unattractive
|un/at/trac/tive|
B2
/ˌʌnəˈtræktɪv/
lack of appeal
Etymology
Etymology Information
'unattractive' originates from the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not' and the word 'attractive', which comes from Latin 'attrahere', meaning 'to draw towards'.
Historical Evolution
'attrahere' transformed into the Old French word 'attractif', and eventually became the modern English word 'attractive', with 'un-' added to form 'unattractive'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, 'attractive' meant 'to draw towards', but over time, 'unattractive' evolved to mean 'lacking beauty or charm'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
lacking beauty or charm; not appealing to the senses.
The building was functional but unattractive.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:35