unsafe
Meaning
not safe; involving risk or danger.
Structure
Usage
the building was declared unsafe and immediately evacuated.
it is unsafe to operate machinery without proper training.
the unsafe conditions on the road led to several accidents.
Etymology
The word unsafe is a straightforward English formation built from the adjective safe. The prefix un, with its roots in Old English and ultimately Proto-Germanic, is one of the most common and productive negating elements in the language. Safe entered English in the 13th century from Old French sauf, which derived from Latin salvus, a term conveying wholeness and preservation from harm. Therefore, unsafe literally and logically means "not safe," a direct compositional meaning that has remained consistent since its formation, illustrating a core pattern of English word formation where a native Germanic prefix modifies a Latinate root to create a clear antonym.
Analysis
- un: a prefix of germanic origin (old english) meaning "not," used to give a negative or opposite force to adjectives and their derivatives. - safe: an adjective of latin origin (via old french), from latin salvus meaning "uninjured, healthy, safe." in this word, it functions as the root.