unquestioned
Meaning
Not doubted, disputed, or called into question; accepted as true or right.
Not subjected to questioning or interrogation.
Structure
Usage
His authority in the field is largely unquestioned.
She accepted the data with unquestioned faith.
The suspect was taken into custody and held for an unquestioned period.
Etymology
The word "unquestioned" is built upon the core concept of "question," which traces back to the Latin verb quaerere, meaning "to seek, ask." The suffix "-ed" transforms the noun into an adjective, describing something that is in a state of having been asked or inquired into. The addition of the Old English negative prefix "un-" logically inverts this state, creating the meaning "not having been asked" or "not subjected to inquiry." Over time, this literal sense broadened into the modern abstract meanings of being accepted without doubt or challenge, reflecting a societal or intellectual state where scrutiny is absent.
Analysis
- un: A prefix of Germanic origin (Old English un-), meaning "not." It functions as a negator. - question: The core noun/verb from Old French question, from Latin quaestiōnem (the act of seeking, inquiry). It functions as the base word. - ed: A suffix of Germanic origin (Old English -ed, -od), commonly used to form adjectives from nouns or verbs, indicating a state or condition.