unsensual
|un-sen-su-al|
/ʌnˈsɛnʃuəl/
not sensual
Etymology
'unsensual' originates from English, specifically formed from the prefix 'un-' + the adjective 'sensual', where 'un-' meant 'not' and 'sensual' traces to Latin 'sensualis' (from 'sensus' meaning 'perception, feeling').
'unsensual' was created in Modern English by combining the negative English prefix 'un-' with 'sensual' (which entered English via Old French/Latin from Latin 'sensualis'); the compound follows regular English word-formation patterns rather than a long separate history.
Initially, the components conveyed 'not' + 'sensual'; over time the coined adjective has retained that basic sense of 'not sensual' with occasional extended uses (e.g., 'not sensory').
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
not sensual; lacking sensuality or sexual appeal; not intended to arouse sexual feelings.
The director deliberately kept the scene unsensual to emphasize the characters' emotional distance.
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Adjective 2
rare: not perceived through the senses; lacking sensory quality (used very infrequently).
In philosophical discussion the term was used in an unsensual sense to mean 'beyond sensory perception.'
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Last updated: 2025/11/21 18:26