unhurried
unhurried
UK[ʌnˈhʌr.id]US[ʌnˈhɝː.id]
adj
moving, speaking, or acting in a relaxed way, without haste or urgency.
adj
characterized by a lack of hurry; slow and deliberate.
Morpheme Breakdown
un
hurried
un
not
hurried
rushed
Etymology
the word "unhurried" is a straightforward english formation built upon the concept of haste. its core, "hurry," likely emerged in the late 16th century, perhaps as an onomatopoeic evocation of commotion or rush. by adding the old english negative prefix "un-," meaning "not," the word directly and logically creates its opposite meaning. thus, "unhurried" does not describe a primitive state but a conscious absence—the deliberate lack of rush or haste, evolving into a term that connotes calmness, composure, and measured action.
Analysis
Structure: un (not) + hurried (rushed)
- un: a prefix of germanic origin (old english) meaning "not," used to give a negative or opposite force to adjectives and their derivatives.
- hurried: the past participle form of the verb "hurry," from middle english horien (to rush, drive), of uncertain origin, possibly imitative.
Examples
she walked with an unhurried grace, enjoying the morning sunshine.
he gave an unhurried reply, carefully considering each point.
the film's unhurried pace allows the audience to fully absorb the beautiful scenery.