unrevealing
Meaning
Not revealing or disclosing information, especially that which is interesting or significant; not informative.
(of clothing) Not revealing the shape of the body; modest.
Structure
Usage
The spokesperson's statement was carefully crafted and unrevealing.
She wore an unrevealing, high-necked dress to the formal event.
The archaeological findings were fragmentary and largely unrevealing about the daily life of the culture.
Etymology
The word 'unrevealing' is a modern English formation built upon the well-established verb 'reveal.' Its core, 'reveal,' originates from the Latin revelare, which literally meant "to pull back the veil" (re- "back" + velum "veil, covering"). This vivid metaphor for disclosure entered English through Old French. The addition of the negative prefix 'un-', a staple of the Germanic linguistic tradition, directly inverts the meaning to "not disclosing." Finally, the participial '-ing' suffix transforms the verbal idea into an adjective describing a state or quality, completing the logical construction of a word that denotes a deliberate or inherent lack of disclosure, whether of information or physical form.
Analysis
- un: A prefix of Germanic origin (Old English un-), meaning "not." It is a highly productive negative prefix in English. - reveal: A verb from Latin revelare ("to unveil, disclose"), via Old French reveler. It is composed of re- ("back, again") and velare ("to cover, veil"). - ing: A suffix from Old English -ende or -ing, used to form present participles and adjectives from verbs, indicating a quality or state.