. [ OE. un-, on-, the unaccented form of the accented prefix and- (cf. Answer); akin to D. ont-, G. ent-, OHG. int-, Goth. and-. See Anti-. ] An inseparable verbal prefix or particle. It is prefixed: (a) To verbs to express the contrary, and not the simple negative, of the action of the verb to which it is prefixed; as in unbend, uncoil, undo, unfold. (b) To nouns to form verbs expressing privation of the thing, quality, or state expressed by the noun, or separation from it; as in unchild, unsex. Sometimes particles and participial adjectives formed with this prefix coincide in form with compounds of the negative prefix un- (see 2d Un-); as in undone (from undo), meaning unfastened, ruined; and undone (from 2d un- and done) meaning not done, not finished. Un- is sometimes used with an intensive force merely; as in unloose. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Compounds of this prefix are given in full in their proper order in the Vocabulary. [ 1913 Webster ]

. [ OE. & AS. un-; akin to OFries. un-, D. on-, OS., OHG., & G. un-, Icel. ō-, ū-, Sw. o-, Dan. u-, W. an-, L. in-, Gr. &unr_;, &unr_;, Skr. an-, a-. √193. Cf. A- not In- not, No, adv. ] An inseparable prefix, or particle, signifying not; in-; non-. In- is prefixed mostly to words of Latin origin, or else to words formed by Latin suffixes; un- is of much wider application, and is attached at will to almost any adjective, or participle used adjectively, or adverb, from which it may be desired to form a corresponding negative adjective or adverb, and is also, but less freely, prefixed to nouns. Un- sometimes has merely an intensive force; as in unmerciless, unremorseless. [ 1913 Webster ]

I. Un- is prefixed to adjectives, or to words used adjectively. Specifically: -- [ 1913 Webster ]

(a) To adjectives, to denote the absence of the quality designated by the adjective; as, -- [ 1913 Webster ]

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n. Inability. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Not able; not having sufficient strength, means, knowledge, skill, or the like; impotent; weak; helpless; incapable; -- now usually followed by an infinitive or an adverbial phrase; as, unable for work; unable to bear fatigue. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sapless age and weak unable limbs. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Disabled. [ Obs. ] B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Inability. [ Obs. ] Hales. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Naut.) The English name for a catboat; -- so called because Una was the name of the first boat of this kind taken to England. D. Kemp. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Not abridged, or shortened; full; complete; entire; whole. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Not absorbable; specifically (Physiol.), not capable of absorption; unable to pass by osmosis into the circulating blood; as, the unabsorbable portion of food. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being unacceptable; unacceptableness. [ 1913 Webster ]