unresolved
Meaning
not settled or concluded; not having found a solution
(of a feeling or problem) not having been dealt with successfully
Structure
Usage
the central mystery of the case remains unresolved.
she left with a sense of unresolved anger towards the management.
many technical issues from the last meeting are still unresolved.
Etymology
The word 'unresolved' is a Modern English formation built upon the verb 'resolve,' which itself entered English from Latin resolvere via Old French. The Latin root resolvere combines the prefix re- ("again" or "back") with solvere ("to loosen"), creating a sense of "loosening back" or "releasing," which evolved into the meanings of finding a solution or making a firm decision. The addition of the Old English negative prefix un- directly reverses this state, indicating something that has not been loosened, released, or settled. Thus, the word's literal morphemic logic flows from "not-loosened-again" to the modern abstract sense of a problem or feeling that remains unsettled or without a conclusion.
Analysis
- un: a prefix of germanic origin (old english) meaning "not," used to form negatives. - re: a prefix of latin origin meaning "again" or "back." - solved: from the verb 'solve,' from latin solvere meaning "to loosen, release, settle."