'unpretentious' originates from the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not' and the word 'pretentious,' which comes from the Latin 'praetendere,' meaning 'to pretend or stretch forth.'

'pretentious' evolved from the Latin 'praetendere' through Old French 'pretentieux' and eventually became the modern English word 'pretentious.'

Initially, 'pretentious' meant 'to pretend or stretch forth,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'attempting to impress by affecting greater importance or merit than is actually possessed.'