English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology

"U" Word Origins

Where do words come from? Trace the origin and history of any English word, from its Latin, Greek or Old English roots through to its modern meaning. Every etymology is sourced.

“U” Word Origins

From unitar(y) + -ism. By surface analysis, unit + -arism.

From uni- + tasking, after multitasking.

From Latin unitus, past participle of unio ("to make into one"), ultimately from unus ("one").

From unite + -ed.

From united + -ness.

From unit + holder.

From Old French unité, from Latin unitas ("oneness"), built on unus, "one" — the same root as "unite" and "union."

From Old French universal, from Latin universalis, built from universus ("all together, whole") — the same root as "universe."

From Middle English universalite, from Middle French universalité, from Old French, from Late Latin universalitas. By surface analysis, universal + -ity.

From "universal" + the adverb-forming suffix "-ly."

From Latin universum, "all things as a whole," from universus, literally "turned into one" — from unus ("one") plus versus ("turned").

From Old French universite, from Medieval Latin universitas, originally meaning "a community or guild of persons," from Latin universus ("whole, entire").

From Late Latin ūnivocus + -al. By surface analysis, uni- + vocal.

From un- + jinx.

From "un-" + "just."

From Middle English unjustice, equivalent to un- + justice; compare unjust, injustice.

From "un-" + "justified."

From "unjust" + "-ly."

From earlier unkembed, unkemmed, from Middle English unkempt (“uncombed”), equivalent to un- + kempt. Compare Old Norse úkembdr (uncombed; unkempt"; whence Icelandic ókembdur), German ungekämmt (“unkempt”), Dutch ongekamd. More at kemb.

From Middle English unkynde, from "un-" + "kind."

From Middle English unkyndely, from Old English unġecyndelīċ; equivalent to un- + kindly (adjective).

From Middle English unkyndenesse; equivalent to unkind + -ness.

From un- + kingly (adverb via Middle English unkyngly).

From un- + knot.

From "un-" + "knowable."

From "unknowing" + "-ly."

From Old English ungecnawen, from "un-" + "known."

From un- + lachrymose.

From un- + ladylike.

From Middle English unlawe, unlaȝ, unlage, from Old English unlagu (“violation of law, illegality, injustice, lawlessness”), equivalent to un- (“lack or absence of”) + law.

From "un-" + "lawful."

From "unlawful" + "-ly."

From Middle English unlerned (“not taught, uneducated”). By surface analysis, un- (“not”) + learned (“educated”).

From un- (“not”) + learnt.

From "un-" + "leash."

From Middle English "on lesse (than)," meaning "on a lesser condition than" — over time this shifted into the negative-sounding "unless."

From "un-" + "licensed."

From Old English unlic, "unlike, dissimilar," from "un-" + "like."

From Middle English unlikely, from "un-" + "likely."

From "un-" + "limited."

From unlimited + -ness.

From un- + linked.

From "un-" + "listed."

From "un-" + "load."

From unload + -ed.

From Old English onlucan, "to unlock," from "un-" + "lock."

From "un-" + "loved."

From unlucky + -ly or un- + luckily.