unmarkedness
|un-marked-ness|
🇺🇸
/ʌnˈmɑrkɪdnəs/
🇬🇧
/ʌnˈmɑːkɪdnəs/
absence of a mark; default/neutral state
Etymology
'unmarkedness' originates from English, specifically formed from the prefix 'un-' (from Old English 'un-' meaning 'not'), the adjective 'marked' (from 'mark', Old English 'mearc'/'mearcian' meaning 'boundary, sign'), and the noun-forming suffix '-ness' (from Old English '-nes(s)e' meaning 'state or quality').
'unmarkedness' developed by combining 'un-' + 'marked' + '-ness'. The element 'mark' changed from Old English 'mearc' (boundary, sign) into Middle English 'mark' and then yielded the adjective 'marked'; adding 'un-' produced 'unmarked', and the suffix '-ness' formed 'unmarkedness'.
Initially it meant 'the absence of a physical mark or sign'; over time it acquired a technical linguistic sense of 'the default or neutral form' opposite to 'markedness'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the state or quality of having no mark, stain, or distinguishing sign; absence of a physical mark.
The unmarkedness of the fabric made it suitable for many different uses.
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Noun 2
in linguistics, the quality of being the default, neutral, or less conspicuous form (the opposite of 'markedness').
Unmarkedness often explains why one form is chosen as the default in a language's grammar.
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Last updated: 2025/12/19 05:43