British Library Cataloguing Data
The concise Oxford dictionary of current English.--8th ed.
1. English language--Dictionaries
I. Allen, R. E. (Robert Edward), 1944-423
ISBN 0-19-861243-5 thumb index
ISBN 0-19-861200-1 plain
ubiety n. the fact or condition of being in a definite place; local
relation. [med.L ubietas f. L ubi where]
-ubility suffix forming nouns from, or corresponding to, adjectives in
-uble (solubility; volubility). [L -ubilitas: cf. -ITY]
ubiquitarian
adj. & n. Theol. --adj. relating to or believing in the
doctrine of the omnipresence of Christ's body. --n. a believer
in this. ЬЬubiquitarianism n. [mod.L ubiquitarius (as
UBIQUITOUS)]
ubiquitous
adj. 1 present everywhere or in several places simultaneously.
2 often encountered. ЬЬubiquitously adv. ubiquitousness n.
ubiquity n. [mod.L ubiquitas f. L ubique everywhere f. ubi
where]
-uble suffix forming adjectives meaning 'that may or must be' (see
-ABLE) (soluble; voluble). [F f. L -ubilis]
-ubly suffix forming adverbs corresponding to adjectives in -uble.
U-boat n. hist. a German submarine. [G U-boot = Unterseeboot
under-sea boat]
UDA abbr. Ulster Defence Association (a loyalist paramilitary
organization).
udal n. (also odal) the kind of freehold right based on
uninterrupted possession prevailing in N. Europe before the
feudal system and still in use in Orkney and Shetland. [ON
ўthal f. Gmc]
UDC abbr. hist. (in the UK) Urban District Council.
udder n. the mammary gland of cattle, sheep, etc., hanging as a
baglike organ with several teats. ЬЬuddered adj. (also in
comb.). [OE uder f. WG]
UDI abbr. unilateral declaration of independence.
udometer n. formal a rain-gauge. [F udomЉtre f. L udus damp]
UDR abbr. Ulster Defence Regiment.
6.0 UEFA
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
UEFA abbr. Union of European Football Associations.
ugh int. 1 expressing disgust or horror. 2 the sound of a cough or
grunt. [imit.]
Ugli n. (pl. Uglis or Uglies) propr. a mottled green and yellow
citrus fruit, a hybrid of a grapefruit and tangerine. [UGLY]
uglify v.tr. (-ies, -ied) make ugly. ЬЬuglification n.
ugly adj. (uglier, ugliest) 1 unpleasing or repulsive to see or hear
(an ugly scar; spoke with an ugly snarl). 2 unpleasantly
suggestive; discreditable (ugly rumours are about). 3
threatening, dangerous (the sky has an ugly look). 4 morally
repulsive; vile (ugly vices). Ьugly customer an unpleasantly
formidable person. ugly duckling a person who turns out to be
beautiful or talented etc. against all expectations (with ref.
to a cygnet in a brood of ducks in a tale by Andersen).
ЬЬuglily adv. ugliness n. [ME f. ON uggligr to be dreaded f.
ugga to dread]
Ugrian adj. & n. (also Ugric) --adj. of or relating to the eastern
branch of Finnic peoples, esp. the Finns and Magyars. --n. 1
a member of this people. 2 the language of this people. [Russ.
Ugry name of a race dwelling E. of the Urals]
uhlan n. hist. a cavalryman armed with a lance in some European
armies, esp. the former German army. [F & G f. Pol. (h)ulan f.
Turk. oglan youth, servant]
UHT abbr. ultra heat treated (esp. of milk, for long keeping).
UKAEA abbr. United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority.
ukase n. 1 an arbitrary command. 2 hist. an edict of the Tsarist
Russian government. [Russ. ukaz ordinance, edict f. ukazat'
show, decree]
Ukrainian n. & adj. --n. 1 a native of the Ukraine in the USSR. 2 the
language of the Ukraine. --adj. of or relating to the Ukraine
or its people or language. [Ukraine f. Russ. ukraina frontier
region f. u at + krai edge]
ukulele n. a small four-stringed Hawaiian (orig. Portuguese) guitar.
[Hawaiian, = jumping flea]
-ular suffix forming adjectives, sometimes corresp. to nouns in -ule
(pustular) but often without diminutive force (angular;
granular). ЬЬ-ularity suffix forming nouns. [from or after L
-ularis (as -ULE, -AR(1))]
ulcer n. 1 an open sore on an external or internal surface of the
body, often forming pus. 2 a a moral blemish. b a corroding or
corrupting influence etc. ЬЬulcered adj. ulcerous adj. [ME f.
L ulcus -eris, rel. to Gk helkos]
ulcerate v.tr. & intr. form into or affect with an ulcer. ЬЬulcerable
adj. ulceration n. ulcerative adj. [ME f. L ulcerare ulcerat-
(as ULCER)]
-ule suffix forming diminutive nouns (capsule; globule). [from or
after L - ulus, -ula, -ulum]
ulema n. 1 a body of Muslim doctors of sacred law and theology. 2 a
member of this. [Arab. ' ulama pl. of ' alim learned f. ' alama
know]
-ulent suffix forming adjectives meaning 'abounding in, full of'
(fraudulent; turbulent). ЬЬ-ulence suffix forming nouns. [L
-ulentus]
uliginose adj. (also uliginous) Bot. growing in wet or swampy places.
[L uliginosus f. uligo -ginis moisture]
ullage n. 1 the amount by which a cask etc. falls short of being full.
2 loss by evaporation or leakage. [ME f. AF ulliage, OF
ouillage f. ouiller fill up, ult. f. L oculus eye, with ref. to
the bung-hole]
ulna n. (pl. ulnae) 1 the thinner and longer bone in the forearm,
on the side opposite to the thumb (cf. RADIUS 3). 2 Zool. a
corresponding bone in an animal's foreleg or a bird's wing.
ЬЬulnar adj. [L, rel. to Gk olene and ELL]
ulotrichan
adj. & n. --adj. (also ulotrichous) having tightly-curled
hair, esp. denoting a human type. --n. a person having such
hair. [mod.L Ulotrichi f. Gk oulos woolly, crisp + thrix
trikhos hair]
ulster n. a man's long loose overcoat of rough cloth. [Ulster in
Ireland, where it was orig. sold]
Ulsterman n. (pl. -men; fem. Ulsterwoman; pl. -women) a native of
Ulster.
ult. abbr. ultimo.
ulterior adj. 1 existing in the background, or beyond what is evident or
admitted; hidden, secret (esp. ulterior motive). 2 situated
beyond. 3 more remote; not immediate; in the future.
ЬЬulteriorly adv. [L, = further, more distant]
ultima n. the last syllable of a word. [L ultima (syllaba), fem. of
ultimus last]
ultimata pl. of ULTIMATUM.
ultimate adj. & n. --adj. 1 last, final. 2 beyond which no other
exists or is possible (the ultimate analysis). 3 fundamental,
primary, unanalysable (ultimate truths). 4 maximum (ultimate
tensile strength). --n. 1 (prec. by the) the best achievable
or imaginable. 2 a final or fundamental fact or principle.
ЬЬultimately adj. ultimateness n. [LL ultimatus past part. of
ultimare come to an end]
ultima Thule
n. a far-away unknown region. [L, = furthest Thule, a remote
northern region]
ultimatum n. (pl. ultimatums or ultimata) a final demand or statement of
terms by one party, the rejection of which by another could
cause a breakdown in relations, war, or an end of cooperation
etc. [L neut. past part.: see ULTIMATE]
ultimo adj. Commerce of last month (the 28th ultimo). [L ultimo mense
in the last month]
ultimogeniture
n. a system in which the youngest son has the right of
inheritance (cf. PRIMOGENITURE 2). [L ultimus last, after
PRIMOGENITURE]
ultra adj. & n. --adj. favouring extreme views or measures, esp. in
religion or politics. --n. an extremist. [orig. as abbr. of F
ultra-royaliste: see ULTRA-]
ultra- comb. form 1 beyond; on the other side of (opp. CIS-). 2
extreme(ly), excessive(ly) (ultra-conservative; ultra-modern).
[L ultra beyond]
ultracentrifuge
n. a high-speed centrifuge used to separate small particles and
large molecules by their rate of sedimentation from sols.
ultra-high
adj. (of a frequency) in the range 300 to 3000 megahertz.
ultraist n. the holder of extreme positions in politics, religion, etc.
ЬЬultraism n.
ultramarine
n. & adj. --n. 1 a a brilliant blue pigment orig. obtained
from lapis lazuli. b an imitation of this from powdered fired
clay, sodium carbonate, sulphur, and resin. 2 the colour of
this. --adj. 1 of this colour. 2 archaic situated beyond the
sea. [obs. It. oltramarino & med.L ultramarinus beyond the sea
(as ULTRA-, MARINE), because lapis lazuli was brought from
beyond the sea]
ultramicroscope
n. an optical microscope used to reveal very small particles by
means of light scattered by them.
ultramicroscopic
adj. 1 too small to be seen by an ordinary optical microscope.
2 of or relating to an ultramicroscope.
ultramontane
adj. & n. --adj. 1 situated on the other side of the Alps from
the point of view of the speaker. 2 advocating supreme papal
authority in matters of faith and discipline. --n. 1 a person
living on the other side of the Alps. 2 a person advocating
supreme papal authority. [med.L ultramontanus (as ULTRA-, L
mons montis mountain)]
ultramundane
adj. lying beyond the world or the solar system. [L
ultramundanus (as ULTRA-, mundanus f. mundus world)]
ultrasonic
adj. of or involving sound waves with a frequency above the
upper limit of human hearing. ЬЬultrasonically adv.
ultrasonics
n.pl. (usu. treated as sing.) the science and application of
ultrasonic waves.
ultrasound
n. 1 sound having an ultrasonic frequency. 2 ultrasonic waves.
Ьultrasound cardiography = ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY.
ultrastructure
n. Biol. fine structure not visible with an optical
microscope.
ultraviolet
adj. Physics 1 having a wavelength (just) beyond the violet end
of the visible spectrum. 2 of or using such radiation.
ultra vires
adv. & predic.adj. beyond one's legal power or authority. [L]
ululate v.intr. howl, wail; make a hooting cry. ЬЬululant adj.
ululation n. [L ululare ululat- (imit.)]
um int. expressing hesitation or a pause in speech. [imit.]
-um var. of -IUM 1.
umbel n. Bot. a flower-cluster in which stalks nearly equal in
length spring from a common centre and form a flat or curved
surface, as in parsley. ЬЬumbellar adj. umbellate adj.
umbellule adj. [obs. F umbelle or L umbella sunshade, dimin. of
UMBRA]
umbellifer
n. any plant of the family Umbelliferae bearing umbels,
including parsley and parsnip. ЬЬumbelliferous adj. [obs. F
umbellifЉre f. L (as UMBEL, - fer bearing)]
umber n. & adj. --n. 1 a natural pigment like ochre but darker and
browner. 2 the colour of this. --adj. 1 of this colour. 2
dark, dusky. [F (terre d') ombre or It. (terra di) ombra =
shadow (earth), f. L UMBRA or Umbra fem. of Umber Umbrian]
umbilical adj. 1 of, situated near, or affecting the navel. 2 centrally
placed. Ьumbilical cord 1 a flexible cordlike structure
attaching a foetus to the placenta. 2 Astronaut. a supply cable
linking a missile to its launcher, or an astronaut in space to a
spacecraft. [obs. F umbilical or f. UMBILICUS]
umbilicate
adj. 1 shaped like a navel. 2 having an umbilicus.
umbilicus n. (pl. umbilici or umbilicuses) 1 Anat. the navel. 2 Bot. &
Zool. a navel-like formation. 3 Geom. a point in a surface
through which all cross-sections have the same curvature. [L,
rel. to Gk omphalos and to NAVEL]
umbles n.pl. the edible offal of deer etc. (cf. humble pie). [ME
var. of NUMBLES]
umbo n. (pl. -os or umbones) 1 the boss of a shield, esp. in the
centre. 2 Bot. & Zool. a rounded knob or protuberance.
ЬЬumbonal adj. umbonate adj. [L umbo -onis]
umbra n. (pl. umbras or umbrae) Astron. 1 a total shadow usu. cast
on the earth by the moon during a solar eclipse. 2 the dark
central part of a sunspot (cf. PENUMBRA). ЬЬumbral adj. [L, =
shade]
umbrage n. 1 offence; a sense of slight or injury (esp. give or take
umbrage at). 2 archaic a shade. b what gives shade. [ME f. OF
ult. f. L umbraticus f. umbra: see UMBRA]
umbrella n. 1 a light portable device for protection against rain,
strong sun, etc., consisting of a usu. circular canopy of cloth
mounted by means of a collapsible metal frame on a central
stick. 2 protection or patronage. 3 (often attrib.) a
coordinating or unifying agency (umbrella organization). 4 a
screen of fighter aircraft or a curtain of fire put up as a
protection against enemy aircraft. 5 Zool. the gelatinous disc
of a jellyfish etc., which it contracts and expands to move
through the water. Ьumbrella bird any S. American bird of the
genus Cephalopterus, with a black radiating crest and long
wattles. umbrella pine 1 = stone pine. 2 a tall Japanese
evergreen conifer, Sciadopitys verticillata, with leaves in
umbrella-like whorls. umbrella stand a stand for holding closed
upright umbrellas. umbrella tree a small magnolia, Magnolia
tripetala, with leaves in a whorl like an umbrella.
ЬЬumbrellaed adj. umbrella-like adj. [It. ombrella, dimin. of
ombra shade f. L umbra: see UMBRA]
Umbrian adj. & n. --adj. of or relating to Umbria in central Italy.
--n. 1 the language of ancient Umbria, related to Latin. 2 an
inhabitant of ancient Umbria. ЬUmbrian school a Renaissance
school of Italian painting, to which Raphael and Perugino
belonged.
umbriferous
adj. formal providing shade. [L umbrifer f. umbra shade: see
-FEROUS]
umiak n. an Eskimo skin-and-wood open boat propelled by women with
paddles. [Eskimo]
umlaut n. & v. --n. 1 a mark used over a vowel, esp. in Germanic
languages, to indicate a vowel change. 2 such a vowel change,
e.g. German Mann, M„nner, English man, men, due to i, j, etc.
(now usu. lost or altered) in the following syllable. --v.tr.
modify (a form or a sound) by an umlaut. [G f. um about + Laut
sound]
umpire n. & v. --n. 1 a person chosen to enforce the rules and settle
disputes in various sports. 2 a person chosen to arbitrate
between disputants, or to see fair play. --v. 1 intr. (usu.
foll. by for, in, etc.) act as umpire. 2 tr. act as umpire in
(a game etc.). ЬЬumpirage n. umpireship n. [ME, later form of
noumpere f. OF nonper not equal (as NON-, PEER(2)): for loss of
n- cf. ADDER]
umpteen adj. & pron. sl. --adj. indefinitely many; a lot of. --pron.
indefinitely many. ЬЬumpteenth adj. umpty adj. [joc. form. on
-TEEN]
un-(1) prefix 1 added to adjectives and participles and their
derivative nouns and adverbs, meaning: a not: denoting the
absence of a quality or state (unusable; uncalled-for;
uneducated; unfailing; unofficially; unhappiness). b the
reverse of, usu. with an implication of approval or disapproval,
or with some other special connotation (unselfish; unsociable;
unscientific). °Words formed in this way often have neutral
counterparts in non- (see NON- 6) and counterparts in -in (see
IN-(1)), e.g. unadvisable. 2 (less often) added to nouns,
meaning 'a lack of' (unrest; untruth). °The number of words
that can be formed with this prefix (and similarly with un-(2))
is potentially as large as the number of adjectives in use;
consequently only a selection, being considered the most current
or semantically noteworthy, can be given here. [OE f. Gmc, rel.
to L in-]
un-(2) prefix added to verbs and (less often) nouns, forming verbs
denoting: 1 the reversal or cancellation of an action or state
(undress; unlock; unsettle). 2 deprivation or separation
(unmask). 3 release from (unburden; uncage). 4 causing to be
no longer (unman). °See the note at un-(1). Both un-(1) and
un-(2) can be understood in some forms in -able, -ed
(especially), and -ing: for example, undressed can mean either
'not dressed' or 'no longer dressed'. [OE un-, on- f. Gmc]
'un pron. colloq. one (that's a good 'un). [dial. var.]
UNA abbr. United Nations Association.
unabashed adj. not abashed. ЬЬunabashedly adv.
unabated adj. not abated; undiminished. ЬЬunabatedly adv.
unable adj. (usu. foll. by to + infin.) not able; lacking ability.
unabridged
adj. (of a text etc.) complete; not abridged.
unabsorbed
adj. not absorbed.
unacademic
adj. 1 not academic (esp. not scholarly or theoretical). 2 (of
a person) not suited to academic study.
unaccented
adj. not accented; not emphasized.
unacceptable
adj. not acceptable. ЬЬunacceptableness n. unacceptably adv.
unacclaimed
adj. not acclaimed.
unaccommodating
adj. not accommodating; disobliging.
unaccompanied
adj. 1 not accompanied. 2 Mus. without accompaniment.
unaccomplished
adj. 1 not accomplished; uncompleted. 2 lacking
accomplishments.
unaccountable
adj. 1 unable to be explained. 2 unpredictable or strange in
behaviour. 3 not responsible. ЬЬunaccountability n.
unaccountableness n. unaccountably adv.
unaccounted
adj. of which no account is given. Ьunaccounted for
unexplained; not included in an account.
unaccustomed
adj. 1 (usu. foll. by to) not accustomed. 2 not customary;
unusual (his unaccustomed silence). ЬЬunaccustomedly adv.
unacknowledged
adj. not acknowledged.
unacquainted
adj. (usu. foll. by with) not acquainted.
unadaptable
adj. not adaptable.
unadapted adj. not adapted.
unaddressed
adj. (esp. of a letter etc.) without an address.
unadjacent
adj. not adjacent.
unadopted adj. 1 not adopted. 2 Brit. (of a road) not taken over for
maintenance by a local authority.
unalterable
adj. not alterable. ЬЬunalterableness n. unalterably adv.
unaltered adj. not altered; remaining the same.
unamazed adj. not amazed.
unambiguous
adj. not ambiguous; clear or definite in meaning.
ЬЬunambiguity n. unambiguously adv.
unambitious
adj. not ambitious; without ambition. ЬЬunambitiously adv.
unambitiousness n.
unambivalent
adj. (of feelings etc.) not ambivalent; straightforward.
ЬЬunambivalently adv.
un-American
adj. 1 not in accordance with American characteristics etc. 2
contrary to the interests of the US; (in the US) treasonable.
ЬЬun-Americanism n.
unamiable adj. not amiable.
unamplified
adj. not amplified.
unamused adj. not amused.
unanalysable
adj. not able to be analysed.
unanalysed
adj. not analysed.
unaneled adj. archaic not having received extreme unction.
unanimous adj. 1 all in agreement (the committee was unanimous). 2 (of
an opinion, vote, etc.) held or given by general consent (the
unanimous choice). ЬЬunanimity n. unanimously adv.
unanimousness n. [LL unanimis, L unanimus f. unus one + animus
mind]
unannounced
adj. not announced; without warning (of arrival etc.).
unanswerable
adj. 1 unable to be refuted (has an unanswerable case). 2
unable to be answered (an unanswerable question).
ЬЬunanswerableness n. unanswerably adv.
unanswered
adj. not answered.
unanticipated
adj. not anticipated.
unapparent
adj. not apparent.
unappealable
adj. esp. Law not able to be appealed against.
unappealing
adj. not appealing; unattractive. ЬЬunappealingly adv.
unappeasable
adj. not appeasable.
unappeased
adj. not appeased.
unappetizing
adj. not appetizing. ЬЬunappetizingly adv.
unapplied adj. not applied.
unappreciated
adj. not appreciated.
unappreciative
adj. not appreciative.
unapproachable
adj. 1 not approachable; remote, inaccessible. 2 (of a person)
unfriendly. ЬЬunapproachability n. unapproachableness n.
unapproachably adv.
unappropriated
adj. 1 not allocated or assigned. 2 not taken into possession
by anyone.
unapproved
adj. not approved or sanctioned.
unapt adj. 1 (usu. foll. by for) not suitable. 2 (usu. foll. by to +
infin.) not apt. ЬЬunaptly adv. unaptness n.
unartistic
adj. not artistic, esp. not concerned with art.
ЬЬunartistically adv.
unascertainable
adj. not ascertainable.
unascertained
adj. not ascertained; unknown.
unashamed adj. 1 feeling no guilt, shameless. 2 blatant; bold.
ЬЬunashamedly adv. unashamedness n.
unasked adj. (often foll. by for) not asked, requested, or invited.
unassailable
adj. unable to be attacked or questioned; impregnable.
ЬЬunassailability n. unassailableness n. unassailably adv.
unassertive
adj. (of a person) not assertive or forthcoming; reticent.
ЬЬunassertively adv. unassertiveness n.
unassignable
adj. not assignable.
unassigned
adj. not assigned.
unassimilated
adj. not assimilated. ЬЬunassimilable adj.
unassisted
adj. not assisted.
unassuaged
adj. not assuaged. ЬЬunassuageable adj.
unassuming
adj. not pretentious or arrogant; modest. ЬЬunassumingly adv.
unassumingness n.
unatoned adj. not atoned for.
unattached
adj. 1 (often foll. by to) not attached, esp. to a particular
body, organization, etc. 2 not engaged or married.
unattackable
adj. unable to be attacked or damaged.
unattainable
adj. not attainable. ЬЬunattainableness n. unattainably adv.
unattempted
adj. not attempted.
unattended
adj. 1 (usu. foll. by to) not attended. 2 (of a person,
vehicle, etc.) not accompanied; alone; uncared for.
unattractive
adj. not attractive. ЬЬunattractively adv. unattractiveness
n.
unattributable
adj. (esp. of information) that cannot or may not be attributed
to a source etc. ЬЬunattributably adv.
unauthentic
adj. not authentic. ЬЬunauthentically adv.
unauthenticated
adj. not authenticated.
unauthorized
adj. (also unauthorised) not authorized.
unavailable
adj. not available. ЬЬunavailability n. unavailableness n.
unavailing
adj. not availing; achieving nothing; ineffectual.
ЬЬunavailingly adv.
unavoidable
adj. not avoidable; inevitable. ЬЬunavoidability n.
unavoidableness n. unavoidably adv.
unavowed adj. not avowed.
unaware adj. & adv. --adj. 1 (usu. foll. by of, or that + clause) not
aware; ignorant (unaware of her presence). 2 (of a person)
insensitive; unperceptive. --adv. = UNAWARES. ЬЬunawareness n.
unawares adv. 1 unexpectedly (met them unawares). 2 inadvertently
(dropped it unawares). [earlier unware(s) f. OE unw‘r(es): see
WARE(2)]
unbacked adj. 1 not supported. 2 (of a horse etc.) having no backers.
3 (of a chair, picture, etc.) having no back or backing.
unbalance v. & n. --v.tr. 1 upset the physical or mental balance of
(unbalanced by the blow; the shock unbalanced him). 2 (as
unbalanced adj.) a not balanced. b (of a mind or a person)
unstable or deranged. --n. lack of balance; instability, esp.
mental.
unbar v.tr. (unbarred, unbarring) 1 remove a bar or bars from (a gate
etc.). 2 unlock, open.
unbearable
adj. not bearable. ЬЬunbearableness n. unbearably adv.
unbeatable
adj. not beatable; excelling.
unbeaten adj. 1 not beaten. 2 (of a record etc.) not surpassed. 3
Cricket (of a player) not out.
unbeautiful
adj. not beautiful; ugly. ЬЬunbeautifully adv.
unbecoming
adj. 1 (esp. of clothing) not flattering or suiting a person.
2 (usu. foll. by to, for) not fitting; indecorous or unsuitable.
ЬЬunbecomingly adv. unbecomingness n.
unbefitting
adj. not befitting; unsuitable. ЬЬunbefittingly adv.
unbefittingness n.
unbefriended
adj. not befriended.
unbegotten
adj. not begotten.
unbeholden
predic.adj. (usu. foll. by to) under no obligation.
unbeknown adj. (also unbeknownst) (foll. by to) without the knowledge of
(was there all the time unbeknown to us). [UN-(1) + beknown
(archaic) = KNOWN]
unbelief n. lack of belief, esp. in religious matters. ЬЬunbeliever n.
unbelieving adj. unbelievingly adv. unbelievingness n.
unbelievable
adj. not believable; incredible. ЬЬunbelievability n.
unbelievableness n. unbelievably adv.
unbeloved adj. not beloved.
unbelt v.tr. remove or undo the belt of (a garment etc.).
unbend v. (past and past part. unbent) 1 tr. & intr. change from a
bent position; straighten. 2 intr. relax from strain or
severity; become affable (likes to unbend with a glass of beer).
3 tr. Naut. a unfasten (sails) from yards and stays. b cast
(a cable) loose. c untie (a rope).
unbending adj. 1 not bending; inflexible. 2 firm; austere (unbending
rectitude). 3 relaxing from strain, activity, or formality.
ЬЬunbendingly adv. unbendingness n.
unbiased adj. (also unbiassed) not biased; impartial.
unbiblical
adj. 1 not in or authorized by the Bible. 2 contrary to the
Bible.
unbiddable
adj. Brit. disobedient; not docile.
unbidden adj. not commanded or invited (arrived unbidden).
unbind v.tr. (past and past part. unbound) release from bonds or
binding.
unbirthday
n. (often attrib.) joc. any day but one's birthday (an
unbirthday party).
unbleached
adj. not bleached.
unblemished
adj. not blemished.
unblessed adj. (also unblest) not blessed.
unblinking
adj. 1 not blinking. 2 steadfast; not hesitating. 3 stolid;
cool. ЬЬunblinkingly adv.
unblock v.tr. 1 remove an obstruction from (esp. a pipe, drain, etc.).
2 (also absol.) Cards allow the later unobstructed play of (a
suit) by playing a high card.
unblown adj. 1 not blown. 2 archaic (of a flower) not yet in bloom.
unblushing
adj. 1 not blushing. 2 unashamed; frank. ЬЬunblushingly adv.
unbolt v.tr. release (a door etc.) by drawing back the bolt.
unbolted adj. 1 not bolted. 2 (of flour etc.) not sifted.
unbonnet v. (unbonneted, unbonneting) 1 tr. remove the bonnet from. 2
intr. archaic remove one's hat or bonnet esp. in respect.
unbookish adj. 1 not academic; not often inclined to read. 2 free from
bookishness.
unboot v.intr. & tr. remove one's boots or the boots of (a person).
unborn adj. 1 not yet born (an unborn child). 2 never to be brought
into being (unborn hopes).
unbosom v.tr. 1 disclose (thoughts, secrets, etc.). 2 (refl.) unburden
(oneself) of one's thoughts, secrets, etc.
unbothered
adj. not bothered; unconcerned.
unbound(1)
adj. 1 not bound or tied up. 2 unconstrained. 3 a (of a book)
not having a binding. b having paper covers. 4 (of a substance
or particle) in a loose or free state.
unbound(2)
past and past part. of UNBIND.
unbounded adj. not bounded; infinite (unbounded optimism). ЬЬunboundedly
adv. unboundedness n.
unbrace v.tr. 1 (also absol.) free from tension; relax (the nerves
etc.). 2 remove a brace or braces from.
unbreachable
adj. not able to be breached.
unbreakable
adj. not breakable.
unbreathable
adj. not able to be breathed.
unbribable
adj. not bribable.
unbridgeable
adj. unable to be bridged.
unbridle v.tr. 1 remove a bridle from (a horse). 2 remove constraints
from (one's tongue, a person, etc.). 3 (as unbridled adj.)
unconstrained (unbridled insolence).
unbroken adj. 1 not broken. 2 not tamed (an unbroken horse). 3 not
interrupted (unbroken sleep). 4 not surpassed (an unbroken
record). ЬЬunbrokenly adv. unbrokenness n.
unbruised adj. not bruised.
unbuckle v.tr. release the buckle of (a strap, shoe, etc.).
unbuild v.tr. (past and past part. unbuilt) 1 demolish or destroy (a
building, theory, system, etc.). 2 (as unbuilt adj.) not yet
built or (of land etc.) not yet built on.
unburden v.tr. 1 relieve of a burden. 2 (esp. refl.; often foll. by
to) relieve (oneself, one's conscience, etc.) by confession etc.
ЬЬunburdened adj.
unburied adj. not buried.
unbury v.tr. (-ies, -ied) 1 remove from the ground etc. after burial.
2 unearth (a secret etc.).
unbusinesslike
adj. not businesslike.
unbutton v.tr. 1 a unfasten (a coat etc.) by taking the buttons out of
the buttonholes. b unbutton the clothes of (a person). 2
(absol.) colloq. relax from tension or formality, become
communicative. 3 (as unbuttoned adj.) a not buttoned. b
colloq. communicative; informal.
uncage v.tr. 1 release from a cage. 2 release from constraint;
liberate.
uncalled adj. not summoned or invited. Ьuncalled-for (of an opinion,
action, etc.) impertinent or unnecessary (an uncalled-for
remark).
uncandid adj. not candid; disingenuous.
uncanny adj. (uncannier, uncanniest) seemingly supernatural;
mysterious. ЬЬuncannily adv. uncanniness n. [(orig. Sc. &
N.Engl.) f. UN-(1) + CANNY]
uncanonical
adj. not canonical. ЬЬuncanonically adv.
uncap v.tr. (uncapped, uncapping) 1 remove the cap from (a jar,
bottle, etc.). 2 remove a cap from (the head or another
person).
uncared-for
adj. disregarded; neglected.
uncase v.tr. remove from a cover or case.
uncashed adj. not cashed.
uncaught adj. not caught.
unceasing adj. not ceasing; continuous (unceasing effort). ЬЬunceasingly
adv.
uncensored
adj. not censored.
uncensured
adj. not censured.
unceremonious
adj. 1 lacking ceremony or formality. 2 abrupt; discourteous.
ЬЬunceremoniously adv. unceremoniousness n.
uncertain adj. 1 not certainly knowing or known (uncertain what it means;
the result is uncertain). 2 unreliable (his aim is uncertain).
3 changeable, erratic (uncertain weather). Ьin no uncertain
terms clearly and forcefully. ЬЬuncertainly adv.
uncertainty
n. (pl. -ies) 1 the fact or condition of being uncertain. 2
an uncertain matter or circumstance. Ьuncertainty principle (in
full Heisenberg uncertainty principle after W. Heisenberg, Ger.
physicist d. 1976) Physics the principle that the momentum and
position of a particle cannot both be precisely determined at
the same time.
uncertified
adj. 1 not attested as certain. 2 not guaranteed by a
certificate of competence etc. 3 not certified as insane.
unchain v.tr. 1 remove the chains from. 2 release; liberate.
unchallengeable
adj. not challengeable; unassailable. ЬЬunchallengeably adv.
unchallenged
adj. not challenged.
unchangeable
adj. not changeable; immutable, invariable. ЬЬunchangeability
n. unchangeableness n. unchangeably adv.
unchanged adj. not changed; unaltered.
unchanging
adj. not changing; remaining the same. ЬЬunchangingly adv.
unchangingness n.
unchaperoned
adj. without a chaperone.
uncharacteristic
adj. not characteristic. ЬЬuncharacteristically adv.
uncharged adj. not charged (esp. in senses 3, 7, 8 of CHARGE v.).
uncharitable
adj. censorious, severe in judgement. ЬЬuncharitableness n.
uncharitably adv.
uncharted adj. not charted, mapped, or surveyed.
unchartered
adj. 1 not furnished with a charter; not formally privileged or
constituted. 2 unauthorized; illegal.
unchaste adj. not chaste. ЬЬunchastely adv. unchasteness n.
unchastity n.
unchivalrous
adj. not chivalrous; rude. ЬЬunchivalrously adv.
unchosen adj. not chosen.
unchristian
adj. 1 a contrary to Christian principles, esp. uncaring or
selfish. b not Christian. 2 colloq. outrageous.
ЬЬunchristianly adv.
unchurch v.tr. 1 excommunicate. 2 deprive (a building) of its status as
a church.
uncial adj. & n. --adj. 1 of or written in majuscule writing with
rounded unjoined letters found in manuscripts of the 4th-8th c.,
from which modern capitals are derived. 2 of or relating to an
inch or an ounce. --n. 1 an uncial letter. 2 an uncial style
or MS. [L uncialis f. uncia inch: sense 1 in LL sense of
unciales litterae, the orig. application of which is unclear]
uncircumcised
adj. 1 not circumcised. 2 spiritually impure; heathen.
ЬЬuncircumcision n.
uncivil adj. 1 ill-mannered; impolite. 2 not public-spirited.
ЬЬuncivilly adv.
uncivilized
adj. (also uncivilised) 1 not civilized. 2 rough; uncultured.
unclad adj. not clad; naked.
unclaimed adj. not claimed.
unclasp v.tr. 1 loosen the clasp or clasps of. 2 release the grip of
(a hand etc.).
unclassifiable
adj. not classifiable.
unclassified
adj. 1 not classified. 2 (of State information) not secret.
uncle n. 1 a the brother of one's father or mother. b an aunt's
husband. 2 colloq. a name given by children to a male family
friend. 3 sl. esp. hist. a pawnbroker. ЬUncle Sam colloq.
the federal government or citizens of the US (will fight for
Uncle Sam). Uncle Tom derog. a Black man considered to be
servile, cringing, etc. (from the hero of H. B. Stowe's Uncle
Tom's Cabin, 1852). [ME f. AF uncle, OF oncle f. LL aunculus f.
L avunculus maternal uncle: see AVUNCULAR]
-uncle suffix forming nouns, usu. diminutives (carbuncle). [OF -uncle,
-oncle or L -unculus, -la, a special form of -ulus -ULE]
unclean adj. 1 not clean. 2 unchaste. 3 unfit to be eaten;
ceremonially impure. 4 Bibl. (of a spirit) wicked. ЬЬuncleanly
adv. uncleanly adj. uncleanliness n. uncleanness n. [OE
uncl‘ne (as UN-(1), CLEAN)]
unclear adj. 1 not clear or easy to understand; obscure, uncertain. 2
(of a person) doubtful, uncertain (I'm unclear as to what you
mean). ЬЬunclearly adv. unclearness n.
unclench v. 1 tr. release (clenched hands, features, teeth, etc.). 2
intr. (of clenched hands etc.) become relaxed or open.
unclinch v.tr. & intr. release or become released from a clinch.
uncloak v.tr. 1 expose, reveal. 2 remove a cloak from.
unclog v.tr. (unclogged, unclogging) unblock (a drain, pipe, etc.).
unclose v. 1 tr. & intr. open. 2 tr. reveal; disclose.
unclothe v.tr. 1 remove the clothes from. 2 strip of leaves or
vegetation (trees unclothed by the wind). 3 expose, reveal.
ЬЬunclothed adj.
unco adj., adv., & n. Sc. --adj. strange, unusual; notable. --adv.
remarkably; very. --n. (pl. -os) 1 a stranger. 2 (in pl.)
news. Ьthe unco guid esp. derog. the rigidly religious. [ME,
var. of UNCOUTH]
uncoil v.tr. & intr. unwind.
uncoloured
adj. (US uncolored) 1 having no colour. 2 not influenced;
impartial. 3 not exaggerated.
uncombed adj. (of hair or a person) not combed.
uncome-at-able
adj. colloq. inaccessible; unattainable. [UN-(1) +
come-at-able: see COME]
uncomely adj. 1 improper; unseemly. 2 ugly.
uncomfortable
adj. 1 not comfortable. 2 uneasy; causing or feeling disquiet
(an uncomfortable silence). ЬЬuncomfortableness n.
uncomfortably adv.
uncommercial
adj. 1 not commercial. 2 contrary to commercial principles.
uncommitted
adj. 1 not committed. 2 unattached to any specific political
cause or group.
uncommon adj. & adv. --adj. 1 not common; unusual; remarkable. 2
remarkably great etc. (an uncommon fear of spiders). --adv.
archaic uncommonly (he was uncommon fat). ЬЬuncommonly adv.
uncommonness n.
uncommunicative
adj. not wanting to communicate; taciturn. ЬЬuncommunicatively
adv. uncommunicativeness n.
uncompanionable
adj. unsociable.
uncompensated
adj. not compensated.
uncompetitive
adj. not competitive.
uncomplaining
adj. not complaining; resigned. ЬЬuncomplainingly adv.
uncompleted
adj. not completed; incomplete.
uncomplicated
adj. not complicated; simple; straightforward.
uncomplimentary
adj. not complimentary; insulting.
uncompounded
adj. not compounded; unmixed.
uncomprehending
adj. not comprehending. ЬЬuncomprehendingly adv.
uncomprehension n.
uncompromising
adj. unwilling to compromise; stubborn; unyielding.
ЬЬuncompromisingly adv. uncompromisingness n.
unconcealed
adj. not concealed; obvious.
unconcern n. lack of concern; indifference; apathy. ЬЬunconcerned adj.
unconcernedly adv.
unconcluded
adj. not concluded.
unconditional
adj. not subject to conditions; complete (unconditional
surrender). ЬЬunconditionality n. unconditionally adv.
unconditioned
adj. 1 not subject to conditions or to an antecedent condition.
2 (of behaviour etc.) not determined by conditioning; natural.
Ьunconditioned reflex an instinctive response to a stimulus.
unconfined
adj. not confined; boundless.
unconfirmed
adj. not confirmed.
unconformable
adj. 1 not conformable or conforming. 2 (of rock strata) not
having the same direction of stratification. 3 hist. not
conforming to the provisions of the Act of Uniformity.
ЬЬunconformableness n. unconformably adv. unconformity n.
uncongenial
adj. not congenial.
unconjecturable
adj. not conjecturable.
unconnected
adj. 1 not physically joined. 2 not connected or associated.
3 (of speech etc.) disconnected; not joined in order or sequence
(unconnected ideas). 4 not related by family ties.
ЬЬunconnectedly adv. unconnectedness n.
unconquerable
adj. not conquerable. ЬЬunconquerableness n. unconquerably
adv.
unconquered
adj. not conquered or defeated.
unconscionable
adj. 1 a having no conscience. b contrary to conscience. 2 a
unreasonably excessive (an unconscionable length of time). b
not right or reasonable. ЬЬunconscionableness n.
unconscionably adv. [UN-(1) + obs. conscionable f. conscions
obs. var. of CONSCIENCE]
unconscious
adj. & n. --adj. not conscious (unconscious of any change; fell
unconscious on the floor; an unconscious prejudice). --n. that
part of the mind which is inaccessible to the conscious mind but
which affects behaviour, emotions, etc. (cf. collective
unconscious). ЬЬunconsciously adv. unconsciousness n.
unconsecrated
adj. not consecrated.
unconsenting
adj. not consenting.
unconsidered
adj. 1 not considered; disregarded. 2 (of a response etc.)
immediate; not premeditated.
unconsolable
adj. unable to be consoled; inconsolable. ЬЬunconsolably adv.
unconstitutional
adj. not in accordance with the political constitution or with
procedural rules. ЬЬunconstitutionality n. unconstitutionally
adv.
unconstrained
adj. not constrained or compelled. ЬЬunconstrainedly adv.
unconstraint
n. freedom from constraint.
unconstricted
adj. not constricted.
unconsumed
adj. not consumed.
unconsummated
adj. not consummated.
uncontainable
adj. not containable.
uncontaminated
adj. not contaminated.
uncontested
adj. not contested. ЬЬuncontestedly adv.
uncontradicted
adj. not contradicted.
uncontrollable
adj. not controllable. ЬЬuncontrollableness n. uncontrollably
adv.
uncontrolled
adj. not controlled; unrestrained, unchecked.
uncontroversial
adj. not controversial. ЬЬuncontroversially adv.
uncontroverted
adj. not controverted. ЬЬuncontrovertible adj.
unconventional
adj. not bound by convention or custom; unusual; unorthodox.
ЬЬunconventionalism n. unconventionality n. unconventionally
adv.
unconverted
adj. not converted.
unconvinced
adj. not convinced.
unconvincing
adj. not convincing. ЬЬunconvincingly adv.
uncooked adj. not cooked; raw.
uncool adj. sl. 1 unrelaxed; unpleasant. 2 (of jazz) not cool.
uncooperative
adj. not cooperative. ЬЬuncooperatively adv.
uncoordinated
adj. 1 not coordinated. 2 (of a person's movements etc.)
clumsy.
uncopiable
adj. not able to be copied.
uncord v.tr. remove the cord from.
uncork v.tr. 1 draw the cork from (a bottle). 2 allow (feelings etc.)
to be vented.
uncorroborated
adj. (esp. of evidence etc.) not corroborated.
uncorrupted
adj. not corrupted.
uncountable
adj. 1 inestimable, immense (uncountable wealth). 2 Gram. (of
a noun) that cannot form a plural or be used with the indefinite
article (e.g. happiness). ЬЬuncountability n. uncountably
adv.
uncounted adj. 1 not counted. 2 very many; innumerable.
uncouple v.tr. 1 release (wagons) from couplings. 2 release (dogs etc.)
from couples. ЬЬuncoupled adj.
uncourtly adj. not courteous; ill-mannered.
uncouth adj. 1 (of a person, manners, appearance, etc.) lacking in ease
and polish; uncultured, rough (uncouth voices; behaviour was
uncouth). 2 archaic not known; desolate; wild; uncivilized (an
uncouth place). ЬЬuncouthly adv. uncouthness n. [OE uncuth
unknown (as UN-(1) + cuth past part. of cunnan know, CAN(1))]
uncovenanted
adj. 1 not bound by a covenant. 2 not promised by or based on
a covenant, esp. God's covenant.
uncover v. 1 tr. a remove a cover or covering from. b make known;
disclose (uncovered the truth at last). 2 intr. archaic remove
one's hat, cap, etc. 3 tr. (as uncovered adj.) a not covered by
a roof, clothing, etc. b not wearing a hat.
uncreate v.tr. literary annihilate.
uncreated adj. existing without having been created; not created.
[UN-(1) + obs. create f. L creatus past part. of creare: see
CREATE]
uncreative
adj. not creative.
uncritical
adj. 1 not critical; complacently accepting. 2 not in
accordance with the principles of criticism. ЬЬuncritically
adv.
uncropped adj. not cropped.
uncross v.tr. 1 remove (the limbs, knives, etc.) from a crossed
position. 2 (as uncrossed adj.) a Brit. (of a cheque) not
crossed. b not thwarted or challenged. c not wearing a cross.
uncrown v.tr. 1 deprive (a monarch etc.) of a crown. 2 deprive (a
person) of a position. 3 (as uncrowned adj.) a not crowned. b
having the status but not the name of (the uncrowned king of
boxing).
uncrushable
adj. not crushable.
uncrushed adj. not crushed.
UNCSTD abbr. United Nations Conference on Science and Technology for
Development.
UNCTAD abbr. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
unction n. 1 a the act of anointing with oil etc. as a religious rite.
b the oil etc. so used. 2 a soothing words or thought. b
excessive or insincere flattery. 3 a the act of anointing for
medical purposes. b an ointment so used. 4 a a fervent or
sympathetic quality in words or tone caused by or causing deep
emotion. b a pretence of this. [ME f. L unctio f. ung(u)ere
unct- anoint]
unctuous adj. 1 (of behaviour, speech, etc.) unpleasantly flattering;
oily. 2 (esp. of minerals) having a greasy or soapy feel; oily.
ЬЬunctuously adv. unctuousness n. [ME f. med.L unctuosus f. L
unctus anointing (as UNCTION)]
unculled adj. not culled.
uncultivated
adj. (esp. of land) not cultivated.
uncultured
adj. 1 not cultured, unrefined. 2 (of soil or plants) not
cultivated.
uncurb v.tr. remove a curb or curbs from. ЬЬuncurbed adj.
uncured adj. 1 not cured. 2 (of pork etc.) not salted or smoked.
uncurl v.intr. & tr. relax from a curled position, untwist.
uncurtailed
adj. not curtailed.
uncurtained
adj. not curtained.
uncut adj. 1 not cut. 2 (of a book) with the pages not cut open or
with untrimmed margins. 3 (of a book, film, etc.) complete;
uncensored. 4 (of a stone, esp. a diamond) not shaped by
cutting. 5 (of fabric) having its pile-loops intact (uncut
moquette).
undamaged adj. not damaged; intact.
undated adj. not provided or marked with a date.
undaunted adj. not daunted. ЬЬundauntedly adv. undauntedness n.
undecagon n. = HENDECAGON. [L undecim eleven, after decagon]
undeceive v.tr. (often foll. by of) free (a person) from a misconception,
deception, or error.
undecided adj. 1 not settled or certain (the question is undecided). 2
hesitating; irresolute (undecided about their relative merits).
ЬЬundecidedly adv.
undecipherable
adj. not decipherable.
undeclared
adj. not declared.
undefeated
adj. not defeated.
undefended
adj. (esp. of a lawsuit) not defended.
undefiled adj. not defiled; pure.
undefined adj. 1 not defined. 2 not clearly marked; vague, indefinite.
ЬЬundefinable adj. undefinably adv.
undelivered
adj. 1 not delivered or handed over. 2 not set free or
released. 3 a (of a pregnant woman) not yet having given birth.
b (of a child) not yet born.
undemanding
adj. not demanding; easily satisfied. ЬЬundemandingness n.
undemocratic
adj. not democratic. ЬЬundemocratically adv.
undemonstrated
adj. not demonstrated.
undemonstrative
adj. not expressing feelings etc. outwardly; reserved.
ЬЬundemonstratively adv. undemonstrativeness n.
undeniable
adj. 1 unable to be denied or disputed; certain. 2 excellent
(was of undeniable character). ЬЬundeniableness n. undeniably
adv.
undenied adj. not denied.
undependable
adj. not to be depended upon; unreliable.
under prep., adv., & adj. --prep. 1 a in or to a position lower
than; below; beneath (fell under the table; under the left eye).
b within, on the inside of (a surface etc.) (wore a vest under
his shirt). 2 a inferior to; less than (a captain is under a
major; is under 18). b at or for a lower cost than (was under
њ20). 3 a subject or liable to; controlled or bound by (lives
under oppression; under pain of death; born under Saturn; the
country prospered under him). b undergoing (is under repair).
c classified or subsumed in (that book goes under biology; goes
under many names). 4 at the foot of or sheltered by (hid under
the wall; under the cliff). 5 planted with (a crop). 6 powered
by (sail, steam, etc.). 7 following (another player in a card
game). 8 archaic attested by (esp. under one's hand and seal =
signature). --adv. 1 in or to a lower position or condition
(kept him under). 2 colloq. in or into a state of
unconsciousness (put him under for the operation). --adj. lower
(the under jaw). Ьunder age see AGE. under one's arm see
ARM(1). under arms see ARM(2). under one's belt see BELT.
under one's breath see BREATH. under canvas see CANVAS. under
a cloud see CLOUD. under control see CONTROL. under the
counter see COUNTER(1). under cover see COVER n. 4. under
fire see FIRE. under foot see FOOT. under hatches see
HATCH(1). under a person's nose see NOSE. under the rose see
ROSE(1). under separate cover in another envelope. under the
sun anywhere in the world. under water in and covered by water.
under way in motion; in progress. under the weather see
WEATHER. ЬЬundermost adj. [OE f. Gmc]
under- prefix in senses of UNDER: 1 below, beneath (undercarriage;
underground). 2 lower in status; subordinate (under-secretary).
3 insufficiently, incompletely (undercook; underdeveloped). [OE
(as UNDER)]
underachieve
v.intr. do less well than might be expected (esp.
scholastically). ЬЬunderachievement n. underachiever n.
underact v. 1 tr. act (a part etc.) with insufficient force. 2 intr.
act a part in this way.
underarm adj. & adv. 1 Sport, esp. Cricket with the arm below
shoulder-level. 2 under the arm. 3 in the armpit.
underbelly
n. (pl. -ies) the under surface of an animal, vehicle, etc.,
esp. as an area vulnerable to attack.
underbid v. & n. --v.tr. (-bidding; past and past part. -bid) 1 make a
lower bid than (a person). 2 (also absol.) Bridge etc. bid less
on (one's hand) than its strength warrants. --n. 1 such a bid.
2 the act or an instance of underbidding.
underbidder
n. 1 the person who makes the bid next below the highest. 2
Bridge etc. a player who underbids.
underbody n. (pl. -ies) the under surface of the body of an animal,
vehicle, etc.
underbred adj. 1 ill-bred, vulgar. 2 not of pure breeding.
underbrush
n. US undergrowth in a forest.
undercarriage
n. 1 a wheeled structure beneath an aircraft, usu. retracted
when not in use, to receive the impact on landing and support
the aircraft on the ground etc. 2 the supporting frame of a
vehicle.
undercart n. Brit. colloq. the undercarriage of an aircraft.
undercharge
v.tr. 1 charge too little for (a thing) or to (a person). 2
give less than the proper charge to (a gun, an electric battery,
etc.).
underclass
n. a subordinate social class.
underclay n. a clay bed under a coal seam.
undercliff
n. a terrace or lower cliff formed by a landslip.
underclothes
n.pl. clothes worn under others, esp. next to the skin.
underclothing
n. underclothes collectively.
undercoat n. 1 a a preliminary layer of paint under the finishing coat.
b the paint used for this. 2 an animal's under layer of hair or
down. 3 a coat worn under another. ЬЬundercoating n.
undercover
adj. (usu. attrib.) 1 surreptitious. 2 engaged in spying,
esp. by working with or among those to be observed (undercover
agent).
undercroft
n. a crypt. [ME f. UNDER- + croft crypt f. MDu. crofte cave
f. med.L crupta for L crypta: see CRYPT]
undercurrent
n. 1 a current below the surface. 2 an underlying often
contrary feeling, activity, or influence (an undercurrent of
protest).
undercut v. & n. --v.tr. (-cutting; past and past part. -cut) 1 sell
or work at a lower price or lower wages than. 2 Golf strike (a
ball) so as to make it rise high. 3 a cut away the part below
or under (a thing). b cut away material to show (a carved
design etc.) in relief. 4 render unstable or less firm,
undermine. --n. 1 Brit. the underside of a sirloin. 2 US a
notch cut in a tree-trunk to guide its fall when felled. 3 any
space formed by the removal or absence of material from the
lower part of something.
underdeveloped
adj. 1 not fully developed; immature. 2 (of a country etc.)
below its potential economic level. 3 Photog. not developed
sufficiently to give a normal image. ЬЬunderdevelopment n.
underdog n. 1 a dog, or usu. a person, losing a fight. 2 a person who
is in a state of inferiority or subjection.
underdone adj. 1 not thoroughly done. 2 (of food) lightly or
insufficiently cooked.
underdress
v.tr. & intr. dress too plainly or too lightly.
underemphasis
n. (pl. -emphases) an insufficient degree of emphasis.
ЬЬunderemphasize v.tr. (also -ise).
underemployed
adj. not fully employed. ЬЬunderemployment n.
underestimate
v. & n. --v.tr. form too low an estimate of. --n. an
estimate that is too low. ЬЬunderestimation n.
underexpose
v.tr. Photog. expose (film) for too short a time or with
insufficient light. ЬЬunderexposure n.
underfed adj. insufficiently fed.
underfelt n. felt for laying under a carpet.
underfloor
attrib.adj. situated or operating beneath the floor (underfloor
heating).
underflow n. an undercurrent.
underfoot adv. 1 under one's feet. 2 on the ground. 3 in a state of
subjection. 4 so as to obstruct or inconvenience.
undergarment
n. a piece of underclothing.
undergird v.tr. 1 make secure underneath. 2 strengthen, support.
underglaze
adj. & n. --adj. 1 (of painting on porcelain etc.) done before
the glaze is applied. 2 (of colours) used in such painting.
--n. underglaze painting.
undergo v.tr. (3rd sing. present -goes; past -went; past part. -gone)
be subjected to; suffer; endure. [OE undergan (as UNDER-,
GO(1))]
undergrad n. colloq. = UNDERGRADUATE. [abbr.]
undergraduate
n. a student at a university who has not yet taken a first
degree.
underground
adv., adj., n., & v. --adv. 1 beneath the surface of the
ground. 2 in or into secrecy or hiding. --adj. 1 situated
underground. 2 secret, hidden, esp. working secretly to subvert
a ruling power. 3 unconventional, experimental (underground
press). --n. 1 an underground railway. 2 a secret group or
activity, esp. aiming to subvert the established order. --v.tr.
lay (cables) below ground level.
undergrowth
n. a dense growth of shrubs etc., esp. under large trees.
underhand adj. & adv. --adj. 1 secret, clandestine, not above-board. 2
deceptive, crafty. 3 Sport, esp. Cricket underarm. --adv. in
an underhand manner. [OE (as UNDER-, HAND)]
underhanded
adj. & adv. = UNDERHAND.
underhung adj. 1 (of the lower jaw) projecting beyond the upper jaw. 2
having an underhung jaw.
underlay(1)
v. & n. --v.tr. (past and past part. -laid) lay something
under (a thing) to support or raise it. --n. a thing laid
under another, esp. material laid under a carpet or mattress as
protection or support. [OE underlecgan (as UNDER-, LAY(1))]
underlay(2)
past of UNDERLIE.
underlease
n. & v.tr. = SUBLEASE.
underlet v.tr. (-letting; past and past part. -let) 1 sublet. 2 let at
less than the true value.
underlie v.tr. (-lying; past -lay; past part. -lain) 1 (also absol.)
lie or be situated under (a stratum etc.). 2 (also absol.)
(esp. as underlying adj.) (of a principle, reason, etc.) be the
basis of (a doctrine, law, conduct, etc.). 3 exist beneath the
superficial aspect of. [OE underlicgan (as UNDER-, LIE(1))]
underline v. & n. --v.tr. 1 draw a line under (a word etc.) to give
emphasis or draw attention or indicate italic or other special
type. 2 emphasize, stress. --n. 1 a line drawn under a word
etc. 2 a caption below an illustration.
underlinen
n. underclothes esp. of linen.
underling n. usu. derog. a subordinate.
underlying
pres. part. of UNDERLIE.
undermanned
adj. having too few people as crew or staff.
undermentioned
adj. Brit. mentioned at a later place in a book etc.
undermine v.tr. 1 injure (a person, reputation, influence, etc.) by
secret or insidious means. 2 weaken, injure, or wear out
(health etc.) imperceptibly or insidiously. 3 wear away the
base or foundation of (rivers undermine their banks). 4 make a
mine or excavation under. ЬЬunderminer n. underminingly adv.
[ME f. UNDER- + MINE(2)]
underneath
prep., adv., n., & adj. --prep. 1 at or to a lower place than,
below. 2 on the inside of, within. --adv. 1 at or to a lower
place. 2 inside. --n. the lower surface or part. --adj.
lower. [OE underneothan (as UNDER + neothan: cf. BENEATH)]
undernourished
adj. insufficiently nourished. ЬЬundernourishment n.
underpaid past and past part. of UNDERPAY.
underpants
n.pl. an undergarment, esp. men's, covering the lower part of
the body and part of the legs.
under-part
n. 1 a lower part, esp. of an animal. 2 a subordinate part in
a play etc.
underpass n. 1 a road etc. passing under another. 2 a crossing of this
form.
underpay v.tr. (past and past part. -paid) pay too little to (a person)
or for (a thing). ЬЬunderpayment n.
underpin v.tr. (-pinned, -pinning) 1 support from below with masonry
etc. 2 support, strengthen.
underplant
v.tr. (usu. foll. by with) plant or cultivate the ground about
(a tall plant) with smaller ones.
underplay v. 1 tr. play down the importance of. 2 intr. & tr. Theatr.
a perform with deliberate restraint. b underact.
underplot n. a subordinate plot in a play etc.
underpopulated
adj. having an insufficient or very small population.
underprice
v.tr. price lower than what is usual or appropriate.
underprivileged
adj. 1 less privileged than others. 2 not enjoying the normal
standard of living or rights in a society.
underproduction
n. production of less than is usual or required.
underproof
adj. containing less alcohol than proof spirit does.
underprop v.tr. (-propped, -propping) 1 support with a prop. 2 support,
sustain.
underquote
v.tr. 1 quote a lower price than (a person). 2 quote a lower
price than others for (goods etc.).
underrate v.tr. have too low an opinion of.
underscore
v. & n. --v.tr. = UNDERLINE v. --n. = UNDERLINE n. 1.
undersea adj. below the sea or the surface of the sea, submarine.
underseal v. & n. --v.tr. seal the under-part of (esp. a motor vehicle
against rust etc.). --n. a protective coating for this.
under-secretary
n. (pl. -ies) a subordinate official, esp. a junior minister
or senior civil servant.
undersell v.tr. (past and past part. -sold) 1 sell at a lower price than
(another seller). 2 sell at less than the true value.
underset v. & n. --v.tr. (-setting; past and past part. -set) place
something under (a thing). --n. Naut. an undercurrent.
undersexed
adj. having unusually weak sexual desires.
under-sheriff
n. a deputy sheriff.
undershirt
n. esp. US an undergarment worn under a shirt; a vest.
undershoot
v. & n. --v.tr. (past and past part. -shot) 1 (of an
aircraft) land short of (a runway etc.). 2 shoot short of or
below. --n. the act or an instance of undershooting.
undershorts
n. US short underpants; trunks.
undershot adj. 1 (of a water-wheel) turned by water flowing under it. 2
= UNDERHUNG.
undershrub
n. = SUBSHRUB.
underside n. the lower or under side or surface.
undersigned
adj. whose signature is appended (we, the undersigned, wish to
state...).
undersized
adj. of less than the usual size.
underskirt
n. a skirt worn under another; a petticoat.
underslung
adj. 1 supported from above. 2 (of a vehicle chassis) hanging
lower than the axles.
undersold past and past part. of UNDERSELL.
undersow v.tr. (past part. -sown) 1 sow (a later-growing crop) on land
already seeded with another crop. 2 (foll. by with) sow land
already seeded with (a crop) with a later-growing crop.
underspend
v. (past and past part. -spent) 1 tr. spend less than (a
specified amount). 2 intr. & refl. spend too little.
understaffed
adj. having too few staff.
understand
v. (past and past part. -stood) 1 tr. perceive the meaning of
(words, a person, a language, etc.) (does not understand what
you say; understood you perfectly; cannot understand French). 2
tr. perceive the significance or explanation or cause of (do not
understand why he came; could not understand what the noise was
about; do not understand the point of his remark). 3 tr. be
sympathetically aware of the character or nature of, know how to
deal with (quite understand your difficulty; cannot understand
him at all; could never understand algebra). 4 tr. a (often
foll. by that + clause) infer esp. from information received,
take as implied, take for granted (I understand that it begins
at noon; I understand him to be a distant relation; am I to
understand that you refuse?). b (absol.) believe or assume from
knowledge or inference (he is coming tomorrow, I understand). 5
tr. supply (a word) mentally (the verb may be either expressed
or understood). 6 intr. have understanding (in general or in
particular). Ьunderstand each other 1 know each other's views
or feelings. 2 be in agreement or collusion. ЬЬunderstandable
adj. understandably adv. understander n. [OE understandan (as
UNDER-, STAND)]
understanding
n. & adj. --n. 1 a the ability to understand or think;
intelligence. b the power of apprehension; the power of
abstract thought. 2 an individual's perception or judgement of
a situation etc. 3 an agreement; a thing agreed upon, esp.
informally (had an understanding with the rival company;
consented only on this understanding). 4 harmony in opinion or
feeling (disturbed the good understanding between them). 5
sympathetic awareness or tolerance. --adj. 1 having
understanding or insight or good judgement. 2 sympathetic to
others' feelings. ЬЬunderstandingly adv. [OE (as UNDERSTAND)]
understate
v.tr. 1 express in greatly or unduly restrained terms. 2
represent as being less than it actually is. ЬЬunderstatement
n. understater n.
understeer
n. & v. --n. a tendency of a motor vehicle to turn less sharply
than was intended. --v.intr. have such a tendency.
understood
past and past part. of UNDERSTAND.
understorey
n. (pl. -eys) 1 a layer of vegetation beneath the main canopy
of a forest. 2 the plants forming this.
understudy
n. & v. esp. Theatr. --n. (pl. -ies) a person who studies
another's role or duties in order to act at short notice in the
absence of the other. --v.tr. (-ies, -ied) 1 study (a role
etc.) as an understudy. 2 act as an understudy to (a person).
undersubscribed
adj. without sufficient subscribers, participants, etc.
undersurface
n. the lower or under surface.
undertake v.tr. (past -took; past part. -taken) 1 bind oneself to
perform, make oneself responsible for, engage in, enter upon
(work, an enterprise, a responsibility). 2 (usu. foll. by to +
infin.) accept an obligation, promise. 3 guarantee, affirm (I
will undertake that he has not heard a word).
undertaker
n. 1 a person whose business is to make arrangements for
funerals. 2 also a person who undertakes to do something. 3
hist. an influential person in 17th-century England who
undertook to procure particular legislation, esp. to obtain
supplies from the House of Commons if the king would grant some
concession.
undertaking
n. 1 work etc. undertaken, an enterprise (a serious
undertaking). 2 a pledge or promise. 3 the management of
funerals as a profession.
undertenant
n. a subtenant. ЬЬundertenancy n. (pl. -ies).
underthings
n.pl. colloq. underclothes.
undertint n. a subdued tint.
undertone n. 1 a subdued tone of sound or colour. 2 an underlying
quality. 3 an undercurrent of feeling.
undertook past of UNDERTAKE.
undertow n. a current below the surface of the sea moving in the
opposite direction to the surface current.
undertrick
n. Bridge a trick by which the declarer falls short of his or
her contract.
undervalue
v.tr. (-values, -valued, -valuing) 1 value insufficiently. 2
underestimate. ЬЬundervaluation n.
undervest n. Brit. an undergarment worn on the upper part of the body; a
vest.
underwater
adj. & adv. --adj. situated or done under water. --adv. under
water.
underwear n. underclothes.
underweight
adj. & n. --adj. weighing less than is normal or desirable.
--n. insufficient weight.
underwent past of UNDERGO.
underwhelm
v.tr. joc. fail to impress. [after OVERWHELM]
underwing n. a wing placed under or partly covered by another.
underwood n. undergrowth.
underwork v. 1 tr. impose too little work on. 2 intr. do too little
work.
underworld
n. 1 the part of society comprising those who live by organized
crime and immorality. 2 the mythical abode of the dead under
the earth. 3 the antipodes.
underwrite
v. (past -wrote; past part. -written) 1 a tr. sign, and accept
liability under (an insurance policy, esp. on shipping etc.).
b tr. accept (liability) in this way. c intr. practice (marine)
insurance. 2 tr. undertake to finance or support. 3 tr. engage
to buy all the stock in (a company etc.) not bought by the
public. 4 tr. write below (the underwritten names).
ЬЬunderwriter n.
undescended
adj. Med. (of a testicle) remaining in the abdomen instead of
descending normally into the scrotum.
undeserved
adj. not deserved (as reward or punishment). ЬЬundeservedly
adv.
undeserving
adj. not deserving. ЬЬundeservingly adv.
undesirable
adj. & n. --adj. not desirable, objectionable, unpleasant.
--n. an undesirable person. ЬЬundesirability n.
undesirableness n. undesirably adv.
undesired adj. not desired.
undesirous
adj. not desirous.
undetectable
adj. not detectable. ЬЬundetectability n. undetectably adv.
undetected
adj. not detected.
undetermined
adj. = UNDECIDED.
undeterred
adj. not deterred.
undeveloped
adj. not developed.
undeviating
adj. not deviating; steady, constant. ЬЬundeviatingly adv.
undischarged
adj. (esp. of a bankrupt or a debt) not discharged.
undiscipline
n. lack of discipline.
undisciplined
adj. lacking discipline; not disciplined.
undisclosed
adj. not revealed or made known.
undiscoverable
adj. that cannot be discovered.
undiscovered
adj. not discovered.
undiscriminating
adj. not showing good judgement.
undisguised
adj. not disguised. ЬЬundisguisedly adv.
undismayed
adj. not dismayed.
undisputed
adj. not disputed or called in question.
undissolved
adj. not dissolved.
undistinguishable
adj. (often foll. by from) indistinguishable.
undistinguished
adj. not distinguished; mediocre.
undistributed
adj. not distributed. Ьundistributed middle Logic a fallacy
resulting from the failure of the middle term of a syllogism to
refer to all the members of a class.
undisturbed
adj. not disturbed or interfered with.
undivided adj. not divided or shared; whole, entire (gave him my
undivided attention).
undo v.tr. (3rd sing. present -does; past -did; past part. -done) 1
a unfasten or untie (a coat, button, parcel, etc.). b unfasten
the clothing of (a person). 2 annul, cancel (cannot undo the
past). 3 ruin the prospects, reputation, or morals of. [OE
undon (as UN-(2), DO(1))]
undock v.tr. 1 (also absol.) separate (a spacecraft) from another in
space. 2 take (a ship) out of a dock.
undocumented
adj. 1 US not having the appropriate document. 2 not proved by
or recorded in documents.
undoing n. 1 ruin or a cause of ruin. 2 the process of reversing what
has been done. 3 the action of opening or unfastening.
undomesticated
adj. not domesticated.
undone adj. 1 not done; incomplete (left the job undone). 2 not
fastened (left the buttons undone). 3 archaic ruined.
undoubtable
adj. that cannot be doubted; indubitable.
undoubted adj. certain, not questioned, not regarded as doubtful.
ЬЬundoubtedly adv.
undrained adj. not drained.
undraped adj. 1 not covered with drapery. 2 naked.
undreamed adj. (also undreamt) (often foll. by of) not dreamed or thought
of or imagined.
undress v. & n. --v. 1 intr. take off one's clothes. 2 tr. take the
clothes off (a person). --n. 1 ordinary dress as opposed to
full dress or uniform. 2 casual or informal dress.
undressed adj. 1 not or no longer dressed; partly or wholly naked. 2 (of
leather etc.) not treated. 3 (of food) not having a dressing.
undrinkable
adj. unfit for drinking.
undue adj. 1 excessive, disproportionate. 2 not suitable. 3 not
owed. Ьundue influence Law influence by which a person is
induced to act otherwise than by his or her own free will, or
without adequate attention to the consequences. ЬЬunduly adv.
undulant adj. moving like waves; fluctuating. Ьundulant fever
brucellosis in humans. [L undulare (as UNDULATE)]
undulate v. & adj. --v. intr. & tr. have or cause to have a wavy motion
or look. --adj. wavy, going alternately up and down or in and
out (leaves with undulate margins). ЬЬundulately adv. [LL
undulatus f. L unda wave]
undulation
n. 1 a wavy motion or form, a gentle rise and fall. 2 each
wave of this. 3 a set of wavy lines.
undulatory
adj. 1 undulating, wavy. 2 of or due to undulation.
undutiful adj. not dutiful. ЬЬundutifully adv. undutifulness n.
unearned adj. not earned. Ьunearned income income from interest
payments etc. as opposed to salary, wages, or fees. unearned
increment an increase in the value of property not due to the
owner's labour or outlay.
unearth v.tr. 1 a discover by searching or in the course of digging or
rummaging. b dig out of the earth. 2 drive (a fox etc.) from
its earth.
unearthly adj. 1 supernatural, mysterious. 2 colloq. absurdly early or
inconvenient (an unearthly hour). 3 not earthly.
ЬЬunearthliness n.
unease n. lack of ease, discomfort, distress.
uneasy adj. (uneasier, uneasiest) 1 disturbed or uncomfortable in mind
or body (passed an uneasy night). 2 disturbing (had an uneasy
suspicion). ЬЬuneasily adv. uneasiness n.
uneatable adj. not able to be eaten, esp. because of its condition (cf.
INEDIBLE).
uneaten adj. not eaten; left undevoured.
uneconomic
adj. not economic; incapable of being profitably operated etc.
ЬЬuneconomically adv.
uneconomical
adj. not economical; wasteful.
unedifying
adj. not edifying, esp. uninstructive or degrading.
ЬЬunedifyingly adv.
unedited adj. not edited.
uneducated
adj. not educated. ЬЬuneducable adj.
unelectable
adj. (of a candidate, party, etc.) holding views likely to
bring defeat at an election.
unembellished
adj. not embellished or decorated.
unemotional
adj. not emotional; lacking emotion. ЬЬunemotionally adv.
unemphatic
adj. not emphatic. ЬЬunemphatically adv.
unemployable
adj. & n. --adj. unfitted for paid employment. --n. an
unemployable person. ЬЬunemployability n.
unemployed
adj. 1 not having paid employment; out of work. 2 not in use.
unemployment
n. 1 the state of being unemployed. 2 the condition or extent
of this in a country or region etc. (the North has higher
unemployment). Ьunemployment benefit a payment made by the
State or (in the US) a trade union to an unemployed person.
unenclosed
adj. not enclosed.
unencumbered
adj. 1 (of an estate) not having any liabilities (e.g. a
mortgage) on it. 2 having no encumbrance; free.
unending adj. having or apparently having no end. ЬЬunendingly adv.
unendingness n.
unendowed adj. not endowed.
unendurable
adj. that cannot be endured. ЬЬunendurably adv.
unengaged adj. not engaged; uncommitted.
un-English
adj. 1 not characteristic of the English. 2 not English.
unenjoyable
adj. not enjoyable.
unenlightened
adj. not enlightened.
unenterprising
adj. not enterprising.
unenthusiastic
adj. not enthusiastic. ЬЬunenthusiastically adv.
unenviable
adj. not enviable. ЬЬunenviably adv.
unenvied adj. not envied.
unequal adj. 1 (often foll. by to) not equal. 2 of varying quality. 3
lacking equal advantage to both sides (an unequal bargain).
ЬЬunequally adv.
unequalize
v.tr. (also -ise) make unequal.
unequalled
adj. superior to all others.
unequipped
adj. not equipped.
unequivocal
adj. not ambiguous, plain, unmistakable. ЬЬunequivocally adv.
unequivocalness n.
unerring adj. not erring, failing, or missing the mark; true, certain.
ЬЬunerringly adv. unerringness n.
unescapable
adj. inescapable.
UNESCO abbr. (also Unesco) United Nations Educational, Scientific, and
Cultural Organization.
unescorted
adj. not escorted.
unessential
adj. & n. --adj. 1 not essential (cf. INESSENTIAL). 2 not of
the first importance. --n. an unessential part or thing.
unestablished
adj. not established.
unethical adj. not ethical, esp. unscrupulous in business or professional
conduct. ЬЬunethically adv.
unevangelical
adj. not evangelical.
uneven adj. 1 not level or smooth. 2 not uniform or equable. 3 (of a
contest) unequal. ЬЬunevenly adv. unevenness n. [OE unefen
(as UN-(1), EVEN(1))]
uneventful
adj. not eventful. ЬЬuneventfully adv. uneventfulness n.
unexamined
adj. not examined.
unexampled
adj. having no precedent or parallel.
unexceptionable
adj. with which no fault can be found; entirely satisfactory.
ЬЬunexceptionableness n. unexceptionably adv.
unexceptional
adj. not out of the ordinary; usual, normal. ЬЬunexceptionally
adv.
unexcitable
adj. not easily excited. ЬЬunexcitability n.
unexciting
adj. not exciting; dull.
unexecuted
adj. not carried out or put into effect.
unexhausted
adj. 1 not used up, expended, or brought to an end. 2 not
emptied.
unexpected
adj. not expected; surprising. ЬЬunexpectedly adv.
unexpectedness n.
unexploited
adj. (of resources etc.) not exploited.
unexplored
adj. not explored.
unexposed adj. not exposed.
unexpressed
adj. not expressed or made known (unexpressed fears).
unexpurgated
adj. (esp. of a text etc.) not expurgated; complete.
unfaceable
adj. that cannot be faced or confronted.
unfading adj. that never fades. ЬЬunfadingly adv.
unfailing adj. 1 not failing. 2 not running short. 3 constant. 4
reliable. ЬЬunfailingly adv. unfailingness n.
unfair adj. 1 not equitable or honest (obtained by unfair means). 2
not impartial or according to the rules (unfair play).
ЬЬunfairly adv. unfairness n. [OE unf‘ger (as UN-(1),
FAIR(1))]
unfaithful
adj. 1 not faithful, esp. adulterous. 2 not loyal. 3
treacherous. ЬЬunfaithfully adv. unfaithfulness n.
unfaltering
adj. not faltering; steady, resolute. ЬЬunfalteringly adv.
unfamiliar
adj. not familiar. ЬЬunfamiliarity n.
unfashionable
adj. not fashionable. ЬЬunfashionableness n. unfashionably
adv.
unfashioned
adj. not made into its proper shape.
unfasten v. 1 tr. & intr. make or become loose. 2 tr. open the
fastening(s) of. 3 tr. detach.
unfastened
adj. 1 that has not been fastened. 2 that has been loosened,
opened, or detached.
unfathered
adj. 1 having no known or acknowledged father; illegitimate. 2
of unknown origin (unfathered rumours).
unfatherly
adj. not befitting a father. ЬЬunfatherliness n.
unfathomable
adj. incapable of being fathomed. ЬЬunfathomableness n.
unfathomably adv.
unfathomed
adj. 1 of unascertained depth. 2 not fully explored or known.
unfavourable
adj. (US unfavorable) not favourable; adverse, hostile.
ЬЬunfavourableness n. unfavourably adv.
unfavourite
adj. (US unfavorite) colloq. least favourite; most disliked.
unfazed adj. colloq. untroubled; not disconcerted.
unfeasible
adj. not feasible; impractical. ЬЬunfeasibility n. unfeasibly
adv.
unfed adj. not fed.
unfeeling adj. 1 unsympathetic, harsh, not caring about others' feelings.
2 lacking sensation or sensitivity. ЬЬunfeelingly adv.
unfeelingness n. [OE unfelende (as UN-(1), FEELING)]
unfeminine
adj. not in accordance with, or appropriate to, female
character. ЬЬunfemininity n.
unfenced adj. 1 not provided with fences. 2 unprotected.
unfermented
adj. not fermented.
unfertilized
adj. (also unfertilised) not fertilized.
unfetter v.tr. release from fetters.
unfettered
adj. unrestrained, unrestricted.
unfilial adj. not befitting a son or daughter. ЬЬunfilially adv.
unfilled adj. not filled.
unfiltered
adj. 1 not filtered. 2 (of a cigarette) not provided with a
filter.
unfinished
adj. not finished; incomplete.
unfit adj. & v. --adj. (often foll. by for, or to + infin.) not fit.
--v.tr. (unfitted, unfitting) (usu. foll. by for) make
unsuitable. ЬЬunfitly adv. unfitness n.
unfitted adj. 1 not fit. 2 not fitted or suited. 3 not provided with
fittings.
unfitting adj. not fitting or suitable, unbecoming. ЬЬunfittingly adv.
unfix v.tr. 1 release or loosen from a fixed state. 2 detach.
unflappable
adj. colloq. imperturbable; remaining calm in a crisis.
ЬЬunflappability n. unflappably adv.
unflattering
adj. not flattering. ЬЬunflatteringly adv.
unflavoured
adj. not flavoured.
unfledged adj. 1 (of a person) inexperienced. 2 (of a bird) not yet
fledged.
unfleshed adj. 1 not covered with flesh. 2 stripped of flesh.
unflinching
adj. not flinching. ЬЬunflinchingly adv.
unfocused adj. (also unfocussed) not focused.
unfold v. 1 tr. open the fold or folds of, spread out. 2 tr. reveal
(thoughts etc.). 3 intr. become opened out. 4 intr. develop.
ЬЬunfoldment n. US. [OE unfealdan (as UN-(2), FOLD(1))]
unforced adj. 1 not produced by effort; easy, natural. 2 not compelled
or constrained. ЬЬunforcedly adv.
unfordable
adj. that cannot be forded.
unforeseeable
adj. not foreseeable.
unforeseen
adj. not foreseen.
unforetold
adj. not foretold; unpredicted.
unforgettable
adj. that cannot be forgotten; memorable, wonderful (an
unforgettable experience). ЬЬunforgettably adv.
unforgivable
adj. that cannot be forgiven. ЬЬunforgivably adv.
unforgiven
adj. not forgiven.
unforgiving
adj. not forgiving. ЬЬunforgivingly adv. unforgivingness n.
unforgotten
adj. not forgotten.
unformed adj. 1 not formed. 2 shapeless. 3 not developed.
unformulated
adj. not formulated.
unforthcoming
adj. not forthcoming.
unfortified
adj. not fortified.
unfortunate
adj. & n. --adj. 1 having bad fortune; unlucky. 2 unhappy. 3
regrettable. 4 disastrous. --n. an unfortunate person.
unfortunately
adv. 1 (qualifying a whole sentence) it is unfortunate that. 2
in an unfortunate manner.
unfounded adj. having no foundation (unfounded hopes; unfounded rumour).
ЬЬunfoundedly adv. unfoundedness n.
unframed adj. (esp. of a picture) not framed.
unfreeze v. (past unfroze; past part. unfrozen) 1 tr. cause to thaw. 2
intr. thaw. 3 tr. remove restrictions from, make (assets,
credits, etc.) realizable.
unfrequented
adj. not frequented.
unfriended
adj. literary without friends.
unfriendly
adj. (unfriendlier, unfriendliest) not friendly.
ЬЬunfriendliness n.
unfrock v.tr. = DEFROCK.
unfroze past of UNFREEZE.
unfrozen past part. of UNFREEZE.
unfruitful
adj. 1 not producing good results, unprofitable. 2 not
producing fruit or crops. ЬЬunfruitfully adv. unfruitfulness
n.
unfulfilled
adj. not fulfilled. ЬЬunfulfillable adj.
unfunded adj. (of a debt) not funded.
unfunny adj. (unfunnier, unfunniest) not amusing (though meant to be).
ЬЬunfunnily adv. unfunniness n.
unfurl v. 1 tr. spread out (a sail, umbrella, etc.). 2 intr. become
spread out.
unfurnished
adj. 1 (usu. foll. by with) not supplied. 2 without furniture.
ungainly adj. (of a person, animal, or movement) awkward, clumsy.
ЬЬungainliness n. [UN-(1) + obs. gainly graceful ult. f. ON
gegn straight]
ungallant adj. not gallant. ЬЬungallantly adv.
ungenerous
adj. not generous; mean. ЬЬungenerously adv. ungenerousness
n.
ungenial adj. not genial.
ungentle adj. not gentle. ЬЬungentleness n. ungently adv.
ungentlemanly
adj. not gentlemanly. ЬЬungentlemanliness n.
unget-at-able
adj. colloq. inaccessible.
ungifted adj. not gifted or talented.
ungird v.tr. 1 release the girdle, belt, or girth of. 2 release or
take off by undoing a belt or girth.
unglazed adj. not glazed.
ungloved adj. not wearing a glove or gloves.
ungodly adj. 1 impious, wicked. 2 colloq. outrageous (an ungodly hour
to arrive). ЬЬungodliness n.
ungovernable
adj. uncontrollable, violent. ЬЬungovernability n.
ungovernably adv.
ungraceful
adj. not graceful. ЬЬungracefully adv. ungracefulness n.
ungracious
adj. 1 not kindly or courteous; unkind. 2 unattractive.
ЬЬungraciously adv. ungraciousness n.
ungrammatical
adj. contrary to the rules of grammar. ЬЬungrammaticality n.
ungrammatically adv. ungrammaticalness n.
ungraspable
adj. that cannot be grasped or comprehended.
ungrateful
adj. 1 not feeling or showing gratitude. 2 not pleasant or
acceptable. ЬЬungratefully adv. ungratefulness n.
ungrounded
adj. 1 having no basis or justification; unfounded. 2 Electr.
not earthed. 3 (foll. by in a subject) not properly instructed.
4 (of an aircraft, ship, etc.) no longer grounded.
ungrudging
adj. not grudging. ЬЬungrudgingly adv.
ungual adj. of, like, or bearing a nail, hoof, or claw. [L UNGUIS]
unguard v.tr. Cards discard a low card that was protecting (a high
card) from capture.
unguarded adj. 1 incautious, thoughtless (an unguarded remark). 2 not
guarded; without a guard. ЬЬunguardedly adv. unguardedness n.
unguent n. a soft substance used as ointment or for lubrication. [L
unguentum f. unguere anoint]
unguessable
adj. that cannot be guessed or imagined.
unguiculate
adj. 1 Zool. having one or more nails or claws. 2 Bot. (of
petals) having an unguis. [mod.L unguiculatus f. unguiculus
dimin. of UNGUIS]
unguided adj. not guided in a particular path or direction; left to take
its own course.
unguis n. (pl. ungues) 1 Bot. the narrow base of a petal. 2 Zool. a
nail or claw. [L]
ungula n. (pl. ungulae) a hoof or claw. [L, dimin. of UNGUIS]
ungulate adj. & n. --adj. hoofed. --n. a hoofed mammal. [LL ungulatus
f. UNGULA]
unhallowed
adj. 1 not consecrated. 2 not sacred; unholy, wicked.
unhampered
adj. not hampered.
unhand v.tr. rhet. or joc. 1 take one's hands off (a person). 2
release from one's grasp.
unhandsome
adj. not handsome.
unhandy adj. 1 not easy to handle or manage; awkward. 2 not skilful in
using the hands. ЬЬunhandily adv. unhandiness n.
unhang v.tr. (past and past part. unhung) take down from a hanging
position.
unharbour v.tr. Brit. dislodge (a deer) from a covert.
unharmed adj. not harmed.
unharmful adj. not harmful.
unharmonious
adj. not harmonious.
unharness v.tr. remove a harness from.
unhasp v.tr. free from a hasp or catch; unfasten.
unhatched adj. (of an egg etc.) not hatched.
unhealthful
adj. harmful to health, unwholesome. ЬЬunhealthfulness n.
unhealthy adj. (unhealthier, unhealthiest) 1 not in good health. 2 a (of
a place etc.) harmful to health. b unwholesome. c sl.
dangerous to life. ЬЬunhealthily adv. unhealthiness n.
unheard adj. 1 not heard. 2 (usu. unheard-of) unprecedented, unknown.
unheated adj. not heated.
unheeded adj. not heeded; disregarded.
unheedful adj. heedless; taking no notice.
unheeding adj. not giving heed; heedless. ЬЬunheedingly adv.
unhelpful adj. not helpful. ЬЬunhelpfully adv. unhelpfulness n.
unheralded
adj. not heralded; unannounced.
unheroic adj. not heroic. ЬЬunheroically adv.
unhesitating
adj. without hesitation. ЬЬunhesitatingly adv.
unhesitatingness n.
unhindered
adj. not hindered.
unhinge v.tr. 1 take (a door etc.) off its hinges. 2 (esp. as unhinged
adj.) unsettle or disorder (a person's mind etc.), make (a
person) crazy.
unhistoric
adj. not historic or historical.
unhistorical
adj. not historical. ЬЬunhistorically adv.
unhitch v.tr. 1 release from a hitched state. 2 unhook, unfasten.
unholy adj. (unholier, unholiest) 1 impious, profane, wicked. 2
colloq. dreadful, outrageous (made an unholy row about it). 3
not holy. ЬЬunholiness n. [OE unhalig (as UN-(1), HOLY)]
unhonoured
adj. not honoured.
unhook v.tr. 1 remove from a hook or hooks. 2 unfasten by releasing a
hook or hooks.
unhoped adj. (foll. by for) not hoped for or expected.
unhorse v.tr. 1 throw or drag from a horse. 2 (of a horse) throw (a
rider). 3 dislodge, overthrow.
unhouse v.tr. deprive of shelter; turn out of a house.
unhuman adj. 1 not human. 2 superhuman. 3 inhuman, brutal.
unhung(1) adj. 1 not (yet) executed by hanging. 2 not hung up (for
exhibition).
unhung(2) past and past part. of UNHANG.
unhurried adj. not hurried. ЬЬunhurriedly adv.
unhurt adj. not hurt.
unhusk v.tr. remove a husk or shell from.
unhygienic
adj. not hygienic. ЬЬunhygienically adv.
unhyphenated
adj. not hyphenated.
uni n. (pl. unis) esp. Austral. & NZ colloq. a university.
[abbr.]
uni- comb. form one; having or consisting of one. [L f. unus one]
Uniat adj. & n. (also Uniate) --adj. of or relating to any community
of Christians in E. Europe or the Near East that acknowledges
papal supremacy but retains its own liturgy etc. --n. a member
of such a community. [Russ. uniyat f. uniya f. L unio UNION]
uniaxial adj. having a single axis. ЬЬuniaxially adv.
unicameral
adj. with a single legislative chamber.
UNICEF abbr. United Nations Children's (orig. International Children's
Emergency) Fund.
unicellular
adj. (of an organism, organ, tissue, etc.) consisting of a
single cell.
unicolour adj. (also unicoloured) of one colour.
unicorn n. 1 a a fabulous animal with a horse's body and a single
straight horn. b a heraldic representation of this, with a
twisted horn, a deer's feet, a goat's beard, and a lion's tail.
c used in old translations of the Old Testament for the Hebrew
re'em, a two-horned animal, probably a wild ox. 2 a a pair of
horses and a third horse in front. b an equipage with these. 3
(in full unicorn whale or sea-unicorn) the narwhal. [ME f. OF
unicorne f. L unicornis f. UNI- + cornu horn, transl. Gk
monoceros]
unicuspid adj. & n. --adj. with one cusp. --n. a unicuspid tooth.
unicycle n. a single-wheeled cycle, esp. as used by acrobats.
ЬЬunicyclist n.
unidea'd adj. having no ideas.
unideal adj. not ideal.
unidentifiable
adj. unable to be identified.
unidentified
adj. not identified.
unidimensional
adj. having (only) one dimension.
unidirectional
adj. having only one direction of motion, operation, etc.
ЬЬunidirectionality n. unidirectionally adv.
unification
n. the act or an instance of unifying; the state of being
unified. ЬUnification Church a religious organization founded
in 1954 in Korea by Sun Myung Moon (cf. MOONIE). ЬЬunificatory
adj.
uniflow adj. involving flow (esp. of steam or waste gases) in one
direction only.
uniform adj., n., & v. --adj. 1 not changing in form or character; the
same, unvarying (present a uniform appearance; all of uniform
size and shape). 2 conforming to the same standard, rules, or
pattern. 3 constant in the course of time (uniform
acceleration). 4 (of a tax, law, etc.) not varying with time or
place. --n. uniform distinctive clothing worn by members of the
same body, e.g. by soldiers, police, and schoolchildren.
--v.tr. 1 clothe in uniform (a uniformed officer). 2 make
uniform. ЬЬuniformly adv. [F uniforme or L uniformis (as UNI-,
FORM)]
uniformitarian
adj. & n. --adj. of the theory that geological processes are
always due to continuously and uniformly operating forces. --n.
a holder of this theory. ЬЬuniformitarianism n.
uniformity
n. (pl. -ies) 1 being uniform; sameness, consistency. 2 an
instance of this. ЬAct of Uniformity hist. any of four acts
(esp. that of 1662) for securing uniformity in public worship
and the use of a particular Book of Common Prayer. [ME f. OF
uniformit‚ or LL uniformitas (as UNIFORM)]
unify v.tr. (also absol.) (-ies, -ied) reduce to unity or uniformity.
Ьunified field theory Physics a theory that seeks to explain all
the field phenomena (e.g. gravitation and electromagnetism: see
FIELD n. 9) formerly treated by separate theories. ЬЬunifier
n. [F unifier or LL unificare (as UNI-, -FY)]
unilateral
adj. 1 performed by or affecting only one person or party
(unilateral disarmament; unilateral declaration of
independence). 2 one-sided. 3 (of the parking of vehicles)
restricted to one side of the street. 4 (of leaves) all on the
same side of the stem. 5 (of a line of descent) through
ancestors of one sex only. ЬЬunilaterally adv.
unilateralism
n. 1 unilateral disarmament. 2 US the pursuit of a foreign
policy without allies. ЬЬunilateralist n. & adj.
unilingual
adj. of or in only one language. ЬЬunilingually adv.
uniliteral
adj. consisting of one letter.
unilluminated
adj. not illuminated.
unillustrated
adj. (esp. of a book) without illustrations.
unilocular
adj. Bot. & Zool. single-chambered.
unimaginable
adj. impossible to imagine. ЬЬunimaginably adv.
unimaginative
adj. lacking imagination; stolid, dull. ЬЬunimaginatively adv.
unimaginativeness n.
unimpaired
adj. not impaired.
unimpassioned
adj. not impassioned.
unimpeachable
adj. giving no opportunity for censure; beyond reproach or
question. ЬЬunimpeachably adv.
unimpeded adj. not impeded. ЬЬunimpededly adv.
unimportance
n. lack of importance.
unimportant
adj. not important.
unimposing
adj. unimpressive. ЬЬunimposingly adv.
unimpressed
adj. not impressed.
unimpressionable
adj. not impressionable.
unimpressive
adj. not impressive. ЬЬunimpressively adv. unimpressiveness
n.
unimproved
adj. 1 not made better. 2 not made use of. 3 (of land) not
used for agriculture or building; not developed.
unincorporated
adj. 1 not incorporated or united. 2 not formed into a
corporation.
uninfected
adj. not infected.
uninflamed
adj. not inflamed.
uninflammable
adj. not inflammable.
uninflected
adj. 1 Gram. (of a language) not having inflections. 2 not
changing or varying. 3 not bent or deflected.
uninfluenced
adj. (often foll. by by) not influenced.
uninfluential
adj. having little or no influence.
uninformative
adj. not informative; giving little information.
uninformed
adj. 1 not informed or instructed. 2 ignorant, uneducated.
uninhabitable
adj. that cannot be inhabited. ЬЬuninhabitableness n.
uninhabited
adj. not inhabited.
uninhibited
adj. not inhibited. ЬЬuninhibitedly adv. uninhibitedness n.
uninitiated
adj. not initiated; not admitted or instructed.
uninjured adj. not injured.
uninspired
adj. 1 not inspired. 2 (of oratory etc.) commonplace.
uninspiring
adj. not inspiring. ЬЬuninspiringly adv.
uninstructed
adj. not instructed or informed.
uninsurable
adj. that cannot be insured.
uninsured adj. not insured.
unintelligent
adj. not intelligent. ЬЬunintelligently adv.
unintelligible
adj. not intelligible. ЬЬunintelligibility n.
unintelligibleness n. unintelligibly adv.
unintended
adj. not intended.
unintentional
adj. not intentional. ЬЬunintentionally adv.
uninterested
adj. 1 not interested. 2 unconcerned, indifferent.
ЬЬuninterestedly adv. uninterestedness n.
uninteresting
adj. not interesting. ЬЬuninterestingly adv.
uninterestingness n.
uninterpretable
adj. that cannot be interpreted.
uninterruptable
adj. that cannot be interrupted.
uninterrupted
adj. not interrupted. ЬЬuninterruptedly adv.
uninterruptedness n.
uninucleate
adj. Biol. having a single nucleus.
uninventive
adj. not inventive. ЬЬuninventively adv. uninventiveness n.
uninvestigated
adj. not investigated.
uninvited adj. not invited. ЬЬuninvitedly adv.
uninviting
adj. not inviting, unattractive, repellent. ЬЬuninvitingly
adv.
uninvoked adj. not invoked.
uninvolved
adj. not involved.
union n. 1 a the act or an instance of uniting; the state of being
united. b (the Union) hist. the uniting of the English and
Scottish crowns in 1603, of the English and Scottish parliaments
in 1707, or of Great Britain and Ireland in 1801. 2 a a whole
resulting from the combination of parts or members. b a
political unit formed in this way, esp. the US, the UK, the
USSR, or South Africa. 3 = trade union. 4 marriage, matrimony.
5 concord, agreement (lived together in perfect union). 6
(Union) a a general social club and debating society at some
universities and colleges. b the buildings or accommodation of
such a society. 7 Math. the totality of the members of two or
more sets. 8 Brit. hist. a two or more parishes consolidated
for the administration of the poor laws. b (in full union
workhouse) a workhouse erected by this. 9 Brit. an association
of independent (esp. Congregational or Baptist) churches for
purposes of cooperation. 10 a part of a flag with a device
emblematic of union, normally occupying the upper corner next to
the staff. 11 a joint or coupling for pipes etc. 12 a fabric
of mixed materials, e.g. cotton with linen or silk.
Ьunion-bashing Brit. colloq. active opposition to trade unions
and their rights. union catalogue a catalogue of the combined
holdings of several libraries. union down (of a flag) hoisted
with the union below as a signal of distress. Union Jack (or
flag) the national ensign of the United Kingdom formed by the
union of the crosses of St George, St Andrew, and St Patrick.
union jack (in the US) a jack consisting of the union from the
national flag. union shop a shop, factory, trade, etc., in
which employees must belong to a trade union or join one within
an agreed time. union suit US a single undergarment for the
body and legs; combinations. [ME f. OF union or eccl.L unio
unity f. L unus one]
unionist n. 1 a a member of a trade union. b an advocate of trade
unions. 2 (usu. Unionist) an advocate of union, esp.: a a
person opposed to the rupture of the parliamentary union between
Great Britain and Northern Ireland (formerly between Great
Britain and Ireland). b hist. a person who opposed secession
during the American Civil War. ЬЬunionism n. unionistic adj.
unionize v.tr. & intr. (also -ise) bring or come under trade-union
organization or rules. ЬЬunionization n.
un-ionized
adj. (also -ised) not ionized.
uniparous adj. 1 producing one offspring at a birth. 2 Bot. having one
axis or branch.
uniped n. & adj. --n. a person having only one foot or leg. --adj.
one-footed, one-legged. [UNI- + pes pedis foot]
unipersonal
adj. (of the Deity) existing only as one person.
uniplanar adj. lying in one plane.
unipod n. a one-legged support for a camera etc. [UNI-, after TRIPOD]
unipolar adj. 1 (esp. of an electric or magnetic apparatus) showing only
one kind of polarity. 2 Biol. (of a nerve cell etc.) having
only one pole. ЬЬunipolarity n.
unique adj. & n. --adj. 1 of which there is only one; unequalled;
having no like, equal, or parallel (his position was unique;
this vase is considered unique). 2 disp. unusual, remarkable
(the most unique man I ever met). --n. a unique thing or
person. ЬЬuniquely adv. uniqueness n. [F f. L unicus f. unus
one]
unironed adj. (esp. of clothing, linen, etc.) not ironed.
uniserial adj. Bot. & Zool. arranged in one row.
unisex adj. (of clothing, hairstyles, etc.) designed to be suitable
for both sexes.
unisexual adj. 1 a of one sex. b Bot. having stamens or pistils but not
both. 2 unisex. ЬЬunisexuality n. unisexually adv.
unison n. & adj. --n. 1 Mus. a coincidence in pitch of sounds or
notes. b this regarded as an interval. 2 Mus. a combination of
voices or instruments at the same pitch or at pitches differing
by one or more octaves (sang in unison). 3 agreement, concord
(acted in perfect unison). --adj. Mus. coinciding in pitch.
Ьunison string a string tuned in unison with another string and
meant to be sounded with it. ЬЬunisonant adj. unisonous adj.
[OF unison or LL unisonus (as UNI-, sonus SOUND(1))]
unissued adj. not issued.
unit n. 1 a an individual thing, person, or group regarded as single
and complete, esp. for purposes of calculation. b each of the
(smallest) separate individuals or groups into which a complex
whole may be analysed (the family as the unit of society). 2 a
quantity chosen as a standard in terms of which other quantities
may be expressed (unit of heat; SI unit; mass per unit volume).
3 Brit. the smallest share in a unit trust. 4 a device with a
specified function forming part of a complex mechanism. 5 a
piece of furniture for fitting with others like it or made of
complementary parts. 6 a group with a special function in an
organization. 7 a group of buildings, wards, etc., in a
hospital. 8 the number 'one'. Ьunit cell Crystallog. the
smallest repeating group of atoms, ions, or molecules in a
crystal. unit cost the cost of producing one item of
manufacture. unit-holder Brit. a person with a holding in a
unit trust. unit price the price charged for each unit of goods
supplied. unit trust Brit. an investment company investing
combined contributions from many persons in various securities
and paying them dividends in proportion to their holdings. [L
unus, prob. after DIGIT]
Unitarian n. & adj. --n. 1 a person who believes that God is not a
Trinity but one person. 2 a member of a religious body
maintaining this and advocating freedom from formal dogma or
doctrine. --adj. of or relating to the Unitarians.
ЬЬUnitarianism n. [mod.L unitarius f. L unitas UNITY]
unitary adj. 1 of a unit or units. 2 marked by unity or uniformity.
ЬЬunitarily adv. unitarity n.
unite v. 1 tr. & intr. join together; make or become one; combine. 2
tr. & intr. join together for a common purpose or action (united
in their struggle against injustice). 3 tr. & intr. join in
marriage. 4 tr. possess (qualities, features, etc.) in
combination (united anger with mercy). 5 intr. & tr. form or
cause to form a physical or chemical whole (oil will not unite
with water). ЬUnited Brethren Eccl. the Moravians. United
Kingdom Great Britain and Northern Ireland (until 1922, Great
Britain and Ireland). United Nations (orig., in 1942) those
united against the Axis powers in the war of 1939-45, (later) a
supranational peace-seeking organization of these and many other
States. United Provinces hist. 1 the seven provinces united in
1579 and forming the basis of the republic of the Netherlands.
2 an Indian administrative division formed by the union of Agra
and Oudh and called Uttar Pradesh since 1950. United Reformed
Church a Church formed in 1972 from the English Presbyterian and
Congregational Churches. United States (in full United States
of America) a federal republic of 50 States, mostly in N.
America and including Alaska and Hawaii. ЬЬunitedly adv.
unitive adj. unitively adv. [ME f. L unire unit- f. unus one]
unity n. (pl. -ies) 1 oneness; being one, single, or individual;
being formed of parts that constitute a whole; due
interconnection and coherence of parts (disturbs the unity of
the idea; the pictures lack unity; national unity). 2 harmony
or concord between persons etc. (lived together in unity). 3 a
thing forming a complex whole (a person regarded as a unity). 4
Math. the number 'one', the factor that leaves unchanged the
quantity on which it operates. 5 Theatr. each of the three
dramatic principles requiring limitation of the supposed time of
a drama to that occupied in acting it or to a single day (unity
of time), use of one scene throughout (unity of place), and
concentration on the development of a single plot (unity of
action). [ME f. OF unit‚ f. L unitas -tatis f. unus one]
Univ. abbr. University.
univalent adj. & n. --adj. 1 Chem. having a valency of one. 2 Biol. (of
a chromosome) remaining unpaired during meiosis. --n. Biol. a
univalent chromosome. [UNI- + valent- pres. part. stem (as
VALENCE(1))]
univalve adj. & n. Zool. --adj. having one valve. --n. a univalve
mollusc.
universal adj. & n. --adj. 1 of, belonging to, or done etc. by all
persons or things in the world or in the class concerned;
applicable to all cases (the feeling was universal; met with
universal approval). 2 Logic (of a proposition) in which
something is asserted of all of a class (opp. PARTICULAR).
--n. 1 Logic a universal proposition. 2 Philos. a a term or
concept of general application. b a nature or essence signified
by a general term. Ьuniversal agent an agent empowered to do
all that can be delegated. universal compass a compass with
legs that may be extended for large circles. universal coupling
(or joint) a coupling or joint which can transmit rotary power
by a shaft at any selected angle. universal language an
artificial language intended for use by all nations. universal
proposition Logic a proposition in which the predicate is
affirmed or denied of all members of a class (opp. particular
proposition). universal suffrage a suffrage extending to all
adults with minor exceptions. universal time = GREENWICH MEAN
TIME. ЬЬuniversality n. universalize v.tr. (also -ise).
universalization n. universally adv. [ME f. OF universal or L
universalis (as UNIVERSE)]
universalist
n. Theol. 1 a person who holds that all mankind will
eventually be saved. 2 a member of an organized body of
Christians who hold this. ЬЬuniversalism n. universalistic
adj.
universe n. 1 all existing things; the whole creation; the cosmos. 2
all mankind. 3 Statistics & Logic all the objects under
consideration. Ьuniverse of discourse Logic = sense 3. [F
univers f. L universum neut. of universus combined into one,
whole f. UNI- + versus past part. of vertere turn]
university
n. (pl. -ies) 1 an educational institution designed for
instruction, examination, or both, of students in many branches
of advanced learning, conferring degrees in various faculties,
and often embodying colleges and similar institutions. 2 the
members of this collectively. 3 a team, crew, etc.,
representing a university. Ьat university studying at a
university. [ME f. OF universit‚ f. L universitas -tatis the
whole (world), in LL college, guild (as UNIVERSE)]
univocal adj. & n. --adj. (of a word etc.) having only one proper
meaning. --n. a univocal word. ЬЬunivocality n. univocally
adv.
unjoin v.tr. detach from being joined; separate.
unjoined adj. not joined.
unjoint v.tr. 1 separate the joints of. 2 disunite.
unjust adj. not just, contrary to justice or fairness. ЬЬunjustly
adv. unjustness n.
unjustifiable
adj. not justifiable. ЬЬunjustifiably adv.
unjustified
adj. not justified.
unkempt adj. 1 untidy, of neglected appearance. 2 uncombed,
dishevelled. ЬЬunkemptly adv. unkemptness n. [UN-(1) +
archaic kempt past part. of kemb comb f. OE cemban]
unkept adj. 1 (of a promise, law, etc.) not observed; disregarded. 2
not tended; neglected.
unkillable
adj. that cannot be killed.
unkind adj. 1 not kind. 2 harsh, cruel. 3 unpleasant. ЬЬunkindly
adv. unkindness n.
unking v.tr. 1 deprive of the position of king; dethrone. 2 deprive
(a country) of a king.
unkink v. 1 tr. remove the kinks from; straighten. 2 intr. lose
kinks; become straight.
unknit v.tr. (unknitted, unknitting) separate (things joined, knotted,
or interlocked).
unknot v.tr. (unknotted, unknotting) release the knot or knots of,
untie.
unknowable
adj. & n. --adj. that cannot be known. --n. 1 an unknowable
thing. 2 (the Unknowable) the postulated absolute or ultimate
reality.
unknowing adj. & n. --adj. (often foll. by of) not knowing; ignorant,
unconscious. --n. ignorance (cloud of unknowing).
ЬЬunknowingly adv. unknowingness n.
unknown adj. & n. --adj. (often foll. by to) not known, unfamiliar (his
purpose was unknown to me). --n. 1 an unknown thing or person.
2 an unknown quantity (equation in two unknowns). Ьunknown
country see COUNTRY. unknown quantity a person or thing whose
nature, significance, etc., cannot be determined. Unknown
Soldier an unidentified representative member of a country's
armed forces killed in war, given burial with special honours in
a national memorial. unknown to without the knowledge of (did
it unknown to me). Unknown Warrior = Unknown Soldier.
ЬЬunknownness n.
unlabelled
adj. (US unlabeled) not labelled; without a label.
unlaboured
adj. (US unlabored) not laboured.
unlace v.tr. 1 undo the lace or laces of. 2 unfasten or loosen in
this way.
unlade v.tr. 1 take the cargo out of (a ship). 2 discharge (a cargo
etc.) from a ship.
unladen adj. not laden. Ьunladen weight the weight of a vehicle etc.
when not loaded with goods etc.
unladylike
adj. not ladylike.
unlaid(1) adj. not laid.
unlaid(2) past and past part. of UNLAY.
unlamented
adj. not lamented.
unlash v.tr. unfasten (a thing lashed down etc.).
unlatch v. 1 tr. release the latch of. 2 tr. & intr. open or be opened
in this way.
unlawful adj. not lawful; illegal, not permissible. ЬЬunlawfully adv.
unlawfulness n.
unlay v.tr. (past and past part. unlaid) Naut. untwist (a rope).
[UN-(2) + LAY(1)]
unleaded adj. 1 (of petrol etc.) without added lead. 2 not covered,
weighted, or framed with lead. 3 Printing not spaced with
leads.
unlearn v.tr. (past and past part. unlearned or unlearnt) 1 discard
from one's memory. 2 rid oneself of (a habit, false
information, etc.).
unlearned(1)
adj. not well educated; untaught, ignorant. ЬЬunlearnedly adv.
unlearned(2)
adj. (also unlearnt) that has not been learnt.
unleash v.tr. 1 release from a leash or restraint. 2 set free to
engage in pursuit or attack.
unleavened
adj. not leavened; made without yeast or other raising agent.
unless conj. if not; except when (shall go unless I hear from you;
always walked unless I had a bicycle). [ON or IN + LESS, assim.
to UN-(1)]
unlettered
adj. 1 illiterate. 2 not well educated.
unliberated
adj. not liberated.
unlicensed
adj. not licensed, esp. without a licence to sell alcoholic
drink.
unlighted adj. 1 not provided with light. 2 not set burning.
unlike adj. & prep. --adj. 1 not like; different from (is unlike both
his parents). 2 uncharacteristic of (such behaviour is unlike
him). 3 dissimilar, different. --prep. differently from (acts
quite unlike anyone else). Ьunlike signs Math. plus and minus.
ЬЬunlikeness n. [perh. f. ON ЈlЎkr, OE ungelic: see LIKE(1)]
unlikeable
adj. (also unlikable) not easy to like; unpleasant.
unlikely adj. (unlikelier, unlikeliest) 1 improbable (unlikely tale). 2
(foll. by to + infin.) not to be expected to do something (he's
unlikely to be available). 3 unpromising (an unlikely
candidate). ЬЬunlikelihood n. unlikeliness n.
unlimited adj. without limit; unrestricted; very great in number or
quantity (has unlimited possibilities; an unlimited expanse of
sea). ЬЬunlimitedly adv. unlimitedness n.
unlined(1)
adj. 1 (of paper etc.) without lines. 2 (of a face etc.)
without wrinkles.
unlined(2)
adj. (of a garment etc.) without lining.
unlink v.tr. 1 undo the links of (a chain etc.). 2 detach or set free
by undoing or unfastening a link or chain.
unliquidated
adj. not liquidated.
unlisted adj. not included in a published list, esp. of Stock Exchange
prices or of telephone numbers.
unlit adj. not lit.
unlivable adj. that cannot be lived or lived in.
unlived-in
adj. 1 appearing to be uninhabited. 2 unused by the
inhabitants.
unload v.tr. 1 (also absol.) remove a load from (a vehicle etc.). 2
remove (a load) from a vehicle etc. 3 remove the charge from (a
firearm etc.). 4 colloq. get rid of. 5 (often foll. by on)
colloq. a divulge (information). b (also absol.) give vent to
(feelings). ЬЬunloader n.
unlock v.tr. 1 a release the lock of (a door, box, etc.). b release
or disclose by unlocking. 2 release thoughts, feelings, etc.,
from (one's mind etc.).
unlocked adj. not locked.
unlooked-for
adj. unexpected, unforeseen.
unloose v.tr. (also unloosen) loose; set free.
unlovable adj. not lovable.
unloved adj. not loved.
unlovely adj. not attractive; unpleasant, ugly. ЬЬunloveliness n.
unloving adj. not loving. ЬЬunlovingly adv. unlovingness n.
unlucky adj. (unluckier, unluckiest) 1 not fortunate or successful. 2
wretched. 3 bringing bad luck. 4 ill-judged. ЬЬunluckily adv.
unluckiness n.
unmade adj. 1 not made. 2 destroyed, annulled.
unmake v.tr. (past and past part. unmade) undo the making of;
destroy, depose, annul.
unmalleable
adj. not malleable.
unman v.tr. (unmanned, unmanning) 1 deprive of supposed manly
qualities (e.g. self-control, courage); cause to weep etc.,
discourage. 2 deprive (a ship etc.) of men.
unmanageable
adj. not (easily) managed, manipulated, or controlled.
ЬЬunmanageableness n. unmanageably adv.
unmanly adj. not manly. ЬЬunmanliness n.
unmanned adj. 1 not manned. 2 overcome by emotion etc.
unmannerly
adj. 1 without good manners. 2 (of actions, speech, etc.)
showing a lack of good manners. ЬЬunmannerliness n.
unmarked adj. 1 not marked. 2 not noticed.
unmarketable
adj. not marketable.
unmarried adj. not married; single.
unmask v. 1 tr. a remove the mask from. b expose the true character
of. 2 intr. remove one's mask. ЬЬunmasker n.
unmatchable
adj. that cannot be matched. ЬЬunmatchably adv.
unmatched adj. not matched or equalled.
unmatured adj. not yet matured.
unmeaning adj. having no meaning or significance; meaningless.
ЬЬunmeaningly adv. unmeaningness n.
unmeant adj. not meant or intended.
unmeasurable
adj. that cannot be measured. ЬЬunmeasurably adv.
unmeasured
adj. 1 not measured. 2 limitless.
unmelodious
adj. not melodious; discordant. ЬЬunmelodiously adv.
unmelted adj. not melted.
unmemorable
adj. not memorable. ЬЬunmemorably adv.
unmentionable
adj. & n. --adj. that cannot (properly) be mentioned. --n. 1
(in pl.) joc. a undergarments. b archaic trousers. 2 a person
or thing not to be mentioned. ЬЬunmentionability n.
unmentionableness n. unmentionably adv.
unmentioned
adj. not mentioned.
unmerchantable
adj. not merchantable.
unmerciful
adj. merciless. ЬЬunmercifully adv. unmercifulness n.
unmerited adj. not merited.
unmet adj. (of a quota, demand, goal, etc.) not achieved or
fulfilled.
unmetalled
adj. Brit. (of a road etc.) not made with road-metal.
unmethodical
adj. not methodical. ЬЬunmethodically adv.
unmetrical
adj. not metrical.
unmilitary
adj. not military.
unmindful adj. (often foll. by of) not mindful. ЬЬunmindfully adv.
unmindfulness n.
unmissable
adj. that cannot or should not be missed.
unmistakable
adj. that cannot be mistaken or doubted, clear.
ЬЬunmistakability n. unmistakableness n. unmistakably adv.
unmistaken
adj. not mistaken; right, correct.
unmitigated
adj. 1 not mitigated or modified. 2 absolute, unqualified (an
unmitigated disaster). ЬЬunmitigatedly adv.
unmixed adj. not mixed. Ьunmixed blessing a thing having advantages
and no disadvantages.
unmodified
adj. not modified.
unmodulated
adj. not modulated.
unmolested
adj. not molested.
unmoor v.tr. 1 (also absol.) release the moorings of (a vessel). 2
weigh all but one anchor of (a vessel).
unmoral adj. not concerned with morality (cf. IMMORAL). ЬЬunmorality
n. unmorally adv.
unmotherly
adj. not motherly.
unmotivated
adj. without motivation; without a motive.
unmounted adj. not mounted.
unmourned adj. not mourned.
unmoved adj. 1 not moved. 2 not changed in one's purpose. 3 not
affected by emotion. ЬЬunmovable adj. (also unmoveable).
unmown adj. not mown.
unmuffle v.tr. 1 remove a muffler from (a face, bell, etc.). 2 free of
something that muffles or conceals.
unmurmuring
adj. not complaining. ЬЬunmurmuringly adv.
unmusical adj. 1 not pleasing to the ear. 2 unskilled in or indifferent
to music. ЬЬunmusicality n. unmusically adv. unmusicalness n.
unmutilated
adj. not mutilated.
unmuzzle v.tr. 1 remove a muzzle from. 2 relieve of an obligation to
remain silent.
unnail v.tr. unfasten by the removal of nails.
unnameable
adj. that cannot be named, esp. too bad to be named.
unnamed adj. not named.
unnatural adj. 1 contrary to nature or the usual course of nature; not
normal. 2 a lacking natural feelings. b extremely cruel or
wicked. 3 artificial. 4 affected. ЬЬunnaturally adv.
unnaturalness n.
unnavigable
adj. not navigable. ЬЬunnavigability n.
unnecessary
adj. & n. --adj. 1 not necessary. 2 more than is necessary
(with unnecessary care). --n. (pl. -ies) (usu. in pl.) an
unnecessary thing. ЬЬunnecessarily adv. unnecessariness n.
unneeded adj. not needed.
unneighbourly
adj. not neighbourly. ЬЬunneighbourliness n.
unnerve v.tr. deprive of strength or resolution. ЬЬunnervingly adv.
unnoticeable
adj. not easily seen or noticed. ЬЬunnoticeably adv.
unnoticed adj. not noticed.
unnumbered
adj. 1 not marked with a number. 2 not counted. 3 countless.
UNO abbr. United Nations Organization.
unobjectionable
adj. not objectionable; acceptable. ЬЬunobjectionableness n.
unobjectionably adv.
unobliging
adj. not obliging; unhelpful, uncooperative.
unobscured
adj. not obscured.
unobservable
adj. not observable; imperceptible.
unobservant
adj. not observant. ЬЬunobservantly adv.
unobserved
adj. not observed. ЬЬunobservedly adv.
unobstructed
adj. not obstructed.
unobtainable
adj. that cannot be obtained.
unobtrusive
adj. not making oneself or itself noticed. ЬЬunobtrusively
adv. unobtrusiveness n.
unoccupied
adj. not occupied.
unoffending
adj. not offending; harmless, innocent. ЬЬunoffended adj.
unofficial
adj. 1 not officially authorized or confirmed. 2 not
characteristic of officials. Ьunofficial strike a strike not
formally approved by the strikers' trade union. ЬЬunofficially
adv.
unoiled adj. not oiled.
unopened adj. not opened.
unopposed adj. not opposed.
unordained
adj. not ordained.
unordinary
adj. not ordinary.
unorganized
adj. (also -ised) not organized (cf. DISORGANIZE).
unoriginal
adj. lacking originality; derivative. ЬЬunoriginality n.
unoriginally adv.
unornamental
adj. not ornamental; plain.
unornamented
adj. not ornamented.
unorthodox
adj. not orthodox. ЬЬunorthodoxly adv. unorthodoxy n.
unostentatious
adj. not ostentatious. ЬЬunostentatiously adv.
unostentatiousness n.
unowned adj. 1 unacknowledged. 2 having no owner.
unpack v.tr. 1 (also absol.) open and remove the contents of (a
package, luggage, etc.). 2 take (a thing) out from a package
etc. ЬЬunpacker n.
unpaged adj. with pages not numbered.
unpaid adj. (of a debt or a person) not paid.
unpainted adj. not painted.
unpaired adj. 1 not arranged in pairs. 2 not forming one of a pair.
unpalatable
adj. 1 not pleasant to taste. 2 (of an idea, suggestion, etc.)
disagreeable, distasteful. ЬЬunpalatability n. unpalatableness
n.
unparalleled
adj. having no parallel or equal.
unpardonable
adj. that cannot be pardoned. ЬЬunpardonableness n.
unpardonably adv.
unparliamentary
adj. contrary to proper parliamentary usage. Ьunparliamentary
language oaths or abuse.
unpasteurized
adj. not pasteurized.
unpatented
adj. not patented.
unpatriotic
adj. not patriotic. ЬЬunpatriotically adv.
unpaved adj. not paved.
unpeeled adj. not peeled.
unpeg v.tr. (unpegged, unpegging) 1 unfasten by the removal of pegs.
2 cease to maintain or stabilize (prices etc.).
unpeople v. & n. --v.tr. depopulate. --n.pl. unpersons.
unperceived
adj. not perceived; unobserved.
unperceptive
adj. not perceptive. ЬЬunperceptively adv. unperceptiveness
n.
unperfected
adj. not perfected.
unperforated
adj. not perforated.
unperformed
adj. not performed.
unperfumed
adj. not perfumed.
unperson n. a person whose name or existence is denied or ignored.
unpersuadable
adj. not able to be persuaded; obstinate.
unpersuaded
adj. not persuaded.
unpersuasive
adj. not persuasive. ЬЬunpersuasively adv.
unperturbed
adj. not perturbed. ЬЬunperturbedly adv.
unphilosophical
adj. (also unphilosophic) 1 not according to philosophical
principles. 2 lacking philosophy. ЬЬunphilosophically adv.
unphysiological
adj. (also unphysiologic) not in accordance with normal
physiological functioning. ЬЬunphysiologically adv.
unpick v.tr. undo the sewing of (stitches, a garment, etc.).
unpicked adj. 1 not selected. 2 (of a flower) not plucked.
unpicturesque
adj. not picturesque.
unpin v.tr. (unpinned, unpinning) 1 unfasten or detach by removing a
pin or pins. 2 Chess release (a piece that has been pinned).
unpitied adj. not pitied.
unpitying adj. not pitying. ЬЬunpityingly adv.
unplaceable
adj. that cannot be placed or classified (his accent was
unplaceable).
unplaced adj. not placed, esp. not placed as one of the first three
finishing in a race etc.
unplanned adj. not planned.
unplanted adj. not planted.
unplausible
adj. not plausible.
unplayable
adj. 1 Sport (of a ball) that cannot be struck or returned. 2
that cannot be played. ЬЬunplayably adv.
unpleasant
adj. not pleasant; displeasing; disagreeable. ЬЬunpleasantly
adv. unpleasantness n.
unpleasing
adj. not pleasing. ЬЬunpleasingly adv.
unploughed
adj. not ploughed.
unplucked adj. not plucked.
unplug v.tr. (unplugged, unplugging) 1 disconnect (an electrical
device) by removing its plug from the socket. 2 unstop.
unplumbed adj. 1 not plumbed. 2 not fully explored or understood.
ЬЬunplumbable adj.
unpoetic adj. (also unpoetical) not poetic.
unpointed adj. 1 having no point or points. 2 a not punctuated. b (of
written Hebrew etc.) without vowel points. 3 (of masonry or
brickwork) not pointed.
unpolished
adj. 1 not polished; rough. 2 without refinement; crude.
unpolitic adj. impolitic, unwise.
unpolitical
adj. not concerned with politics. ЬЬunpolitically adv.
unpolled adj. 1 not having voted at an election. 2 not included in an
opinion poll.
unpolluted
adj. not polluted.
unpopular adj. not popular; not liked by the public or by people in
general. ЬЬunpopularity n. unpopularly adv.
unpopulated
adj. not populated.
unpossessed
adj. 1 (foll. by of) not in possession of. 2 not possessed.
unpractical
adj. 1 not practical. 2 (of a person) not having practical
skill. ЬЬunpracticality n. unpractically adv.
unpractised
adj. (US unpracticed) 1 not experienced or skilled. 2 not put
into practice.
unprecedented
adj. 1 having no precedent; unparalleled. 2 novel.
ЬЬunprecedentedly adv.
unpredictable
adj. that cannot be predicted. ЬЬunpredictability n.
unpredictableness n. unpredictably adv.
unpredicted
adj. not predicted or foretold.
unprejudiced
adj. not prejudiced.
unpremeditated
adj. not previously thought over, not deliberately planned,
unintentional. ЬЬunpremeditatedly adv.
unprepared
adj. not prepared (in advance); not ready. ЬЬunpreparedly adv.
unpreparedness n.
unprepossessing
adj. not prepossessing; unattractive.
unprescribed
adj. (esp. of drugs) not prescribed.
unpresentable
adj. not presentable.
unpressed adj. not pressed, esp. (of clothing) unironed.
unpresuming
adj. not presuming; modest.
unpresumptuous
adj. not presumptuous.
unpretending
adj. unpretentious. ЬЬunpretendingly adv. unpretendingness n.
unpretentious
adj. not making a great display; simple, modest.
ЬЬunpretentiously adv. unpretentiousness n.
unpriced adj. not having a price or prices fixed, marked, or stated.
unprimed adj. not primed.
unprincipled
adj. lacking or not based on good moral principles.
ЬЬunprincipledness n.
unprintable
adj. that cannot be printed, esp. because too indecent or
libellous or blasphemous. ЬЬunprintably adv.
unprinted adj. not printed.
unprivileged
adj. not privileged.
unproblematic
adj. causing no difficulty. ЬЬunproblematically adv.
unproclaimed
adj. not proclaimed.
unprocurable
adj. that cannot be procured.
unproductive
adj. not productive. ЬЬunproductively adv. unproductiveness
n.
unprofessional
adj. 1 contrary to professional standards of behaviour etc. 2
not belonging to a profession; amateur. ЬЬunprofessionally adv.
unprofitable
adj. not profitable. ЬЬunprofitableness n. unprofitably adv.
unprogressive
adj. not progressive.
unpromising
adj. not likely to turn out well. ЬЬunpromisingly adv.
unprompted
adj. spontaneous.
unpronounceable
adj. that cannot be pronounced. ЬЬunpronounceably adv.
unpropitious
adj. not propitious. ЬЬunpropitiously adv.
unprosperous
adj. not prosperous. ЬЬunprosperously adv.
unprotected
adj. not protected. ЬЬunprotectedness n.
unprotesting
adj. not protesting. ЬЬunprotestingly adv.
unprovable
adj. that cannot be proved. ЬЬunprovability n. unprovableness
n.
unproved adj. (also unproven) not proved.
unprovided
adj. (usu. foll. by with) not furnished, supplied, or equipped.
unprovoked
adj. (of a person or act) without provocation.
unpublished
adj. not published. ЬЬunpublishable adj.
unpunctual
adj. not punctual. ЬЬunpunctuality n.
unpunctuated
adj. not punctuated.
unpunishable
adj. that cannot be punished.
unpunished
adj. not punished.
unpurified
adj. not purified.
unputdownable
adj. colloq. (of a book) so engrossing that one has to go on
reading it.
unqualified
adj. 1 not competent (unqualified to give an answer). 2 not
legally or officially qualified (an unqualified practitioner).
3 not modified or restricted; complete (unqualified assent;
unqualified success).
unquenchable
adj. that cannot be quenched. ЬЬunquenchably adv.
unquenched
adj. not quenched.
unquestionable
adj. that cannot be disputed or doubted. ЬЬunquestionability
n. unquestionableness n. unquestionably adv.
unquestioned
adj. 1 not disputed or doubted; definite, certain. 2 not
interrogated.
unquestioning
adj. 1 asking no questions. 2 done etc. without asking
questions. ЬЬunquestioningly adv.
unquote v.tr. (as int.) (in dictation, reading aloud, etc.) indicate
the presence of closing quotation marks (cf. QUOTE v. 5 b).
unquoted adj. not quoted, esp. on the Stock Exchange.
unravel v. (unravelled, unravelling; US unraveled, unraveling) 1 tr.
cause to be no longer ravelled, tangled, or intertwined. 2 tr.
probe and solve (a mystery etc.). 3 tr. undo (a fabric, esp. a
knitted one). 4 intr. become disentangled or unknitted.
unreachable
adj. that cannot be reached. ЬЬunreachableness n. unreachably
adv.
unread adj. 1 (of a book etc.) not read. 2 (of a person) not
well-read.
unreadable
adj. 1 too dull or too difficult to be worth reading. 2
illegible. ЬЬunreadability n. unreadably adv.
unready(1)
adj. 1 not ready. 2 not prompt in action. ЬЬunreadily adv.
unreadiness n.
unready(2)
adj. archaic lacking good advice; rash (Ethelred the Unready).
[UN-(1) + REDE, assim. to UNREADY(1)]
unreal adj. 1 not real. 2 imaginary, illusory. 3 US & Austral. sl.
incredible, amazing. ЬЬunreality n. unreally adv.
unrealistic
adj. not realistic. ЬЬunrealistically adv.
unrealizable
adj. that cannot be realized.
unrealized
adj. not realized.
unreason n. lack of reasonable thought or action. [ME, = injustice, f.
UN-(1) + REASON]
unreasonable
adj. 1 going beyond the limits of what is reasonable or
equitable (unreasonable demands). 2 not guided by or listening
to reason. ЬЬunreasonableness n. unreasonably adv.
unreasoned
adj. not reasoned.
unreasoning
adj. not reasoning. ЬЬunreasoningly adv.
unreceptive
adj. not receptive.
unreciprocated
adj. not reciprocated.
unreckoned
adj. not calculated or taken into account.
unreclaimed
adj. not reclaimed.
unrecognizable
adj. (also -isable) that cannot be recognized.
ЬЬunrecognizableness n. unrecognizably adv.
unrecognized
adj. (also -ised) not recognized.
unrecompensed
adj. not recompensed.
unreconciled
adj. not reconciled.
unreconstructed
adj. 1 not reconciled or converted to the current political
orthodoxy. 2 not rebuilt.
unrecorded
adj. not recorded. ЬЬunrecordable adj.
unrectified
adj. not rectified.
unredeemable
adj. that cannot be redeemed. ЬЬunredeemably adv.
unredeemed
adj. not redeemed.
unredressed
adj. not redressed.
unreel v.tr. & intr. unwind from a reel.
unreeve v.tr. (past unrove) withdraw (a rope etc.) from being reeved.
unrefined adj. not refined.
unreflecting
adj. not thoughtful. ЬЬunreflectingly adv. unreflectingness
n.
unreformed
adj. not reformed.
unregarded
adj. not regarded.
unregenerate
adj. not regenerate; obstinately wrong or bad. ЬЬunregeneracy
n. unregenerately adv.
unregistered
adj. not registered.
unregulated
adj. not regulated.
unrehearsed
adj. not rehearsed.
unrelated adj. not related. ЬЬunrelatedness n.
unrelaxed adj. not relaxed.
unrelenting
adj. 1 not relenting or yielding. 2 unmerciful. 3 not abating
or relaxing. ЬЬunrelentingly adv. unrelentingness n.
unreliable
adj. not reliable; erratic. ЬЬunreliability n. unreliableness
n. unreliably adv.
unrelieved
adj. 1 lacking the relief given by contrast or variation. 2
not aided or assisted. ЬЬunrelievedly adv.
unreligious
adj. 1 not concerned with religion. 2 irreligious.
unremarkable
adj. not remarkable; uninteresting. ЬЬunremarkably adv.
unremembered
adj. not remembered; forgotten.
unremitting
adj. never relaxing or slackening, incessant. ЬЬunremittingly
adv. unremittingness n.
unremunerative
adj. bringing no, or not enough, profit or income.
ЬЬunremuneratively adv. unremunerativeness n.
unrenewable
adj. that cannot be renewed. ЬЬunrenewed adj.
unrepealed
adj. not repealed.
unrepeatable
adj. 1 that cannot be done, made, or said again. 2 too
indecent to be said again. ЬЬunrepeatability n.
unrepentant
adj. not repentant, impenitent. ЬЬunrepentantly adv.
unreported
adj. not reported.
unrepresentative
adj. not representative. ЬЬunrepresentativeness n.
unrepresented
adj. not represented.
unreproved
adj. not reproved.
unrequested
adj. not requested or asked for.
unrequited
adj. (of love etc.) not returned. ЬЬunrequitedly adv.
unrequitedness n.
unreserve n. lack of reserve; frankness.
unreserved
adj. 1 not reserved (unreserved seats). 2 without
reservations; absolute (unreserved confidence). 3 free from
reserve (an unreserved nature). ЬЬunreservedly adv.
unreservedness n.
unresisted
adj. not resisted. ЬЬunresistedly adv.
unresisting
adj. not resisting. ЬЬunresistingly adv. unresistingness n.
unresolvable
adj. (of a problem, conflict, etc.) that cannot be resolved.
unresolved
adj. 1 a uncertain how to act, irresolute. b uncertain in
opinion, undecided. 2 (of questions etc.) undetermined,
undecided, unsolved. 3 not broken up or dissolved.
ЬЬunresolvedly adv. unresolvedness n.
unresponsive
adj. not responsive. ЬЬunresponsively adv. unresponsiveness
n.
unrest n. 1 lack of rest. 2 restlessness, disturbance, agitation.
unrested adj. not refreshed by rest.
unrestful adj. not restful. ЬЬunrestfully adv.
unresting adj. not resting. ЬЬunrestingly adv.
unrestored
adj. not restored.
unrestrained
adj. not restrained. ЬЬunrestrainedly adv. unrestrainedness
n.
unrestricted
adj. not restricted. ЬЬunrestrictedly adv. unrestrictedness
n.
unreturned
adj. 1 not reciprocated or responded to. 2 not having returned
or been returned.
unrevealed
adj. not revealed; secret.
unreversed
adj. (esp. of a decision etc.) not reversed.
unrevised adj. not revised; in an original form.
unrevoked adj. not revoked or annulled; still in force.
unrewarded
adj. not rewarded.
unrewarding
adj. not rewarding or satisfying.
unrhymed adj. not rhymed.
unrhythmical
adj. not rhythmical. ЬЬunrhythmically adv.
unridable adj. that cannot be ridden.
unridden adj. not ridden.
unriddle v.tr. solve or explain (a mystery etc.). ЬЬunriddler n.
unrig v.tr. (unrigged, unrigging) 1 remove the rigging from (a ship).
2 dial. undress.
unrighteous
adj. not righteous; unjust, wicked, dishonest. ЬЬunrighteously
adv. unrighteousness n. [OE unrihtwis (as UN-(1), RIGHTEOUS)]
unrip v.tr. (unripped, unripping) open by ripping.
unripe adj. not ripe. ЬЬunripeness n.
unrisen adj. that has not risen.
unrivalled
adj. (US unrivaled) having no equal; peerless.
unrivet v.tr. (unriveted, unriveting) 1 undo, unfasten, or detach by
the removal of rivets. 2 loosen, relax, undo, detach.
unrobe v.tr. & intr. 1 disrobe. 2 undress.
unroll v.tr. & intr. 1 open out from a rolled-up state. 2 display or
be displayed in this form.
unromantic
adj. not romantic. ЬЬunromantically adv.
unroof v.tr. remove the roof of.
unroofed adj. not provided with a roof.
unroot v.tr. 1 uproot. 2 eradicate.
unrope v. 1 tr. detach by undoing a rope. 2 intr. Mountaineering
detach oneself from a rope.
unrounded adj. not rounded.
unrove past of UNREEVE.
unroyal adj. not royal.
unruffled adj. 1 not agitated or disturbed; calm. 2 not physically
ruffled.
unruled adj. 1 not ruled or governed. 2 not having ruled lines.
unruly adj. (unrulier, unruliest) not easily controlled or
disciplined, disorderly. ЬЬunruliness n. [ME f. UN-(1) + ruly
f. RULE]
UNRWA abbr. United Nations Relief and Works Agency.
unsaddle v.tr. 1 remove the saddle from (a horse etc.). 2 dislodge from
a saddle.
unsafe adj. not safe. ЬЬunsafely adv. unsafeness n.
unsaid(1) adj. not said or uttered.
unsaid(2) past and past part. of UNSAY.
unsalaried
adj. not salaried.
unsaleable
adj. not saleable. ЬЬunsaleability n.
unsalted adj. not salted.
unsanctified
adj. not sanctified.
unsanctioned
adj. not sanctioned.
unsanitary
adj. not sanitary.
unsatisfactory
adj. not satisfactory; poor, unacceptable. ЬЬunsatisfactorily
adv. unsatisfactoriness n.
unsatisfied
adj. not satisfied. ЬЬunsatisfiedness n.
unsatisfying
adj. not satisfying. ЬЬunsatisfyingly adv.
unsaturated
adj. 1 Chem. (of a compound, esp. a fat or oil) having double
or triple bonds in its molecule and therefore capable of further
reaction. 2 not saturated. ЬЬunsaturation n.
unsaved adj. not saved.
unsavoury adj. (US unsavory) 1 disagreeable to the taste, smell, or
feelings; disgusting. 2 disagreeable, unpleasant (an unsavoury
character). 3 morally offensive. ЬЬunsavourily adv.
unsavouriness n.
unsay v.tr. (past and past part. unsaid) retract (a statement).
unsayable adj. that cannot be said.
unscalable
adj. that cannot be scaled.
unscarred adj. not scarred or damaged.
unscathed adj. without suffering any injury.
unscented adj. not scented.
unscheduled
adj. not scheduled.
unscholarly
adj. not scholarly. ЬЬunscholarliness n.
unschooled
adj. 1 uneducated, untaught. 2 not sent to school. 3
untrained, undisciplined. 4 not made artificial by education.
unscientific
adj. 1 not in accordance with scientific principles. 2 not
familiar with science. ЬЬunscientifically adv.
unscramble
v.tr. restore from a scrambled state, esp. interpret (a
scrambled transmission etc.). ЬЬunscrambler n.
unscreened
adj. 1 a (esp. of coal) not passed through a screen or sieve.
b not investigated or checked, esp. for security or medical
problems. 2 not provided with a screen. 3 not shown on a
screen.
unscrew v. 1 tr. & intr. unfasten or be unfastened by turning or
removing a screw or screws or by twisting like a screw. 2 tr.
loosen (a screw).
unscripted
adj. (of a speech etc.) delivered without a prepared script.
unscriptural
adj. against or not in accordance with Scripture.
ЬЬunscripturally adv.
unscrupulous
adj. having no scruples, unprincipled. ЬЬunscrupulously adv.
unscrupulousness n.
unseal v.tr. break the seal of; open (a letter, receptacle, etc.).
unsealed adj. not sealed.
unsearchable
adj. inscrutable. ЬЬunsearchableness n. unsearchably adv.
unsearched
adj. not searched.
unseasonable
adj. 1 not appropriate to the season. 2 untimely, inopportune.
ЬЬunseasonableness n. unseasonably adv.
unseasoned
adj. 1 not flavoured with salt, herbs, etc. 2 (esp. of timber)
not matured. 3 not habituated.
unseat v.tr. 1 remove from a seat, esp. in an election. 2 dislodge
from a seat, esp. on horseback.
unseemly adj. (unseemlier, unseemliest) 1 indecent. 2 unbecoming.
ЬЬunseemliness n.
unseen adj. & n. --adj. 1 not seen. 2 invisible. 3 (of a
translation) to be done without preparation. --n. Brit. an
unseen translation.
unsegregated
adj. not segregated.
unselect adj. not select.
unselective
adj. not selective.
unselfconscious
adj. not self-conscious. ЬЬunselfconsciously adv.
unselfconsciousness n.
unselfish adj. mindful of others' interests. ЬЬunselfishly adv.
unselfishness n.
unsensational
adj. not sensational. ЬЬunsensationally adv.
unsentimental
adj. not sentimental. ЬЬunsentimentality n. unsentimentally
adv.
unseparated
adj. not separated.
unserviceable
adj. not serviceable; unfit for use. ЬЬunserviceability n.
unset adj. not set.
unsettle v. 1 tr. disturb the settled state or arrangement of;
discompose. 2 tr. derange. 3 intr. become unsettled.
ЬЬunsettlement n.
unsettled adj. 1 not (yet) settled. 2 liable or open to change or
further discussion. 3 (of a bill etc.) unpaid. ЬЬunsettledness
n.
unsewn adj. not sewn. Ьunsewn binding = perfect binding.
unsex v.tr. deprive (a person, esp. a woman) of the qualities of her
or his sex.
unsexed adj. having no sexual characteristics.
unshackle v.tr. 1 release from shackles. 2 set free.
unshaded adj. not shaded.
unshakeable
adj. that cannot be shaken; firm, obstinate. ЬЬunshakeability
unshakeably adv.
unshaken adj. not shaken. ЬЬunshakenly adv.
unshapely adj. not shapely. ЬЬunshapeliness n.
unshared adj. not shared.
unsharp adj. Photog. not sharp. ЬЬunsharpness n.
unshaved adj. not shaved.
unshaven adj. not shaved.
unsheathe v.tr. remove (a knife etc.) from a sheath.
unshed adj. not shed.
unshell v.tr. (usu. as unshelled adj.) extract from its shell.
unsheltered
adj. not sheltered.
unshielded
adj. not shielded or protected.
unship v.tr. (unshipped, unshipping) 1 remove or discharge (a cargo or
passenger) from a ship. 2 esp. Naut. remove (an object, esp. a
mast or oar) from a fixed position.
unshockable
adj. that cannot be shocked. ЬЬunshockability n. unshockably
adv.
unshod adj. not wearing shoes.
unshorn adj. not shorn.
unshrinkable
adj. (of fabric etc.) not liable to shrink. ЬЬunshrinkability
n.
unsighted adj. 1 not sighted or seen. 2 prevented from seeing, esp. by
an obstruction.
unsightly adj. unpleasant to look at, ugly. ЬЬunsightliness n.
unsigned adj. not signed.
unsinkable
adj. unable to be sunk. ЬЬunsinkability n.
unsized(1)
adj. 1 not made to a size. 2 not sorted by size.
unsized(2)
adj. not treated with size.
unskilful adj. (US unskillful) not skilful. ЬЬunskilfully adv.
unskilfulness n.
unskilled adj. lacking or not needing special skill or training.
unskimmed adj. (of milk) not skimmed.
unslakeable
adj. (also unslakable) that cannot be slaked or quenched.
unsleeping
adj. not or never sleeping. ЬЬunsleepingly adv.
unsliced adj. (esp. of a loaf of bread when it is bought) not having
been cut into slices.
unsling v.tr. (past and past part. unslung) free from being slung or
suspended.
unsmiling adj. not smiling. ЬЬunsmilingly adv. unsmilingness n.
unsmoked adj. 1 not cured by smoking (unsmoked bacon). 2 not consumed
by smoking (an unsmoked cigar).
unsnarl v.tr. disentangle. [UN-(2) + SNARL(2)]
unsociable
adj. not sociable, disliking the company of others.
ЬЬunsociability n. unsociableness n. unsociably adv.
unsocial adj. 1 not social; not suitable for, seeking, or conforming to
society. 2 outside the normal working day (unsocial hours). 3
antisocial. ЬЬunsocially adv.
unsoiled adj. not soiled or dirtied.
unsold adj. not sold.
unsolder v.tr. undo the soldering of.
unsoldierly
adj. not soldierly.
unsolicited
adj. not asked for; given or done voluntarily. ЬЬunsolicitedly
adv.
unsolvable
adj. that cannot be solved, insoluble. ЬЬunsolvability n.
unsolvableness n.
unsolved adj. not solved.
unsophisticated
adj. 1 artless, simple, natural, ingenuous. 2 not adulterated
or artificial. ЬЬunsophisticatedly adv. unsophisticatedness n.
unsophistication n.
unsorted adj. not sorted.
unsought adj. 1 not searched out or sought for. 2 unasked; without
being requested.
unsound adj. 1 unhealthy, diseased. 2 rotten, weak. 3 a ill-founded,
fallacious. b unorthodox, heretical. 4 unreliable. 5 wicked.
Ьof unsound mind insane. ЬЬunsoundly adv. unsoundness n.
unsounded(1)
adj. 1 not uttered or pronounced. 2 not made to sound.
unspeakable
adj. 1 that cannot be expressed in words. 2 indescribably bad
or objectionable. ЬЬunspeakableness n. unspeakably adv.
unspecialized
adj. not specialized.
unspecified
adj. not specified.
unspectacular
adj. not spectacular; dull. ЬЬunspectacularly adv.
unspent adj. 1 not expended or used. 2 not exhausted or used up.
unspilled adj. not spilt.
unspilt adj. not spilt.
unspiritual
adj. not spiritual; earthly, worldly. ЬЬunspirituality n.
unspiritually adv. unspiritualness n.
unspoiled adj. 1 unspoilt. 2 not plundered.
unspoilt adj. not spoilt.
unspoken adj. 1 not expressed in speech. 2 not uttered as speech.
unsporting
adj. not sportsmanlike; not fair or generous. ЬЬunsportingly
adv. unsportingness n.
unsportsmanlike
adj. unsporting.
unspotted adj. 1 a not marked with a spot or spots. b morally pure. 2
unnoticed.
unsprung adj. not provided with a spring or springs; not resilient.
unstable adj. (unstabler, unstablest) 1 not stable. 2 changeable. 3
showing a tendency to sudden mental or emotional changes.
Ьunstable equilibrium a state in which a body when disturbed
tends to move farther from equilibrium. ЬЬunstableness n.
unstably adv.
unstained adj. not stained.
unstamped adj. 1 not marked by stamping. 2 not having a stamp affixed.
unstarched
adj. not starched.
unstated adj. not stated or declared.
unstatesmanlike
adj. not statesmanlike.
unstatutable
adj. contrary to a statute or statutes. ЬЬunstatutably adv.
unsteadfast
adj. not steadfast.
unsteady adj. (unsteadier, unsteadiest) 1 not steady or firm. 2
changeable, fluctuating. 3 not uniform or regular.
ЬЬunsteadily adv. unsteadiness n.
unstick v. & n. --v. (past and past part. unstuck) 1 tr. separate (a
thing stuck to another). 2 Aeron. colloq. a intr. take off.
b tr. cause (an aircraft) to take off. --n. Aeron. colloq.
the moment of take-off. Ьcome unstuck colloq. come to grief,
fail.
unstop v.tr. (unstopped, unstopping) 1 free from obstruction. 2
remove the stopper from.
unstoppable
adj. that cannot be stopped or prevented. ЬЬunstoppability n.
unstoppably adv.
unstopper v.tr. remove the stopper from.
unstrained
adj. 1 not subjected to straining or stretching. 2 not injured
by overuse or excessive demands. 3 not forced or produced by
effort. 4 not passed through a strainer.
unstrap v.tr. (unstrapped, unstrapping) undo the strap or straps of.
unstreamed
adj. Brit. (of schoolchildren) not arranged in streams.
unstressed
adj. 1 (of a word, syllable, etc.) not pronounced with stress.
2 not subjected to stress.
unstring v.tr. (past and past part. unstrung) 1 remove or relax the
string or strings of (a bow, harp, etc.). 2 remove from a
string. 3 (esp. as unstrung adj.) unnerve.
unsworn adj. 1 (of a person) not subjected to or bound by an oath. 2
not confirmed by an oath.
unsymmetrical
adj. not symmetrical. ЬЬunsymmetrically adv.
unsympathetic
adj. not sympathetic. ЬЬunsympathetically adv.
unsystematic
adj. not systematic. ЬЬunsystematically adv.
untack v.tr. detach, esp. by removing tacks.
untainted adj. not tainted.
untalented
adj. not talented.
untameable
adj. that cannot be tamed.
untamed adj. not tamed, wild.
untangle v.tr. 1 free from a tangled state. 2 free from entanglement.
untanned adj. not tanned.
untapped adj. not (yet) tapped or wired (untapped resources).
untarnished
adj. not tarnished.
untasted adj. not tasted.
untaught adj. 1 not instructed by teaching; ignorant. 2 not acquired by
teaching; natural, spontaneous.
untaxed adj. not required to pay or not attracting taxes.
unteach v.tr. (past and past part. untaught) 1 cause (a person) to
forget or discard previous knowledge. 2 remove from the mind
(something known or taught) by different teaching.
unteachable
adj. 1 incapable of being instructed. 2 that cannot be
imparted by teaching.
untearable
adj. that cannot be torn.
untechnical
adj. not technical. ЬЬuntechnically adv.
untempered
adj. (of metal etc.) not brought to the proper hardness or
consistency.
untenable adj. not tenable; that cannot be defended. ЬЬuntenability n.
untenableness n. untenably adv.
untended adj. not tended; neglected.
untested adj. not tested or proved.
untether v.tr. release (an animal) from a tether.
untethered
adj. not tethered.
unthanked adj. not thanked.
unthankful
adj. not thankful. ЬЬunthankfully adv. unthankfulness n.
unthinkable
adj. 1 that cannot be imagined or grasped by the mind. 2
colloq. highly unlikely or undesirable. ЬЬunthinkability n.
unthinkableness n. unthinkably adv.
unthought adj. (often foll. by of) not thought of.
unthoughtful
adj. unthinking, unmindful; thoughtless. ЬЬunthoughtfully adv.
unthoughtfulness n.
unthread v.tr. 1 take the thread out of (a needle etc.). 2 find one's
way out of (a maze).
unthrifty adj. 1 wasteful, extravagant, prodigal. 2 not thriving or
flourishing. ЬЬunthriftily adv. unthriftiness n.
unthrone v.tr. dethrone.
untidy adj. (untidier, untidiest) not neat or orderly. ЬЬuntidily
adv. untidiness n.
untie v.tr. (pres. part. untying) 1 undo (a knot etc.). 2 unfasten
the cords etc. of (a package etc.). 3 release from bonds or
attachment. [OE untigan (as UN-(2), TIE)]
untied adj. not tied.
until prep. & conj. = TILL(1). °Used esp. when beginning a sentence
and in formal style, e.g. until you told me, I had no idea; he
resided there until his decease. [orig. northern ME untill f.
ON und as far as + TILL(1)]
unto prep. archaic = TO prep. (in all uses except as the sign of
the infinitive); (do unto others; faithful unto death; take unto
oneself). [ME f. UNTIL, with TO replacing northern TILL(1)]
untold adj. 1 not told. 2 not (able to be) counted or measured
(untold misery). [OE unteald (as UN-(1), TOLD)]
untouchable
adj. & n. --adj. that may not or cannot be touched. --n. a
member of a hereditary Hindu group held to defile members of
higher castes on contact. °Use of the term, and social
restrictions accompanying it, were declared illegal under the
Indian constitution in 1949. ЬЬuntouchability n.
untouchableness n.
untouched adj. 1 not touched. 2 not affected physically, not harmed,
modified, used, or tasted. 3 not affected by emotion. 4 not
discussed.
untraceable
adj. that cannot be traced. ЬЬuntraceably adv.
untraced adj. not traced.
untrained adj. not trained.
untrammelled
adj. not trammelled, unhampered.
untransferable
adj. not transferable.
untranslatable
adj. that cannot be translated satisfactorily.
ЬЬuntranslatability n. untranslatably adv.
untransportable
adj. that cannot be transported.
untravelled
adj. (US untraveled) 1 that has not travelled. 2 that has not
been travelled over or through.
untreatable
adj. (of a disease etc.) that cannot be treated.
untreated adj. not treated.
untried adj. 1 not tried or tested. 2 inexperienced. 3 not yet tried
by a judge.
untrodden adj. not trodden, stepped on, or traversed.
untroubled
adj. not troubled; calm, tranquil.
untrue adj. 1 not true, contrary to what is the fact. 2 (often foll.
by to) not faithful or loyal. 3 deviating from an accepted
standard. ЬЬuntruly adv. [OE untreowe etc. (as UN-(1), TRUE)]
untruss v.tr. unfasten (a trussed fowl).
untrustworthy
adj. not trustworthy. ЬЬuntrustworthiness n.
untruth n. (pl. untruths) 1 the state of being untrue, falsehood. 2 a
false statement (told me an untruth). [OE untreowth etc. (as
UN-(1), TRUTH)]
untruthful
adj. not truthful. ЬЬuntruthfully adv. untruthfulness n.
untuck v.tr. free (bedclothes etc.) from being tucked in or up.
untunable adj. (of a piano etc.) that cannot be tuned.
untuned adj. 1 not in tune, not made tuneful. 2 (of a radio receiver
etc.) not tuned to any one frequency. 3 not in harmony or
concord, disordered.
untuneful adj. not tuneful. ЬЬuntunefully adv. untunefulness n.
unturned adj. 1 not turned over, round, away, etc. 2 not shaped by
turning.
untutored adj. uneducated, untaught.
untwine v.tr. & intr. untwist, unwind.
untwist v.tr. & intr. open from a twisted or spiralled state.
untying pres. part. of UNTIE.
unusable adj. not usable.
unused adj. 1 a not in use. b never having been used. 2 (foll. by
to) not accustomed.
unusual adj. 1 not usual. 2 exceptional, remarkable. ЬЬunusually adv.
unusualness n.
unutterable
adj. inexpressible; beyond description (unutterable torment; an
unutterable fool). ЬЬunutterableness n. unutterably adv.
unuttered adj. not uttered or expressed.
unvaccinated
adj. not vaccinated.
unvalued adj. 1 not regarded as valuable. 2 not having been valued.
unvanquished
adj. not vanquished.
unvaried adj. not varied.
unvarnished
adj. 1 not varnished. 2 (of a statement or person) plain and
straightforward (the unvarnished truth).
unvarying adj. not varying. ЬЬunvaryingly adv. unvaryingness n.
unveil v. 1 tr. remove a veil from. 2 tr. remove a covering from (a
statue, plaque, etc.) as part of the ceremony of the first
public display. 3 tr. disclose, reveal, make publicly known. 4
intr. remove one's veil.
unventilated
adj. 1 not provided with a means of ventilation. 2 not
discussed.
unverifiable
adj. that cannot be verified.
unverified
adj. not verified.
unversed adj. (usu. foll. by in) not experienced or skilled.
unviable adj. not viable. ЬЬunviability n.
unviolated
adj. not violated.
unvisited adj. not visited.
unvitiated
adj. not vitiated.
unvoiced adj. 1 not spoken. 2 Phonet. not voiced.
unwaged adj. not receiving a wage; out of work.
unwanted adj. not wanted.
unwarlike adj. not warlike.
unwarmed adj. not warmed.
unwarned adj. not warned or forewarned.
unwarrantable
adj. indefensible, unjustifiable. ЬЬunwarrantableness n.
unwarrantably adv.
unwarranted
adj. 1 unauthorized. 2 unjustified.
unwary adj. 1 not cautious. 2 (often foll. by of) not aware of
possible danger etc. ЬЬunwarily adv. unwariness n.
unwashed adj. 1 not washed. 2 not usually washed or clean. Ьthe great
unwashed colloq. the rabble.
unwatched adj. not watched.
unwatchful
adj. not watchful.
unwatered adj. not watered.
unwavering
adj. not wavering. ЬЬunwaveringly adv.
unweaned adj. not weaned.
unwearable
adj. that cannot be worn.
unwearied adj. 1 not wearied or tired. 2 never becoming weary,
indefatigable. 3 unremitting. ЬЬunweariedly adv.
unweariedness n.
unweary adj. not weary.
unwearying
adj. 1 persistent. 2 not causing or producing weariness.
ЬЬunwearyingly adv.
unwed adj. unmarried.
unwedded adj. unmarried. ЬЬunweddedness n.
unweeded adj. not cleared of weeds.
unweighed adj. 1 not considered; hasty. 2 (of goods) not weighed.
unwelcome adj. not welcome or acceptable. ЬЬunwelcomely adv.
unwelcomeness n.
unwell adj. 1 not in good health; (somewhat) ill. 2 indisposed.
unwept adj. 1 not wept for. 2 (of tears) not wept.
unwetted adj. not wetted.
unwhipped adj. 1 not punished by or as by whipping. 2 Brit. not subject
to a party whip.
unwholesome
adj. 1 not promoting, or detrimental to, physical or moral
health. 2 unhealthy, insalubrious. 3 unhealthy-looking.
ЬЬunwholesomely adv. unwholesomeness n.
unwieldy adj. (unwieldier, unwieldiest) cumbersome, clumsy, or hard to
manage, owing to size, shape, or weight. ЬЬunwieldily adv.
unwieldiness n. [ME f. UN-(1) + wieldy active (now dial.) f.
WIELD]
unwilling adj. not willing or inclined; reluctant. ЬЬunwillingly adv.
unwillingness n. [OE unwillende (as UN-(1), WILLING)]
unwind v. (past and past part. unwound) 1 a tr. draw out (a thing
that has been wound). b intr. become drawn out after having
been wound. 2 intr. & tr. colloq. relax.
unwinking adj. 1 not winking. 2 watchful, vigilant. ЬЬunwinkingly adv.
unwinnable
adj. that cannot be won.
unwisdom n. lack of wisdom, folly, imprudence. [OE unwisdom (as UN-(1),
WISDOM)]
unwithered
adj. not withered; still vigorous or fresh.
unwitnessed
adj. not witnessed.
unwitting adj. 1 unaware of the state of the case (an unwitting
offender). 2 unintentional. ЬЬunwittingly adv. unwittingness
n. [OE unwitende (as UN-(1), WIT(2))]
unwomanly adj. not womanly; not befitting a woman. ЬЬunwomanliness n.
unwonted adj. not customary or usual. ЬЬunwontedly adv. unwontedness
n.
unwooded adj. not wooded, treeless.
unworkable
adj. not workable; impracticable. ЬЬunworkability n.
unworkableness n. unworkably adv.
unworked adj. 1 not wrought into shape. 2 not exploited or turned to
account.
unworkmanlike
adj. badly done or made.
unworldly adj. 1 spiritually-minded. 2 spiritual. ЬЬunworldliness n.
unworn adj. not worn or impaired by wear.
unworried adj. not worried; calm.
unworthy adj. (unworthier, unworthiest) 1 (often foll. by of) not worthy
or befitting the character of a person etc. 2 discreditable,
unseemly. 3 contemptible, base. ЬЬunworthily adv.
unworthiness n.
unwound(1)
adj. not wound or wound up.
unwound(2)
past and past part. of UNWIND.
unwounded adj. not wounded, unhurt.
unwoven adj. not woven.
unwrap v. (unwrapped, unwrapping) 1 tr. remove the wrapping from. 2
tr. open or unfold. 3 intr. become unwrapped.
unwrinkled
adj. free from wrinkles, smooth.
unwritable
adj. that cannot be written.
unwritten adj. 1 not written. 2 (of a law etc.) resting originally on
custom or judicial decision, not on statute.
unwrought adj. (of metals) not hammered into shape or worked into a
finished condition.
unyielding
adj. 1 not yielding to pressure etc. 2 firm, obstinate.
ЬЬunyieldingly adv. unyieldingness n.
unyoke v. 1 tr. release from a yoke. 2 intr. cease work.
unzip v.tr. (unzipped, unzipping) unfasten the zip of.
up adv., prep., adj., n., & v. --adv. 1 at, in, or towards a
higher place or position (jumped up in the air; what are they
doing up there?). 2 to or in a place regarded as higher, esp.:
a northwards (up in Scotland). b Brit. towards a major city or
a university (went up to London). 3 colloq. ahead etc. as
indicated (went up front). 4 a to or in an erect position or
condition (stood it up). b to or in a prepared or required
position (wound up the watch). c in or into a condition of
efficiency, activity, or progress (stirred up trouble; the house
is up for sale; the hunt is up). 5 Brit. in a stronger or
winning position or condition (our team was three goals up; am
њ10 up on the transaction). 6 (of a computer) running and
available for use. 7 to the place or time in question or where
the speaker etc. is (a child came up to me; went straight up to
the door; has been fine up till now). 8 at or to a higher price
or value (our costs are up; shares are up). 9 a completely or
effectually (burn up; eat up; tear up; use up). b more loudly
or clearly (speak up). 10 in a state of completion; denoting
the end of availability, supply, etc. (time is up). 11 into a
compact, accumulated, or secure state (pack up; save up; tie
up). 12 out of bed (are you up yet?). 13 (of the sun etc.)
having risen. 14 happening, esp. unusually or unexpectedly
(something is up). 15 taught or informed (is well up in
French). 16 (usu. foll. by before) appearing for trial etc.
(was up before the magistrate). 17 (of a road etc.) being
repaired. 18 (of a jockey) in the saddle. 19 towards the
source of a river. 20 inland. 21 (of the points etc. in a
game): a registered on the scoreboard. b forming the total
score for the time being. 22 upstairs, esp. to bed (are you
going up yet?). 23 (of a theatre-curtain) raised etc. to reveal
the stage. 24 (as int.) get up. 25 (of a ship's helm) with
rudder to leeward. 26 in rebellion. --prep. 1 upwards along,
through, or into (climbed up the ladder). 2 from the bottom to
the top of. 3 along (walked up the road). 4 a at or in a
higher part of (is situated up the street). b towards the
source of (a river). --adj. 1 directed upwards (up stroke). 2
Brit. of travel towards a capital or centre (the up train; the
up platform). 3 (of beer etc.) effervescent, frothy. --n. a
spell of good fortune. --v. (upped, upping) 1 intr. colloq.
start up; begin abruptly to say or do something (upped and hit
him). 2 intr. (foll. by with) raise; pick up (upped with his
stick). 3 tr. increase or raise, esp. abruptly (upped all their
prices). Ьbe all up with be disastrous or hopeless for (a
person). on the up and up colloq. 1 Brit. steadily improving.
2 esp. US honest(ly); on the level. something is up colloq.
something unusual or undesirable is afoot or happening. up
against 1 close to. 2 in or into contact with. 3 colloq.
confronted with (up against a problem). up against it colloq.
in great difficulties. up-anchor Naut. weigh anchor. up and
about (or doing) having risen from bed; active. up-and-coming
colloq. (of a person) making good progress and likely to
succeed. up and down 1 to and fro (along). 2 in every
direction. 3 colloq. in varying health or spirits. up-and-over
(of a door) opened by being raised and pushed back into a
horizontal position. up draught an upward draught, esp. in a
chimney. up for available for or being considered for (office
etc.). up hill and down dale up and down hills on an arduous
journey. up in arms see ARM(2). up-market adj. & adv. towards
or relating to the dearer or more affluent sector of the market.
up the pole see POLE(1). ups and downs 1 rises and falls. 2
alternate good and bad fortune. up the spout see SPOUT. up
stage at or to the back of a theatre stage. up sticks see
STICK(1). up-stroke a stroke made or written upwards. up to 1
until (up to the present). 2 not more than (you can have up to
five). 3 less than or equal to (sums up to њ10). 4 incumbent
on (it is up to you to say). 5 capable of or fit for (am not up
to a long walk). 6 occupied or busy with (what have you been up
to?). up to date see DATE(1). up to the mark see MARK(1). up
to the minute see MINUTE(1). up to snuff see SNUFF(2). up to
one's tricks see TRICK. up to a person's tricks see TRICK. up
with int. expressing support for a stated person or thing.
what's up? colloq. 1 what is going on? 2 what is the matter?
[OE up(p), uppe, rel. to OHG uf]
up- prefix in senses of UP, added: 1 as an adverb to verbs and
verbal derivations, = 'upwards' (upcurved; update). 2 as a
preposition to nouns forming adverbs and adjectives (up-country;
uphill). 3 as an adjective to nouns (upland; up-stroke). [OE
up(p)-, = UP]
Upanishad n. each of a series of philosophical compositions concluding
the exposition of the Vedas. [Skr. f. upa near + ni-sad sit
down]
upas n. 1 (in full upas-tree) a a Javanese tree, Antiaris toxicaria,
yielding a milky sap used as arrow-poison. b Mythol. a Javanese
tree thought to be fatal to whatever came near it. c a
pernicious influence, practice, etc. 2 the poisonous sap of
upas and other trees. [Malay upas poison]
upbeat n. & v. --n. an unaccented beat in music. --adj. colloq.
optimistic or cheerful.
upbraid v.tr. (often foll. by with, for) chide or reproach (a person).
ЬЬupbraiding n. [OE upbredan (as UP-, bredan = bregdan BRAID in
obs. sense 'brandish')]
upbringing
n. the bringing up of a child; education. [obs. upbring to
rear (as UP-, BRING)]
upcast n. & v. --n. 1 the act of casting up; an upward throw. 2
Mining a shaft through which air leaves a mine. 3 Geol. =
UPTHROW. --v.tr. (past and past part. upcast) cast up.
upcoming adj. esp. US forthcoming; about to happen.
up-country
adv. & adj. inland; towards the interior of a country.
update v. & n. --v.tr. bring up to date. --n. 1 the act or an
instance of updating. 2 an updated version; a set of updated
information. ЬЬupdater n.
up-end v.tr. & intr. set or rise up on end.
upfield adv. in or to a position nearer to the opponents' end of a
football etc. field.
upfold n. Geol. an anticline.
upfront adv. & adj. colloq. --adv. (usu. up front) 1 at the front; in
front. 2 (of payments) in advance. --adj. 1 honest, open,
frank. 2 (of payments) made in advance. 3 at the front or most
prominent.
upgrade v. & n. --v.tr. 1 raise in rank etc. 2 improve (equipment,
machinery, etc.) esp. by replacing components. --n. 1 the act
or an instance of upgrading. 2 an upgraded piece of equipment
etc. Ьon the upgrade 1 improving in health etc. 2 advancing,
progressing. ЬЬupgrader n.
upgrowth n. the process or result of growing upwards.
upheaval n. 1 a violent or sudden change or disruption. 2 Geol. an
upward displacement of part of the earth's crust. 3 the act or
an instance of heaving up.
upheave v. 1 tr. heave or lift up, esp. forcibly. 2 intr. rise up.
uphill adv., adj., & n. --adv. in an ascending direction up a hill,
slope, etc. --adj. 1 sloping up; ascending. 2 arduous,
difficult (an uphill task). --n. an upward slope.
uphold v.tr. (past and past part. upheld) 1 confirm or maintain (a
decision etc., esp. of another). 2 give support or countenance
to (a person, practice, etc.). ЬЬupholder n.
upholster v.tr. 1 provide (furniture) with upholstery. 2 furnish (a room
etc.) with furniture, carpets, etc. Ьwell-upholstered joc. (of
a person) fat. [back-form. f. UPHOLSTERER]
upholsterer
n. a person who upholsters furniture, esp. professionally.
[obs. upholster (n.) f. UPHOLD (in obs. sense 'keep in
repair') + -STER]
upholstery
n. 1 textile covering, padding, springs, etc., for furniture.
2 an upholsterer's work.
upkeep n. 1 maintenance in good condition. 2 the cost or means of
this.
upland n. & adj. --n. the higher or inland parts of a country. --adj.
of or relating to these parts.
uplift v. & n. --v.tr. 1 raise; lift up. 2 elevate or stimulate
morally or spiritually. --n. 1 the act or an instance of being
raised. 2 Geol. the raising of part of the earth's surface. 3
colloq. a morally or spiritually elevating influence. 4 support
for the bust etc. from a garment. ЬЬuplifter n. uplifting adj.
(esp. in sense 2 of v.).
upmost var. of UPPERMOST.
upon prep. = ON. ° Upon is sometimes more formal, and is preferred
in once upon a time and upon my word, and in uses such as row
upon row of seats and Christmas is almost upon us. [ME f. UP +
ON prep., after ON upp ]
upper(1) adj. & n. --adj. 1 higher in place; situated above another
part (the upper atmosphere; the upper lip). 2 higher in rank or
dignity etc. (the upper class). 3 situated on higher ground
(Upper Egypt). --n. the part of a boot or shoe above the sole.
Ьon one's uppers colloq. extremely short of money. upper case
see CASE(2). upper class the highest class of society, esp. the
aristocracy. upper-class adj. of the upper class. the upper
crust colloq. the aristocracy. upper-cut n. an upwards blow
delivered with the arm bent. --v.tr. hit with an upper-cut.
the upper hand dominance or control. Upper House the higher
house in a legislature, esp. the House of Lords. the upper
regions 1 the sky. 2 heaven. upper works the part of a ship
that is above the water when fully laden. [ME f. UP + -ER(2)]
upper(2) n. sl. a stimulant drug, esp. an amphetamine. [UP v. +
-ER(1)]
uppermost adj. & adv. --adj. (also upmost) 1 highest in place or rank.
2 predominant. --adv. at or to the highest or most prominent
position.
uppish adj. esp. Brit. colloq. self-assertive or arrogant.
ЬЬuppishly adv. uppishness n.
uppity adj. colloq. uppish, snobbish. [fanciful f. UP]
upraise v.tr. raise to a higher level.
upright adj. & n. --adj. 1 erect, vertical (an upright posture; stood
upright). 2 (of a piano) with vertical strings. 3 (of a person
or behaviour) righteous; strictly honourable or honest. 4 (of a
picture, book, etc.) greater in height than breadth. --n. 1 a
post or rod fixed upright esp. as a structural support. 2 an
upright piano. ЬЬuprightly adv. uprightness n. [OE upriht (as
UP, RIGHT)]
uprise v.intr. (uprose, uprisen) rise (to a standing position, etc.).
uprising n. a rebellion or revolt.
uproar n. a tumult; a violent disturbance. [Du. oproer f. op up +
roer confusion, assoc. with ROAR]
uproarious
adj. 1 very noisy. 2 provoking loud laughter. ЬЬuproariously
adv. uproariousness n.
uproot v.tr. 1 pull (a plant etc.) up from the ground. 2 displace (a
person) from an accustomed location. 3 eradicate, destroy.
ЬЬuprooter n.
uprose past of UPRISE.
uprush n. an upward rush, esp. Psychol. from the subconscious.
ups-a-daisy
var. of UPSY-DAISY.
upset v., n., & adj. --v. (upsetting; past and past part. upset) 1
tr. & intr. overturn or be overturned. 2 tr. disturb the
composure or digestion of (was very upset by the news; ate
something that upset me). 3 tr. disrupt. 4 tr. shorten and
thicken (metal, esp. a tire) by hammering or pressure. --n. 1
a condition of upsetting or being upset (a stomach upset). 2 a
surprising result in a game etc. --adj. disturbed (an upset
stomach). Ьupset price the lowest acceptable selling price of a
property in an auction etc.; a reserve price. ЬЬupsetter n.
upsettingly adv.
upshot n. the final or eventual outcome or conclusion.
upside down
adv. & adj. --adv. 1 with the upper part where the lower part
should be; in an inverted position. 2 in or into total disorder
(everything was turned upside down). --adj. (also upside-down
attrib.) that is positioned upside down; inverted. Ьupside-down
cake a sponge cake baked with fruit in a syrup at the bottom,
and inverted for serving. [ME, orig. up so down, perh. = 'up
as if down']
upsides adv. Brit. colloq. (foll. by with) equal with (a person) by
revenge, retaliation, etc. [upside = top part]
upsilon n. the twelfth letter of the Greek alphabet. [Gk, = slender U
f. psilos slender, with ref. to its later coincidence in sound
with Gk oi]
upstage adj., adv., & v. --adj. & adv. 1 nearer the back of a theatre
stage. 2 snobbish(ly). --v.tr. 1 (of an actor) move upstage
to make (another actor) face away from the audience. 2 divert
attention from (a person) to oneself; outshine.
upstairs adv., adj., & n. --adv. to or on an upper floor. --adj.
(also upstair) situated upstairs. --n. an upper floor.
upstanding
adj. 1 standing up. 2 strong and healthy. 3 honest or
straightforward.
upstart n. & adj. --n. a person who has risen suddenly to prominence,
esp. one who behaves arrogantly. --adj. 1 that is an upstart.
2 of or characteristic of an upstart.
upstate n., adj., & adv. US --n. part of a State remote from its large
cities, esp. the northern part. --adj. of or relating to this
part. --adv. in or to this part. ЬЬupstater n.
upstream adv. & adj. --adv. against the flow of a stream etc. --adj.
moving upstream.
upsurge n. an upward surge; a rise (esp. in feelings etc.).
upswept adj. 1 (of the hair) combed to the top of the head. 2 curved
or sloped upwards.
upswing n. an upward movement or trend.
upsy-daisy
int. (also ups-a-daisy) expressing encouragement to a child who
is being lifted or has fallen. [earlier up-a-daisy: cf.
LACKADAISICAL]
uptake n. 1 colloq. understanding; comprehension (esp. quick or slow
on the uptake). 2 the act or an instance of taking up.
upthrow n. 1 the act or an instance of throwing upwards. 2 Geol. an
upward dislocation of strata.
upthrust n. 1 upward thrust, e.g. of a fluid on an immersed body. 2
Geol. = UPHEAVAL.
uptight adj. colloq. 1 nervously tense or angry. 2 US rigidly
conventional.
uptown adj., adv., & n. US --adj. of or in the residential part of a
town or city. --adv. in or into this part. --n. this part.
ЬЬuptowner n.
upturn n. & v. --n. 1 an upward trend; an improvement. 2 an
upheaval. --v.tr. turn up or upside down.
UPU abbr. Universal Postal Union.
upward adv. & adj. --adv. (also upwards) towards what is higher,
superior, larger in amount, more important, or earlier. --adj.
moving, extending, pointing, or leading upward. Ьupwards of
more than (found upwards of forty specimens). [OE upweard(es)
(as UP, -WARD)]
upwardly adv. in an upward direction. Ьupwardly mobile able or aspiring
to advance socially or professionally.
upwarp n. Geol. a broad surface elevation; an anticline.
upwind adj. & adv. against the direction of the wind.
uracil n. Biochem. a pyrimidine derivative found in living tissue as
a component base of RNA. [UREA + ACETIC]
uraemia n. (US uremia) Med. a morbid condition due to the presence in
the blood of urinary matter normally eliminated by the kidneys.
ЬЬuraemic adj. [Gk ouron urine + haima blood]
uraeus n. the sacred serpent as an emblem of power represented on the
head-dress of Egyptian divinities and sovereigns. [mod.L f. Gk
ouraios, repr. the Egypt. word for 'cobra']
Ural-Altaic
n. & adj. --n. Philol. a family of Finno-Ugric, Turkic,
Mongolian, and other agglutinative languages of N. Europe and
Asia. --adj. 1 of or relating to this family of languages. 2
of or relating to the Ural and Altaic mountain ranges in the
USSR and central Asia.
uranium n. Chem. a radioactive grey dense metallic element occurring
naturally in pitchblende, and capable of nuclear fission and
therefore used as a source of nuclear energy. °Symb.: U.
ЬЬuranic adj. [mod.L, f. URANUS: cf. tellurium]
urano-(1) comb. form the heavens. [Gk ouranos heaven(s)]
urano-(2) comb. form uranium.
uranography
n. the branch of astronomy concerned with describing and
mapping the stars, planets, etc. ЬЬuranographer n.
uranographic adj.
Uranus n. a planet discovered by Herschel in 1781, the outermost of
the solar system except Neptune and Pluto. [L f. Gk Ouranos
heaven, Uranus, in Gk Mythol. the son of Gaea (Earth) and father
of Kronos (Saturn), the Titans, etc.]
urban adj. of, living in, or situated in a town or city (an urban
population) (opp. RURAL). Ьurban district Brit. hist. a
group of urban communities governed by an elected council.
urban guerrilla a terrorist operating in an urban area. urban
renewal slum clearance and redevelopment in a city or town.
urban sprawl the uncontrolled expansion of urban areas. [L
urbanus f. urbs urbis city]
urbane adj. courteous; suave; elegant and refined in manner.
ЬЬurbanely adv. urbaneness n. [F urbain or L urbanus: see
URBAN]
urbanism n. 1 urban character or way of life. 2 a study of urban life.
ЬЬurbanist n.
urbanite n. a dweller in a city or town.
urbanity n. 1 an urbane quality; refinement of manner. 2 urban life.
[F urbanit‚ or L urbanitas (as URBAN)]
urbanize v.tr. (also -ise) 1 make urban. 2 destroy the rural quality of
(a district). ЬЬurbanization n. [F urbaniser (as URBAN)]
urceolate adj. Bot. having the shape of a pitcher, with a large body and
small mouth. [L urceolus dimin. of urceus pitcher]
urchin n. 1 a mischievous child, esp. young and raggedly dressed. 2 =
sea urchin. 3 archaic a a hedgehog. b a goblin. [ME hirchon,
urcheon f. ONF herichon, OF heri‡on ult. f. L (h)ericius
hedgehog]
Urdu n. a language related to Hindi but with many Persian words, an
official language of Pakistan and also used in India. [Hind.
(zaban i) urdu (language of the) camp, f. Pers. urdu f. Turki
ordu: see HORDE]
-ure suffix forming: 1 nouns of action or process (censure; closure;
seizure). 2 nouns of result (creature; scripture). 3
collective nouns (legislature; nature). 4 nouns of function
(judicature; ligature). [from or after OF -ure f. L -ura]
urea n. Biochem. a soluble colourless crystalline nitrogenous
compound contained esp. in the urine of mammals. ЬЬureal adj.
[mod.L f. F ur‚e f. Gk ouron urine]
uremia US var. of URAEMIA.
ureter n. the duct by which urine passes from the kidney to the
bladder or cloaca. ЬЬureteral adj. ureteric adj. ureteritis
n. [F uretЉre or mod.L ureter f. Gk oureter f. oureo urinate]
urethane n. Chem. a crystalline amide, ethyl carbamate, used in
plastics and paints. [F ur‚thane (as UREA, ETHANE)]
urethra n. (pl. urethrae or urethras) the duct by which urine is
discharged from the bladder. ЬЬurethral adj. urethritis n.
[LL f. Gk ourethra (as URETER)]
urge v. & n. --v.tr. 1 (often foll. by on) drive forcibly; impel;
hasten (urged them on; urged the horses forward). 2 (often
foll. by to + infin. or that + clause) encourage or entreat
earnestly or persistently (urged them to go; urged them to
action; urged that they should go). 3 (often foll. by on, upon)
advocate (an action or argument etc.) pressingly or emphatically
(to a person). 4 adduce forcefully as a reason or justification
(urged the seriousness of the problem). 5 ply (a person etc.)
hard with argument or entreaty. --n. 1 an urging impulse or
tendency. 2 a strong desire. ЬЬurger n. [L urgere press,
drive]
urgent adj. 1 requiring immediate action or attention (an urgent need
for help). 2 importunate; earnest and persistent in demand.
ЬЬurgency n. urgently adv. [ME f. F (as URGE)]
URI abbr. upper respiratory infection.
-uria comb. form forming nouns denoting that a substance is (esp.
excessively) present in the urine. [mod.L f. Gk -ouria (as
URINE)]
uric adj. of or relating to urine. Ьuric acid a crystalline acid
forming a constituent of urine. [F urique (as URINE)]
urinal n. 1 a sanitary fitting, usu. against a wall, for men to
urinate into. 2 a place or receptacle for urination. [ME f. OF
f. LL urinal neut. of urinalis (as URINE)]
urinalysis
n. (pl. urinalyses) the chemical analysis of urine esp. for
diagnostic purposes.
urinary adj. 1 of or relating to urine. 2 affecting or occurring in
the urinary system (urinary diseases).
urinate v.intr. discharge urine. ЬЬurination n. [med.L urinare (as
URINE)]
urine n. a pale-yellow fluid secreted as waste from the blood by the
kidneys, stored in the bladder, and discharged through the
urethra. ЬЬurinous adj. [ME f. OF f. L urina]
urn n. & v. --n. 1 a vase with a foot and usu. a rounded body,
esp. for storing the ashes of the cremated dead or as a vessel
or measure. 2 a large vessel with a tap, in which tea or coffee
etc. is made or kept hot. 3 poet. anything in which a dead body
or its remains are preserved, e.g. a grave. --v.tr. enclose in
an urn. ЬЬurnful n. (pl. -fuls). [ME f. L urna, rel. to
urceus pitcher]
uro-(1) comb. form urine. [Gk ouron urine]
uro-(2) comb. form tail. [Gk oura tail]
urochord n. the notochord of a tunicate.
urodele n. any amphibian of the order Urodela, having a tail when in
the adult form, including newts and salamanders. [URO-(2) + Gk
delos evident]
urogenital
adj. of or relating to urinary and genital products or organs.
urology n. the scientific study of the urinary system. ЬЬurologic adj.
urologist n.
uropygium n. the rump of a bird. [med.L f. Gk ouropugion]
uroscopy n. Med. hist. the examination of urine, esp. in diagnosis.
Ursa Major
n. = the Great Bear (see BEAR(2)). [L, = greater bear]
Ursa Minor
n. = the Little Bear (see BEAR(2)). [L, = lesser bear]
ursine adj. of or like a bear. [L ursinus f. ursus bear]
Ursuline n. & adj. --n. a nun of an order founded by St Angela in 1535
for nursing the sick and teaching girls. --adj. of or relating
to this order. [St Ursula, the founder's patron saint]
urticaria n. Med. nettle-rash. [mod.L f. L urtica nettle f. urere
burn]
urticate v.tr. sting like a nettle. ЬЬurtication n. [med.L urticare f.
L urtica: see URTICARIA]
US abbr. 1 United States (of America). 2 Under-Secretary. 3
unserviceable.
us pron. 1 objective case of WE (they saw us). 2 colloq. = WE
(it's us again). 3 colloq. = ME(1) (give us a kiss). [OE us f.
Gmc]
USA abbr. 1 United States of America. 2 US United States Army.
usable adj. that can be used. ЬЬusability n. usableness n.
USAF abbr. United States Air Force.
usage n. 1 a manner of using or treating; treatment (damaged by rough
usage). 2 habitual or customary practice, esp. as creating a
right, obligation, or standard. [ME f. OF f. us USE n.]
usance n. the time allowed by commercial usage for the payment of
foreign bills of exchange. [ME f. OF (as USE)]
USDAW abbr. (in the UK) Union of Shop, Distributive, and Allied
Workers.
use v. & n. --v.tr. 1 cause to act or serve for a purpose; bring
into service; avail oneself of (rarely uses the car; use your
discretion). 2 treat (a person) in a specified manner (they
used him shamefully). 3 exploit for one's own ends (they are
just using you). 4 (in past; foll. by to + infin.) did or had
in the past (but no longer) as a customary practice or state (I
used to be an archaeologist; it used not (or did not use) to
rain so often). 5 (as used adj.) second-hand. 6 (as used
predic. adj.) (foll. by to) familiar by habit; accustomed (not
used to hard work). 7 apply (a name or title etc.) to oneself.
--n. 1 the act of using or the state of being used; application
to a purpose (put it to good use; is in daily use; worn and
polished with use). 2 the right or power of using (lost the use
of my right arm). 3 a the ability to be used (a torch would be
of use). b the purpose for which a thing can be used (it's no
use talking). 4 custom or usage (long use has reconciled me to
it). 5 the characteristic ritual and liturgy of a church or
diocese etc. 6 Law hist. the benefit or profit of lands, esp.
in the possession of another who holds them solely for the
beneficiary. Ьcould use colloq. would be glad to have; would
be improved by having. have no use for 1 be unable to find a
use for. 2 dislike or be impatient with. make use of 1 employ,
apply. 2 benefit from. use and wont established custom. use a
person's name quote a person as an authority or reference etc.
use up 1 consume completely, use the whole of. 2 find a use for
(something remaining). 3 exhaust or wear out e.g. with
overwork. [ME f. OF us, user, ult. f. L uti us- use]
useful adj. 1 a of use; serviceable. b producing or able to produce
good results (gave me some useful hints). 2 colloq. highly
creditable or efficient (a useful performance). Ьmake oneself
useful perform useful services. useful load the load carried by
an aircraft etc. in addition to its own weight. ЬЬusefully adv.
usefulness n.
useless adj. 1 serving no purpose; unavailing (the contents were made
useless by damp; protest is useless). 2 colloq. feeble or
ineffectual (am useless at swimming). ЬЬuselessly adv.
uselessness n.
user n. 1 a person who uses (esp. a particular commodity or service,
or a computer). 2 colloq. a drug addict. 3 Law the continued
use or enjoyment of a right etc. Ьright of user Law 1 a right
to use. 2 a presumptive right arising from the user.
user-friendly esp. Computing (of a machine or system) designed
to be easy to use.
usher n. & v. --n. 1 a person who shows people to their seats in a
hall or theatre etc. 2 a doorkeeper at a court etc. 3 Brit. an
officer walking before a person of rank. 4 archaic or joc. an
assistant teacher. --v.tr. 1 act as usher to. 2 (usu. foll.
by in) announce or show in etc. (ushered us into the room;
ushered in a new era). ЬЬushership n. [ME f. AF usser, OF
uissier, var. of huissier f. med.L ustiarius for L ostiarius f.
ostium door]
usherette n. a female usher esp. in a cinema.
USM abbr. Stock Exch. Unlisted Securities Market.
USN abbr. United States Navy.
usquebaugh
n. esp. Ir. & Sc. whisky. [Ir. & Sc. Gael. uisge beatha
water of life: cf. WHISKY]
USS abbr. United States Ship.
USSR abbr. Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
usual adj. 1 such as commonly occurs, or is observed or done;
customary, habitual (the usual formalities; it is usual to tip
them; forgot my keys as usual). 2 (prec. by the, my, etc.)
colloq. a person's usual drink etc. ЬЬusually adv. usualness
n. [ME f. OF usual, usuel or LL usualis (as USE)]
usucaption
n. (also usucapion) (in Roman and Scots law) the acquisition of
a title or right to property by uninterrupted and undisputed
possession for a prescribed term. [OF usucap(t)ion or L
usucap(t)io f. usucapere acquire by prescription f. usu by use
+ capere capt- take]
usufruct n. & v. --n. (in Roman and Scots law) the right of enjoying the
use and advantages of another's property short of the
destruction or waste of its substance. --v.tr. hold in
usufruct. ЬЬusufructuary adj. & n. [med.L usufructus f. L usus
(et) fructus f. usus USE + fructus FRUIT]
usurer n. a person who practises usury. [ME f. AF usurer, OF usureor
f. usure f. L usura: see USURY]
usurious adj. of, involving, or practising usury. ЬЬusuriously adv.
usurp v. 1 tr. seize or assume (a throne or power etc.) wrongfully.
2 intr. (foll. by on, upon) encroach. ЬЬusurpation n. usurper
n. [ME f. OF usurper f. L usurpare seize for use]
usury n. 1 the act or practice of lending money at interest, esp.
Law at an exorbitant rate. 2 interest at this rate. Ьwith
usury rhet. or poet. with increased force etc. [ME f. med.L
usuria f. L usura (as USE)]
UT abbr. 1 universal time. 2 US Utah (in official postal use).
ute n. Austral. & NZ sl. a utility truck. [abbr.]
utensil n. an implement or vessel, esp. for domestic use (cooking
utensils). [ME f. OF utensile f. med.L, neut. of L utensilis
usable (as USE)]
uterine adj. 1 of or relating to the uterus. 2 born of the same mother
but not the same father (sister uterine). [ME f. LL uterinus
(as UTERUS)]
uterus n. (pl. uteri) the womb. ЬЬuteritis n. [L]
utile adj. useful; having utility. [ME f. OF f. L utilis f. uti
use]
utilitarian
adj. & n. --adj. 1 designed to be useful for a purpose rather
than attractive; severely practical. 2 of utilitarianism. --n.
an adherent of utilitarianism.
utilitarianism
n. 1 the doctrine that actions are right if they are useful or
for the benefit of a majority. 2 the doctrine that the greatest
happiness of the greatest number should be the guiding principle
of conduct.
utility n. (pl. -ies) 1 the condition of being useful or profitable.
2 a useful thing. 3 = public utility. 4 (attrib.) a severely
practical and standardized (utility furniture). b made or
serving for utility. Ьutility room a room equipped with
appliances for washing, ironing, and other domestic work.
utility vehicle (or truck etc.) a vehicle capable of serving
various functions. [ME f. OF utilit‚ f. L utilitas -tatis (as
UTILE)]
utilize v.tr. (also -ise) make practical use of; turn to account; use
effectively. ЬЬutilizable adj. utilization n. utilizer n. [F
utiliser f. It. utilizzare (as UTILE)]
-ution suffix forming nouns, = -ATION (solution). [F f. L -utio]
utmost adj. & n. furthest, extreme, or greatest (the utmost limits;
showed the utmost reluctance). --n. (prec. by the) the utmost
point or degree etc. Ьdo one's utmost do all that one can. [OE
ut(e)mest (as OUT, -MOST)]
Utopia n. an imagined perfect place or state of things. [title of a
book (1516) by Thomas More: mod.L f. Gk ou not + topos place]
Utopian adj. & n. (also utopian) --adj. characteristic of Utopia;
idealistic. --n. an idealistic reformer. ЬЬUtopianism n.
utricle n. a small cell or sac in an animal or plant, esp. one in the
inner ear. ЬЬutricular adj. [F utricule or L utriculus dimin.
of uter leather bag]
utter(1) attrib.adj. complete, total, absolute (utter misery; saw the
utter absurdity of it). ЬЬutterly adv. utterness n. [OE
utera, uttra, compar. adj. f. ut OUT: cf. OUTER]
utter(2) v.tr. 1 emit audibly (uttered a startled cry). 2 express in
spoken or written words. 3 Law put (esp. forged money) into
circulation. ЬЬutterable adj. utterer n. [ME f. MDu. uteren
make known, assim. to UTTER(1)]
utterance n. 1 the act or an instance of uttering. 2 a thing spoken. 3
a the power of speaking. b a manner of speaking. 4 Linguistics
an uninterrupted chain of spoken or written words not
necessarily corresponding to a single or complete grammatical
unit.
uttermost adj. furthest, extreme.
U-turn n. 1 the turning of a vehicle in a U-shaped course so as to
face in the opposite direction. 2 a reversal of policy.
uvea n. the pigmented layer of the eye, lying beneath the outer
layer. [med.L f. L uva grape]
uvula n. (pl. uvulae) 1 a fleshy extension of the soft palate
hanging above the throat. 2 a similar process in the bladder or
cerebellum. [ME f. LL, dimin. of L uva grape]
uvular adj. & n. --adj. 1 of or relating to the uvula. 2 articulated
with the back of the tongue and the uvula, as in r in French.
--n. a uvular consonant.
uxoricide n. 1 the killing of one's wife. 2 a person who does this.
ЬЬuxoricidal adj. [L uxor wife + -CIDE]
uxorious adj. 1 greatly or excessively fond of one's wife. 2 (of
behaviour etc.) showing such fondness. ЬЬuxoriously adv.
uxoriousness n. [L uxoriosus f. uxor wife]