“
The prefix un means not, reverse action, deprive of, release from.”
Great. What about UN as a prefix to verbs that don’t exist in the positive?
Undulate: Dulate. Not even a guess.
Unearth: Reearth? To earth does exist, much to my surprise.
* cover the root and lower stem of a plant with heaped-up earth.
English has un nouns as well.
Underwear: Derwear? Overwear, that’s a stretch. Outerwear? If so, why isn’t it Innerwear?
Uncuous: Cuous. Nope.
And then UN words that mean the same as their negative counterpart?
Unravel: Ravel? It means the same thing.
* untangle or unravel something
It’s a good thing English is my first language.
©2014 Sandra R. Davidson
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For some reason this made me giggle. I love your work missy.
Now, I do believe that’s a first for you and my writing.
No it’s not. LOL!!
Oh dear, the complexities of the English language… which extends beyond prefixes/grammar.
Think of pronunciation…
tomayto or tomahto? potayto or potahto? 🙂
Writer In Transit
Talk about never ending journey! I’m lagging on A-Z, and we’re so close to the finish. Glad to see you stopped by.
lol this one made me laugh, hard. English isn’t my first language– but I’m so used to it I don’t see ‘these’ things any more– thanks for pointing them out, and the laugh 🙂
My pleasure. Laughter is always a mutual gift.