Unpaired Words in English
| Word | Paired word(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Disambiguate | *Ambiguate | Not attested; derived from dis- + ambigu(ous) + -ate in the mid-20th century |
| Disconsolate | Consolate | Derived from the Latin consolatus; rarely used |
| Disgruntled | **Gruntled | Conscious jocular back-formation, circa 1938 |
| Disheveled, Dishevelled | *Sheveled, *Shevelled | Not attested; from the Old French deschevelé |
| Feckless | Feckful | Rarely used antonym |
| Gormless (from gaumless) | Gaumy | Form "gormful" does not exist; form "gaumy" is rare and highly region-specific |
| Indomitable | Domitable | Rarely used antonym |
| Ineffable | Effable | Rarely used antonym |
| Inert | *Ert | From Latin iners, meaning "without skill". |
| Intrepid | Trepid | Rarely used antonym (form trepidatious, with redundant adjective ending, is uncommon but less rare) |
| Innocent | Nocent | Not an exact antonym; rarely used |
| Innocuous | Nocuous | Rarely used antonym (almost entirely replaced by descendant noxious) |
| Ruthless | Ruthful | Rarely used antonym |
| Uncouth | **Couth | From Old English cunnan meaning "well-known" or "familiar"; rarely used |
| Ungainly | Gainly | Rarely used antonym |
| Unkempt | Kempt | Rarely used antonym (replaced by passive participle combed as comb replaced kemb; meaning of combed did not undergo homologous extension to cover grooming and hygiene generally) |
| Unruly | Ruly | Rarely used antonym |
| Unstinting | Stinting | Rarely used antonym |
| Untoward | Toward | Not an antonym (untoward evolved from figurative alterations of "toward" involving deviation from norms; toward acquired no homologous figurative meanings) |
| Unwieldy | Wieldy | Rarely used antonym |
*Words not attested or very rare in English usage.
**Jocular or facetious coinages as conscious back-formation.
Read more about this topic: Unpaired Word
Famous quotes containing the words words and/or english:
“A torn jacket is soon mended; but hard words bruise the heart of a child.”
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (20th century)
“If English is spoken in heaven ... God undoubtedly employs Cranmer as his speechwriter. The angels of the lesser ministries probably use the language of the New English Bible and the Alternative Service Book for internal memos.”
—Charles, Prince Of Wales (b. 1948)