intact
UK[ɪnˈtækt]US[ɪnˈtækt]
adj
Not damaged or impaired in any way; complete and whole.
adj
(of a person) untouched, especially by anything that harms or sullies.
Morpheme Breakdown
in
tact
in
not
tact
touched
Etymology
The word 'intact' is a direct borrowing from the Latin intactus, meaning "untouched, uninjured, whole." It is formed from the negative prefix in- (not) combined with the past participle tactus of the verb tangere (to touch). The core semantic logic is beautifully preserved: something that has "not been touched" remains in its original, undamaged state. This literal sense of being physically untouched evolved to encompass abstract notions of purity, completeness, and preservation from any form of harm or alteration.
Analysis
Structure: in (not) + tact (touched)
- in: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "not" or "without".
- tact: From Latin tactus (a touching, sense of touch), from the verb tangere (to touch). In this word, it functions as the root meaning "touched".
Examples
The ancient vase was discovered intact, buried deep within the tomb.
Despite the fierce battle, the castle's main tower remained intact.
Her reputation emerged from the scandal completely intact.