untiring
untiring
UK[ʌnˈtaɪərɪŋ]US[ʌnˈtaɪrɪŋ]
adj
(of a person or their efforts) continuing at the same rate without loss of vigour; tireless.
Morpheme Breakdown
un
tire
ing
un
not
tire
exhaust
ing
adjective suffix
Etymology
The word 'untiring' is a straightforward English formation built upon the native Germanic verb 'tire,' which descends from the Old English tēorian, meaning "to fail, cease, become weary." This Old English term is of uncertain deeper origin but is part of the Germanic lexical family. The prefix 'un-', from Old English, is added to negate the root, creating the sense of "not becoming weary." The adjectival suffix '-ing,' also from Old English, transforms the verbal phrase into a descriptive quality. Thus, the literal construction "not-wearying" logically yields the modern abstract meaning of persistent and indefatigable effort.
Analysis
Structure: un (not) + tire (exhaust) + ing (adjective suffix)
- un: A prefix of Germanic origin (Old English) meaning "not," serving a negating function.
- tire: A verb of Germanic origin (Old English tēorian, tȳrian) meaning to become weary or exhausted, serving as the core lexical root.
- ing: A suffix of Germanic origin (Old English -ende, -inge) used to form present participles and adjectives, indicating a quality or state.
Examples
She was an untiring advocate for social justice.
His untiring dedication to the project ensured its success.
They expressed their untiring gratitude for the support they received.