unspoiled
unspoiled
UK[ʌnˈspɔɪld]US[ʌnˈspɔɪld]
adj
(of a place) not changed or damaged by people, and often beautiful because of this.
adj
(of a person, especially a child) not made unpleasant or badly behaved by being given too much attention or praise.
Morpheme Breakdown
un
spoil
ed
un
not
spoil
damage
ed
adjective suffix
Etymology
the word "unspoiled" is a relatively modern english formation, built upon the older verb "spoil." the verb "spoil" entered english from old french 'espoillier,' which itself derived from latin 'spoliare,' meaning 'to strip, plunder, rob,' from 'spolium' (plunder, skin). the original sense was one of violent theft or stripping of valuables. over time, the meaning softened and broadened in english to signify ruining something's goodness or purity, whether through overindulgence or physical damage. the prefix "un-," of ancient germanic lineage, is added to negate this state, creating the sense of "not having been damaged or corrupted." the suffix "-ed" completes the adjective, describing the resultant condition. thus, the literal morphemic logic of "not having been damaged" perfectly aligns with its modern meanings of pristine landscapes or uncorrupted character.
Analysis
Structure: un (not) + spoil (damage) + ed (adjective suffix)
un: a prefix of germanic origin (old english) meaning "not".
spoil: a verb of latin origin (latin 'spolium' meaning 'skin stripped from an animal, plunder') via old french 'espoillier'. in this word, it functions as the core root meaning "to damage, to make less good".
ed: a suffix of germanic origin (old english) used to form adjectives from verbs or nouns, indicating a state or condition.
Examples
the island has miles of beautiful, unspoiled beaches.
we found a charming village in an unspoiled valley.
despite her fame, she remained remarkably unspoiled and down-to-earth.