Langimage
English

unpainted

|un/paint/ed|

A2

/ʌnˈpeɪntɪd/

(unpaint)

not covered with paint

Base Form3rd Person Sing.PastPast ParticiplePresent ParticipleComparativeSuperlativeAdjective
unpaintunpaintsunpaintedunpaintedunpaintingmore unpaintedmost unpaintedunpainted
Etymology
Etymology Information

'unpainted' originates from English formation: the negative prefix 'un-' (Old English 'un-') combined with the verb 'paint' and the adjective-forming suffix '-ed'.

Historical Evolution

'paint' comes into English via Old French 'peint' (from Latin 'pingere' meaning 'to paint'); the negative prefix 'un-' is from Old English 'un-'. The modern adjective 'unpainted' is a straightforward combination of these elements in Modern English.

Meaning Changes

Initially the elements meant 'not' + 'to coat with paint', and over time the compound retained the straightforward meaning 'not painted' with occasional figurative uses ('unadorned').

Meanings by Part of Speech

Verb 1

past tense or past participle form of 'unpaint' (to remove paint from, or to leave without paint).

They unpainted the model to restore its original surface.

Synonyms

(past form of) unpaint

Adjective 1

not coated or covered with paint; having no paint applied.

The fence was left unpainted over the winter.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Adjective 2

not decorated or embellished; plain or natural in appearance (figurative use).

He preferred the unpainted truth to comforting lies.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Last updated: 2026/01/14 04:36