being held against attack," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of tenable. Fig. sense is recorded from 1692. unthinkable 1430, "too large to be conceived, unimaginable," from un- (1) "not" + thinkable (see think). Meaning "incapable of being framed by thought" is recorded from c.1445. Unthinking "unreflecting" is attested from 1676. untidy c.1225. "untimely, unseasonable, unsuitable," from un- (1) "not" + tidy. Cf. W.Fris. ontidich, M.Du. ontidich, Du. ontijdig, O.H.G. unzitich, Ger. unzeitig, Norw. utidig "untimely, unseasonable, unfavorable." Meaning "poorly cared for, not neat" is recorded from c.1350. untie O.E. untiegan, from un- (2) + tie (v.). until c.1200, from O.N. und "as far as, up to" (related to O.E. end; see end) + till "until, up to" (see till). Originally also used of persons and places. Cf. Swed. intill, Dan. indtil. The Mod.Ger. equivalent, bis (O.H.G. biaz), is a similar compound, of O.H.G. bi "by, at, to" and zu "to." untimely 1535, "coming before the proper or usual time," from un- (1) "not" + timely. Cf. M.Dan. utimelig, of weather, etc. unto c.1250, perhaps a modification of until, with southern to in place of northern equivalent till. Or perhaps a native formation on the model of until from O.E. *und- "up to," cognate of the first element in until. Since 18c., chiefly in dignified, archaic, or Biblical styles. untold O.E. unteald, "not counted or reckoned," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of tell in its original numerical sense. Cf. M.Du. ongetellet, Ger. ungezahlt, O.N. utalier. Meaning "not related or recounted" is recorded from c.1386. untouchable 1567, "immaterial," from un- (1) "not" + touchable (see touch). Meaning "that legally cannot be interfered with" is recorded from 1734. Meaning "too loathsome or defiling to be touched" is recorded from 1873. The noun, in ref. to a hereditary low caste of India, is attested from 1909; the term and the restrictions were made illegal in India in 1947. Untouched is attested from 1382. untoward 1526, "not having inclination" (to or for something), also "difficult to manage, unruly," from un- (1) "not" + toward. untried 1520, "not proven or tested," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of try. untrodden c.1300, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of tread. untroubled 1484, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of trouble (v.). untrue O.E. untreowe "unfaithful" (of persons), from un- (1) "not" + true. Cf. M.Du. ongetrouwe, M.L.G. ungetruwe, O.H.G. ungitriuwi, O.N. utryggr. Meaning "contrary to facts" is attested from c.1300. untrustworthy 1846, from un- (1) "not" + trustworthy (see trust). untruth O.E. untreowt "unfaithfulness," from un- (1) "not" + truth. Cf. O.N. utryge. Meaning "falsehood" is attested from 1439; that of "a lie" is from c.1449. unused 1297, "unaccustomed," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of use (v.). Meaning "not employed" is recorded from 1398. unusual 1582, from un- (1) "not" + usual. unvarnished 1604, of statements, "not embellished," from un- (1) "not" + pp. of varnish (v.). Lit. sense of "not covered in varnish" is recorded from 1758. unveil 1599, in ref. to sight, "to make clear," from un- (2) + veil (v.). Sense of "to display or reveal" (something) is from 1657. unwanted 1697, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of want (v.). unwarranted 1577, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of warrant (v.). unwashed c.1390, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of wash (v.). Noun sense of "the lower class" is attested from 1830. unwearied O.E. ungewerigod, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of weary. unwed 1513, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of wed. unwelcome c.1325, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of welcome. Cf. M.Du. onwillecome, Ger. unwillkommen. unwell c.1450, "somewhat ill," from un- (1) "not" + well (adj.). Cf. N.Fris. unwel, Ger. unwohl. unwholesome c.1200, from un- (1) "not" + wholesome. Cf. Flem. onheylsaem, Ger. unheilsam, O.N. uheilsamr. unwieldy c.1386, "lacking strength," from un- (1) "not" + O.E. wielde "active, vigorous," from P.Gmc. *walth- "have power" (see wield). Meaning "moving ungracefully" is recorded from 1530; in ref. to weapons, "difficult to handle, awkward by virtue of size or shape" it is attested from 1547. unwilling O.E. unwillende, from un- (1) "not" + willing. Re-formed 16c. unwind c.1325, "to undo" (a bandage, wrapping, etc.), from un- (2) + wrap (v.). Cf. O.E. unwindan, Du. ontwinden, O.H.G. intwindan. Refl. sense is recorded from 1740; fig. sense of "to release oneself from tensions, to relax" is recorded from 1938. unwise O.E. unwis, from un- (1) "not" + wise. Cf. M.Du. onwijs, O.H.G. unwis, Ger. unweise, O.N. uviss, Goth. unweis. Unwisely is O.E. unwislice. unwitting O.E. unwitende, from un- (1) "not" + witting (see wit). Cf. O.H.G. unwizzanti, Ger. unwissend, O.N. uvitandi, Goth. unwitands. Rare after c.1600; revived c.1800. unwonted "not usual," 1553, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of wont. unworthy c.1240, unwurei, from un- (1) "not" + worthy. Cf. M.Du. onwerdich, Du. onwaardig, M.L.G. unwerdich, O.H.G. unwirdig, O.N. uvereugr. unwrap c.1374, from un- (2) + wrap. unwritten 1362, from un- (1) "not" + pp. of write. Cf. O.E. unwriten, O.N. uritinn. unyielding 1592, in ref. to persons; 1658, of substances; from un- (1) "not" + yielding (see yield). unzip 1939, from un- (2) + zip. up (adv.) O.E. up, uppe, from P.Gmc. *up- (cf. O.Fris. up, O.N. upp, Dan., Du. op, O.H.G. uf, Ger. auf, Goth. iup "up, upward"), from PIE base *upo "up from below" (cf. Skt. upa "near, under, up to, on," Gk. hypo "under, below," L. sub "under"). Meaning "exhilarated, happy" first attested 1815. Musical up tempo (adj.) is recorded from 1948. Up-and-coming "promising" is from 1848. Phrase on the up-(and-up) "honest, straightforward" first attested 1863, Amer.Eng. Up the river "in jail" first recorded 1891, originally in reference to Sing Sing, which is up the Hudson from New York City. To drive someone up the wall (1951) is from the notion of the behavior of lunatics or caged animals. up (v.) earliest recorded sense is "to drive and catch (swans)," 1560, from up (adv.). Meaning "to get up, rise to one's feet" (as in up and leave) is recorded from 1643. Sense of "to move upward" is recorded from 1737. Meaning "increase" (as in up the price of oil) is attested from 1915. Cf. O.E. verb uppian "to rise." Upping block is attested from 1796. up- prefix with various senses, from O.E. up (see up), corresponding to similar prefixes in other Gmc. languages. up-river 1774, from up + river. up-to-date (adj.) 1868, "right to the present time," from phrase up to date. Meaning "having the latest facts" is recorded from 1889; that of "having current styles and tastes" is from 1891. Upanishad class of treatises in Skt. literature, 1805, from Skt. upa-nishad, lit. "a sitting down beside," from upa "near to" (see up) + ni-shad "to sit or lie down." upas legendary poisonous tree of Java, 1783, from Malay upas "poison," in pohun upas "poison tree." The story appears to have originated in Du. in 1770s. upbeat (adj.) "with a positive mood," 1947, apparently from the musical noun upbeat (1869), referring to the beat of a bar at which the conductor's baton is in a raised position; the "optimistic" sense apparently for no other reason than that it sounds like a happy word (the musical upbeat is no more inherently "positive" than any other beat). upbraid O.E. upbregdan "bring forth as a ground for censure," from up "up" + bregdan "move quickly, intertwine" (see braid). Cf. M.Swed. upbrygdha. Meaning "scold" is first attested c.1290. upbringing 1520, "act of rearing a young person," from up + bringing (see bring). Mainly in Scottish till c.1870, when it became general. upchuck "to vomit," 1960, Amer.Eng. slang, from up + chuck (v.) "to throw." upcoming c.1300, "action of coming up," from up + coming (see come). Adj. sense of "forthcoming" first attested 1954. update (v.) 1948, in ref. to information, 1952 in ref. to persons, from up + date (v.). The noun is attested from 1967. updraft "rising air current," 1909, from up + draft (n.). upend (v.) 1823, from up + end. upgrade (n.) 1873, "upward slope," from up + grade. The meaning "upgraded version" is recorded from 1980; the verb in this sense is attested from 1920 (implied in upgrading). upheaval 1838, in geology, from M.E. verb upheave (c.1300), from up + heave (v.). Cf. O.Fris. upheva, O.H.G. ufhevan, Ger. aufheben. Fig. sense, with ref. to convulsions of society, etc., recorded from 1850. uphill (adj.) 1613, from up + hill. uphold c.1225, "support, sustain," from up + hold (v.). Cf. O.Fris. upholda, M.Du. ophouden, Ger. aufhalten. upholster (v.) 1853, back-formation from upholsterer "tradesman who finishes or repairs articles of furniture" (1613), from upholdester (1411), formed with a dim. (originally fem.) suffix, from obsolete M.E. noun upholder "dealer in small goods" (1333), from upholden "to repair, uphold, keep from falling or sinking" (in this case, by stuffing); see uphold. Upholstery is attested from 1649. uplift (v.) 1338, from up + lift (v.). upon 1121, from up + on, probably influenced by O.N. upp a. Distinct from O.E. uppan which merely meant "up." In the mod. Scand. tongues, except Icelandic and F?r?ese, the reduced form pa, paa, corresponding to Eng. (colloq. or dial.) 'pon, 'po', has displaced the simple prep. ?, aa = on. [OED] upper (adj.) c.1300, originally comparative of up. Cf. M.Du. upper, Du. opper, Low Ger. upper, Norw. yppare. Noun meaning "part of a shoe above the sole" is recorded from 1789; sense of "stimulant drug" is from 1968. Upper crust is attested from 1460 in ref. to the top crust of a loaf of bread, 1836 in ref. to society. The pugilistic uppercut is first recorded 1842. Upper hand "advantage" is 1481, probably from wrestling. Upperclassman is recorded from 1871. Upper middle class (adj.) is first recorded 1872. uppermost 1481, from upper + most. uppity 1880, from up; originally used by blacks of other blacks felt to be too self-assertive (first recorded use is in "Uncle Remus"). The parallel British variant uppish (1678) originally meant "lavish;" the sense of "conceited, arrogant" being first recorded 1734. upright O.E. upriht, from up "up" + riht "right." Similar compounds are found in other Gmc. languages (cf. O.Fris. upriucht, M.Du. oprecht, O.H.G. ufreht, Ger. aufrecht, O.N. uprettr). Fig. sense of "good, honest" is first attested 1530. The noun in the sense of "something standing erect" is from 1742. "THREE-PENNY UPRIGHT. A retailer of love, who, for the sum mentioned, dispenses her favours standing against a wall." ["Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue," 1811] uprising c.1250, "action of rising from death or the grave, resurrection," from up + rising (see rise). Meaning "action of rising from bed" is recorded from c.1300; sense of "insurrection, popular revolt" first attested 1587. uproar 1526, used by Tindale and later Coverdale as a loan-translation of Ger. Aufruhr or Du. oproer "tumult, riot," lit. "a stirring up," in Ger. and Du. Bibles (cf. Acts xxi:38), "outbreak of disorder, revolt, commotion," from Ger. auf (M.Du. op) "up" + ruhr (M.Du. roer) "a stirring, motion," related to O.E. hreran "to move, stir, shake." Meaning "noisy shouting" is first recorded 1544, probably by mistaken association with unrelated roar. First record of uproarious is from 1819. uproot 1593 (implied in uprooted), in the fig. sense, from up + root. The literal sense is first recorded 1695. upscale (adj.) 1966, "at the higher end of a scale, superior," from up + noun derivative of scale (v.). upset (v.) c.1440, "to set up, fix," from up + set (v.). Cf. M.Du. opsetten, Ger. aufsetzen. Modern sense of "overturn, capsize" (1803) is that of obsolete overset. Meaning "to throw into mental discomposure" is from 1805. The noun sense of "overturning of a vehicle or boat" is recorded from 1804. upshot 1531, from up + shot (n.); originally, the final shot in an archery match, hence the fig. sense of "result, issue, conclusion" (1604). upside 1611, "upper side or surface," from up + side. Phrase upside (someone's) head in ref. to a blow to the head is recorded from 1970, U.S. black slang. upside down c.1490, earlier upsadoun (1382), up so down (c.1300); the so perhaps meaning "as if." upsilon "20th letter of the Gk. alphabet," 1642, from Gk. u psilon, lit. "a mere (or bare) 'u;' " so called in contradistinction to the diphthongs -oi-, -ei-, which are pronounced exactly like upsilon. upstage 1918 (adj.), 1921 (v.); the notion is of drawing attention to oneself (and away from a fellow actor) by moving upstage -- to the rear of the stage -- so that the other actor must face away from the audience. The noun upstage "back of the stage" is recorded from 1870. upstairs 1596 (adj.), from up + stairs (see stair). The noun is first attested 1872. Meaning "characteristic of upstairs life" (in private rooms of a household, as opposed to servants' quarters) is recorded from 1942. "He [Halifax] had said he had known many kicked down stairs, but he never knew any kicked up stairs before." [Gilbert Burnet, supplement to "History of My own Time," from his original memoirs, c.1697] upstanding O.E., in the literal sense, from up + standing (see stand (v.)). Fig. sense of "honest" is attested from 1863. upstart (n.) 1555, "one newly risen in importance or rank, a parvenu," also start-up, from up + start (v.) in the sense of "jump, spring, rise." Cf. the archaic verb upstart "to spring to one's feet," attested from 1303. upstream 1681, from up- + stream. In common use from c.1890. upsurge 1928, from up- + surge. upswing 1922, in golf, from up- + swing. Sense in economics is attested from 1934. upsy-daisy 1711, up-a-daisy, baby talk extension of up. uptake "capacity for understanding," 1816, from up + take. Cf. obs. verb uptake "to pick or take up," attested from c.1300. uptick "upward trend," 1970, an economist's term, from up- + tick (v.). uptight Slang sense of "tense" is from 1934; that of "straight-laced" first recorded 1969. It was used in a sense of "excellent" in jazz slang c.1962.