unsurpassed
Meaning
better or greater than any other; not exceeded or matched.
Structure
Usage
her dedication to the craft is unsurpassed.
the view from the summit offers unsurpassed beauty.
he achieved an unsurpassed record in the history of the competition.
Etymology
the word unsurpassed is a relatively modern english formation, built from familiar components. the negative prefix "un-" combines with the verb "surpass," which itself entered english from middle french surpasser. the french term was a compound of the prefix "sur-" (from latin super, meaning "over") and "passer" (meaning "to pass"). the literal, ancient notion of "passing over" evolved into the figurative sense of exceeding or going beyond a limit or standard. therefore, unsurpassed logically denotes a state of not having been exceeded or gone beyond, signifying the highest degree of quality or achievement.
Analysis
- un: a prefix of germanic origin (old english) meaning "not". - sur: a prefix from latin super- meaning "over, above". - passed: from the verb 'pass', of latin origin (passus "step, pace"), here functioning as a past participle.