unsolved
Meaning
not having been solved or answered
Structure
Usage
the mystery remains unsolved despite years of investigation.
several unsolved problems in mathematics continue to challenge experts.
the detective's file was full of cold and unsolved cases.
Etymology
The word "unsolved" is a Modern English formation built upon the older verb "solve." The core root "solv-" originates from the Latin verb solvere, which meant "to loosen, unfasten, or release," a concept that metaphorically extended to mean "to explain" or "to free from difficulty." The prefix "un-," of Germanic origin, is a highly productive negator in English, applied here to reverse the state indicated by the past participle "solved." Therefore, "unsolved" literally carries the sense of "not having been released or freed," which logically evolved into its contemporary meaning of a problem not yet resolved or a question not yet answered.
Analysis
- un: a prefix of germanic origin (old english) meaning "not," used to form negatives. - solv: a bound root from latin solvere, meaning "to loosen, release, or free." - ed: a suffix of germanic origin (old english) used to form adjectives from verbs or nouns, indicating a state or condition.