unactive en · ADJ
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Germanic *un- Proto-West Germanic *un- Old English un- Middle English un- English un- Proto-Indo-European *h₂eǵ- Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *h₂éǵeti Proto-Italic *agō Latin agō Proto-Indo-European *-wós Proto-Indo-European *-iHwósder. Latin -īvus ▲ Ancient Greek ἐνεργητῐκός (energētĭkós)sl. Latin āctīvusbor. Old French actifbor. Middle English actyf English active English unactive From un- + active. Piecewise doublet of inactive.
Meanings
-
Not active; inactive.
Man hath his daily work of body or mind Appointed, which declares his dignity, And the regard of heav'n on all his ways; While other animals unactive range, And of their doings God takes no account.
1667, John Milton, “Book IV”, in Paradise Lost, lines 618–622:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| more unactive | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| most unactive | Degree=Sup | lexicographic |
Deriveds
unactively · unactiveness · unactivity