unconscionably
Meaning
in a way that is not right or reasonable; shockingly excessive or unfair.
in a way that shows no regard for conscience; unscrupulously.
Structure
Usage
the contract terms were unconscionably biased in favor of the corporation.
he was unconscionably late, making everyone miss the opening act.
the lawyer argued that the fee charged was unconscionably high.
Etymology
The word 'unconscionably' is built upon the core concept of 'conscience', which originates from Latin 'conscientia', meaning 'knowledge within oneself, sense of right and wrong'. The prefix 'un-' negates this quality, forming 'unconscionable', an adjective describing actions devoid of moral restraint. The adverbial suffix '-ably', derived from Latin '-abilis' via Old French, is then added to describe the manner of such action. Thus, the literal progression is from 'having no inner moral knowledge' to describing actions performed in a shockingly immoral or excessive way.
Analysis
un- (old english, a prefix meaning 'not'), conscion (english, a rare or archaic form of 'conscience'), -ably (latin via old french, an adverbial suffix meaning 'in a manner that can be').