unbeaten
Meaning
not defeated or surpassed.
(of a path or track) not previously used or travelled.
Structure
Usage
the team finished the season unbeaten.
he holds an unbeaten record in the competition.
we followed an unbeaten track through the forest.
Etymology
The word "unbeaten" is a straightforward English formation built upon the core verb "beat". The Old English verb "bēatan" meant to strike repeatedly, a sense which naturally extended to defeating an opponent in combat or competition. The past participle suffix "-en" was added to form "beaten", describing the state of having been struck or defeated. Finally, the common Germanic negative prefix "un-" was attached, creating the adjective "unbeaten" to describe something that has not been subjected to this action—remaining undefeated, unsurpassed, or untrodden. Its logic is transparently compositional, directly combining negation with the result of the verb's action.
Analysis
- un: a prefix of germanic origin, meaning "not" or "opposite of". - beat: a verb of old english origin (bēatan), meaning "to strike, hit, or defeat". - en: a suffix of old english origin, used to form past participles of strong verbs.