nondepressed
UK[ˌnɒndɪˈprest]US[ˌnɑːndɪˈprest]
adj
Not suffering from depression, especially clinical depression.
adj
Not in a state of low spirits or reduced activity; not gloomy or dejected.
Morpheme Breakdown
non
de
pressed
non
not
de
down
pressed
pressed
Etymology
The word 'nondepressed' is a modern English formation built upon the adjective 'depressed.' The term 'depressed' originates from the Latin verb deprimere, meaning "to press down," a compound of de- ("down") and premere ("to press"). This literal sense evolved metaphorically to describe a state of low spirits or economic activity, and later became a clinical term for a mental health condition. By adding the negative prefix 'non-' of Latin origin, the word directly and logically creates its opposite, denoting the absence of the condition or state of being pressed down, either psychologically or metaphorically.
Analysis
Structure: non (not) + de (down) + pressed (pressed)
- non: A prefix of Latin origin, meaning "not" or "the absence of." It functions as a negative particle.
- de: A prefix of Latin origin, meaning "down," "away," or "off." It indicates reversal or removal.
- pressed: From the Latin root pressus, the past participle of premere ("to press"). In this context, it functions as the core element meaning "pressed down" or "weighed down."
Examples
The study compared the cognitive performance of depressed and nondepressed participants.
She maintained a surprisingly nondepressed outlook despite the difficult circumstances.
The patient was diagnosed as nondepressed after a thorough psychiatric evaluation.