unconscionable
Meaning
not right or reasonable; shockingly unfair or excessive
having or showing no moral conscience
Structure
Usage
the contract contained unconscionable terms that heavily favored the corporation.
it would be unconscionable to ignore their plea for help.
the judge ruled that the fee was unconscionable and reduced it substantially.
Etymology
the word "unconscionable" has a layered history rooted in latin moral philosophy. it originates from the latin "conscientia", meaning "joint knowledge" or "awareness within oneself", which evolved into the english "conscience". the prefix "con-" (with) was fused to the root "scire" (to know). in english, the adjective "conscionable", meaning "guided by conscience", emerged in the 16th century. the addition of the negating prefix "un-" created "unconscionable", literally meaning "not knowing with oneself" or "lacking inner moral awareness". this literal sense evolved to describe actions so extreme they seem to defy or be devoid of any moral sense, leading to its modern meanings of gross unfairness or a lack of ethical restraint.
Analysis
- un: a prefix of english origin, from old english, meaning "not". it functions as a negator. - con: a prefix of latin origin, from the latin preposition "cum", meaning "with" or "together". it functions as an intensifier. - scionable: derived from the root of the word "conscience", which itself comes from latin "conscientia" (knowledge within oneself, moral sense). the "-able" suffix forms an adjective meaning "capable of being". the combined form "scionable" approximates "knowing" or "conscious".