DictionaryRoot: un-
English

un-

not

Forms

  • un-

Origin

From Old English un-, an inherited Germanic negative prefix.

Note

The un- that means “not” has a different history from the un- used to reverse an action, though their uses can overlap.

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adjective

unhappy

Sad or dissatisfied.

Etymology

Happy developed from having good fortune to feeling contented. Unhappy negates that contentment, describing sadness or dissatisfaction.

Full entry

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