(b) To past particles, or to adjectives formed after the analogy of
past particles, to indicate the absence of the condition or state
expressed by them; as, -Unabolishable Unabsolvable Unabsurd
Unabundant Unaccordant Unadoptable Unadventurous Unaffable
Unaffectionate Unafraid Unalliable Unallowablew Unalterable
Unambiguous Unambitious Unamendable Un-American Unamusive Unangular
Unanxious Unapocryphal Unapostolic Unapparent Unappeasable
Unapplausive Unappreciable Unapprehensible Unapprehensive
Unapproachable Unartificial Unartistic Unassailable Unattainable
Unattentive Unauthentic Unavailable Unbailable Unbearable Unbeautiful
Unbeliefful Unbelievable Unbeneficial Unbenevolent Unblamable
Unblemishable Unblissful Unboastful Unbold Unbookish Unbounteous
Unbribable Unbrotherly Unburdensome Unbusinesslike Unbusy Uncandid
Uncanonical Uncaptious Uncareful Uncelestial Unceremonious
Unchallengeable Unchangeable Unchary Unchastisable Uncheerful
—— and the like.
(c) To present particles which come from intransitive verbs, or are themselves employed as adjectives, to mark the absence of the activity, disposition, or condition implied by the participle; as, — —- and the like.
Note: The above classes of words are unlimited in extent, and such compounds may be formed by any writer or speaker at will from almost all the adjectives or participles in the language, excepting those which have a recognized and usual negative correspondent with the prefix -in. No attempt will be made, therefore, to define them all in this Dictionary; many will be omitted from its Vocabulary which are negations of the simple word, and are readily explained by prefixing a not to the latter. Derivatives of these words in -ly and -ness will also, for the most part, be omitted for the same or similar reasons. There will be inserted as separate articles with definitions, the following: —1. Those which have acquired an opposed or contrary, instead of a merely negative, meaning; as, unfriendly, ungraceful, unpalatable, unquiet, and the like; or else an intensive sense more than a prefixed not would express; as, unending, unparalleled, undisciplined, undoubted, unsafe, and the like. 2. Those which have the value of independent words, inasmuch as the simple words are either not used at all, or are rarely, or at least much less frequently, used; as, unavoidable, unconscionable, undeniable, unspeakable, unprecedented, unruly, and the like; or inasmuch as they are used in a different sense from the usual meaning of the primitive, or especially in one of the significations of the latter; as, unaccountable, unalloyed, unbelieving, unpretending, unreserved, and the like; or inasmuch as they are so frequently and familiarly used that they are hardly felt to be of negative origin; as, uncertain, uneven, and the like. 3. Those which are anomalous, provincial, or, for some other reason, not desirable to be used, and are so indicated; as, unpure for impure, unsatisfaction for dissatisfaction, unexpressible for inexpressible, and the like. II.
Defn: Un- is prefixed to nouns to express the absence of, or the contrary of, that which the noun signifies; as, unbelief, unfaith, unhealth, unrest, untruth, and the like.
Note: Compounds of this last class are given in full in their proper order in the Vocabulary.
UNABILITY
Un`a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: Inability. [Obs.]
UNABLE
Un*a"ble, a.
Defn: 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. Sapless age and weak unable limbs. Shak.