irregardless

The word 'irregardless' is a modern, nonstandard formation that redundantly combines two negative elements. It is built upon the core word 'regard', which entered English from Old French and ultimately derives from a Germanic root meaning 'to guard or care for'. The suffix '-less' is a native English element meaning 'without', which already creates the negative sense 'without regard'. The addition of the Latin negative prefix 'ir-' (a form of 'in-') creates a double negative, making the word logically mean 'not without regard', which is the opposite of its intended meaning. Despite this illogical construction and its frequent criticism by prescriptivists, the word has persisted in colloquial and dialectal use since at least the 19th century, serving as an emphatic synonym for 'regardless'.

Structure: ir + regard + less - ir: A prefix of Latin origin, a variant of 'in-' meaning 'not'. - regard: From Old French 'regarder', meaning 'to look at, heed, consider'. - less: A suffix of Old English origin, meaning 'without, lacking'.