unambiguous
Meaning
clear in meaning; not able to be understood in more than one way
Structure
Usage
The instructions were unambiguous and easy to follow.
She gave an unambiguous denial of the allegations.
The data provides unambiguous evidence to support the theory.
Etymology
The word 'unambiguous' is a modern English formation built upon the existing adjective 'ambiguous'. The core of the word, 'ambiguous', entered English in the early 16th century from the Latin ambiguus, which described a state of uncertainty or being open to multiple interpretations. This Latin term derived from the verb ambigere, literally meaning 'to drive or go around,' a metaphor for hesitation or wavering between two points. By adding the Old English-derived negative prefix 'un-', meaning "not," the word directly and logically inverts the core meaning, resulting in the precise modern sense of 'clear, not open to multiple interpretations.'
Analysis
- un: A prefix of Germanic (Old English) origin, meaning "not." It is a common negating prefix in English. - ambiguous: An adjective of Latin origin, from ambiguus ('doubtful, wavering'), itself from ambigere ('to go around, hesitate'), combining ambi- ('both, around') and agere ('to drive, lead, act').