unmemorable
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Meaning
not interesting or remarkable enough to be easily remembered.
Structure
Usage
the speech was filled with unmemorable statistics and failed to engage the audience.
it was a pleasant but ultimately unmemorable meal at the chain restaurant.
many of the supporting characters in the film were sadly unmemorable.
Etymology
The word unmemorable is a Modern English formation built upon the adjective memorable. Its core is the Latin root memor, meaning "mindful," which is itself derived from the Proto-Indo-European root (s)mer-, meaning "to remember." The suffix -able, of Latin origin, was attached to form "memorable," meaning "worthy of being remembered." Finally, the Old English negative prefix un- was prefixed to create the current meaning, "not worthy of being remembered." This construction follows a clear logical path from the ancient concept of memory to the modern evaluation of an experience's lack of lasting impression.
Analysis
- un: a prefix of germanic origin (old english) meaning "not," used to form negative adjectives. - memor: a root from latin memor meaning "mindful, remembering." - able: a suffix from latin -abilis, via old french, meaning "capable of, fit for."