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The Prefixes Spelled <un>




4. All of these words contain the same prefix:

\text{unable} && \text{unfinished} && \text{unclear} && \text{unworried} && \text{unfriendly} && \text{untruth}

What is the prefix in these words? un-.


Word = Prefix + Free Stem
unable = un + able
unfinished = un + finished
unclear = un + clear
unworried = un + worried
unfriendly = un + friendly
untruth = un + truth
unoriginal = un + original
undecided = un + decided


7. Now look at these seven words:

\text{unpack} && \text{unbar} && \text{unlock} && \text{undo} && \text{unwrap} && \text{unfold} && \text{untie}



Word = Prefix + Free Stem + Suffix
unannounced = un + announc\cancel{e} + ed
undecided = un + decid\cancel{e} + ed
unlocking = un + lock + ing
unlined = un + lin\cancel{e} + ed
uncolored = un + color + ed
undoing = un + do + ing
unmixed = un + mix + ed
unbuttoned = un + button + ed
untouched = un + touch + ed
unwrapping = un + wrap + p + ing
unbarred = un + bar + r + ed
unfolding = un + fold + ing



& \text{unable } \surd && \text{uncooked} \surd && \text{unfit} \surd && \text{unoriginal} \surd \\& \text{unannounced} \surd &&  \text{uncut} \surd &&  \text{unfold} \surd &&  \text{unsettling} \surd \\& \text{unarmed} \surd &&  \text{undecided} \surd &&  \text{unfriendly} \surd &&  \text{untapped} \surd \\& \text{unasked} \surd &&  \text{undigested} \surd &&  \text{unlined} \surd &&  \text{untie} \surd \\& \text{unbar} \surd &&  \text{undo} \surd &&  \text{unlock} \surd &&  \text{untouched} \surd \\& \text{uncaged} \surd &&  \text{undone} \surd &&  \text{unmixed} \surd &&  \text{untruthful} \surd \\& \text{unclear} \surd &&  \text{unexceptional} \surd &&  \text{unnamed} \surd &&  \text{unworried} \surd \\& \text{uncolored} \surd &&  \text{unfinished} \surd &&  \text{unnoticed} \surd &&  \text{unwrap} \surd

Teaching Notes.


Item 7. Dictionaries distinguish between un-^1 “not” and un-^2 “reverse” primarily because they have different origins. Un-^1 “not” comes from the assumed Indo- European root *ne-, meaning “naught, never, no, none, nor” etc. Un-^2 “reverse” comes from the assumed root *ant- , from which also come the modern prefixes anti- and ante-, and the words antique and until. (For a good, very short introduction to the Indo- European sources of Modern English, see Calvert Watkins, “Indo-European and the Indo-Europeans,” The American Heritage College Dictionary , 1^{\mathrm{st}}, 3^{\mathrm{rd}} and 4^{\mathrm{th}} eds. [Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1993]. As part of the etymological apparatus of the dictionary, Watkins presents an appendix listing assumed Indo-European roots, together with Modern English words that descend from each. The listing is very useful in tracking down relationships among modern words.) In Old English our un-^2 was spelled <on> but over the centuries its spelling changed, due to the influence of un-^1. The two prefixes are growing into one, due to the closeness of their form and meanings. Notice, for instance, that in the past tense verb unlocked un- means “reverse” (She unlocked the suitcase), but in the past participle unlocked it means “not” (The unlocked door swung open).

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Feb 23, 2012

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Apr 29, 2014
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