unpatriotic
Meaning
not having or showing love for your country or support for its interests
Structure
Usage
he was accused of making unpatriotic statements during the national crisis.
refusing to vote was seen by some as an unpatriotic act.
the editorial criticized the policy as short-sighted and unpatriotic.
Etymology
the word 'unpatriotic' is a modern english formation built upon the older adjective 'patriotic'. the core concept of 'patriot' entered english in the late 16th century from french 'patriote', which itself derives from late latin 'patriota' meaning 'fellow countryman', and ultimately from greek 'patriōtēs', from 'patrios' meaning 'of one's fathers', rooted in 'patēr' (father). the suffix '-ic' is added to form the adjective meaning 'characteristic of a patriot'. the germanic prefix 'un-', one of the most common negating elements in english, is then attached to directly invert the meaning, creating a term that logically denotes the absence of patriotic sentiment. this construction follows a transparent and common pattern in english for forming opposites.
Analysis
- un: a prefix of germanic origin (old english) meaning "not", used to form negative adjectives. - patriotic: an adjective of latin and greek origin, from 'patriot' (a person who loves their country) + the suffix '-ic' (forming adjectives meaning 'of or pertaining to').