~ 1
■ prefix
1》 (added to adjectives, participles, and their derivatives) denoting the absence of a quality or state; not: unacademic.
↘the reverse of: unselfish.
2》 (added to nouns) a lack of: untruth.
Origin
OE, of Gmc origin.
Usage
The prefixes ~ and non- both mean ‘not’, but there is often a distinction in terms of emphasis. Un- tends to be stronger and often suggests a particular bias or standpoint, while non- is often more neutral. For example, unnatural means that something is not natural in a negative way, whereas non-natural simply means ‘not natural’.
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~ 2
■ prefix added to verbs:
1》 denoting the reversal or cancellation of an action or state: unsettle.
2》 denoting deprivation, separation, or reduction to a lesser state: unmask.
↘denoting release: unhand.
Origin
OE ~ , on- , of Gmc origin.