unobjectionable
unobjectionable
UK[ˌʌnəbˈdʒekʃənəbl̩]US[ˌʌnəbˈdʒekʃənəbl̩]
adj
not causing or likely to cause any objection or disapproval; acceptable.
Morpheme Breakdown
un
object
ion
able
un
not
object
oppose
ion
noun suffix
able
capable of
Etymology
the word "unobjectionable" is a layered construction built upon the core concept of opposition. its foundation is the latin verb obicere, meaning "to throw against" or "to oppose," which evolved into the english noun "object," signifying something presented in opposition. the suffix "-ion" transforms the verbal action into a state or condition ("objection"). the adjective-forming suffix "-able" is then added to indicate the quality of being capable of incurring that state, resulting in "objectionable," meaning "open to criticism or disapproval." finally, the old english prefix "un-" is applied to negate the entire concept, creating the modern meaning of "not capable of being opposed or disapproved of." this etymological journey illustrates how a physical act of throwing against was abstracted into a mental stance of disapproval, which was then grammatically modified to express the complete absence of that negative quality.
Analysis
Structure: un (not) + object (oppose) + ion (noun suffix) + able (capable of)
- un: a prefix of germanic origin, meaning "not," used to form negatives.
- object: from latin objectum, meaning "thing presented to the mind," from obicere ("to throw or put in the way, oppose").
- ion: a suffix of latin origin, forming nouns denoting action or condition.
- able: a suffix of latin origin (via french), meaning "capable of, fit for, tending to."
Examples
his remarks were polite and completely unobjectionable.
the proposed changes to the schedule seem perfectly unobjectionable.
they settled on a neutral, unobjectionable topic of conversation.