adjective / noun
unborn
un-BORN/ˌʌnˈbɔːrn/
Not yet born, or those who are not yet born.
The unborn chick remains curled within the intact eggshell.
Etymology
Born comes from a participle of the verb meaning “bear,” presenting birth as being brought forth. Negative un- marks that event as not yet having happened; “not yet existing” was already an Old English sense.
In context
position it had so lately occupied in the maternal reticule; where, tail to head, and all ready for the final spring, the unborn whale lies bent like a Tartar’s bow.
More examples
- The report discussed care for the unborn.
- She planned for her unborn child.
- The story imagined generations still unborn.
Forms
unborn
Similar words
- prenatal
- Describes the period or care before birth.
- future
- Broader than living beings not yet born.