un-

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology | 1996 | 700+ words | Copyright

un-2 prefix expressing reversal or deprivation. OE. un-, on-, an- = OS. ant- (Du. ont-), OHG. ant-, int- (G. ent-), orig. identical with and- in OE. andswaru ANSWER, andlong ALONG. Most of the OE. formations have a simple vb. as their base, as unbindan unbind, undōn UNDO, unġeocian unyoke, and denote reversal of the action; the few denoting removal or deposition were increased later, as unfasten, unfix, unlace, unsettle, unstitch, as also those denoting freedom or release, as unbosom, uncage, unearth, unhouse, unsheathe; from late XVI comps. denoting deprivation of a quality or status appear, as unchurch, unking, unman.

The redundant use of the prefix is rare, the chief ex. being unloose.

Both un-¹ and un-² may be repr. in such a pp. form as unsaddled, which may mean ‘not saddled or having a saddle’ or ‘removed from or deprived of a saddle’.

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T. F. HOAD. "un-." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "un-." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-un1.html

T. F. HOAD. "un-." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-un1.html

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