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.