unseen

The word “unseen” means not seen or noticed; invisible or hidden from view. In plain terms, not visible or noticed — or, in a school exam, a passage students haven't studied beforehand.

“Unseen” is pronounced uhn-SEEN (/ʌnˈsiːn/ in IPA).

Here is “unseen” used in a sentence: “An unseen force seemed to push the door shut.”

Depending on how it is used, “unseen” can be an adjective and a noun.

The word “unseen” comes from Old English. From Old English unġesewen, from un- plus seen.

“Unseen” is an uncommon word in modern English.

“Unseen” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: not seen or noticed; invisible or hidden from view.

Unseen simply means something has not been seen or noticed, even if it could potentially be observed. Invisible describes something that cannot be seen at all, often because it is physically imperceptible. A person can walk through a crowd unseen, but a gas can be truly invisible to the naked eye.

In an educational context, an unseen refers to a text or passage given to students for translation or analysis without any prior preparation or study. It tests a student's ability to respond to unfamiliar material on the spot, rather than recall rehearsed answers.

Yes, unseen commonly describes abstract or intangible things such as forces, dangers, or influences that affect events without being directly observed. For example, writers often refer to 'unseen forces' shaping a situation.