unsoftened
|un-soft-ened|
🇺🇸
/ʌnˈsɑːfənd/
🇬🇧
/ʌnˈsɒfənd/
(unsoften)
not made soft / not softened
Etymology
'unsoftened' originates from English, formed by the prefix 'un-' (meaning 'not') added to the verb 'soften'.
'soften' comes from Old English/Middle English roots (from 'soft' + the verb-forming suffix '-en'); 'un-' is an Old English prefix 'un-' meaning 'not'. These combined in Modern English to form 'unsoften' and its inflected forms such as 'unsoftened'.
Initially the components meant 'not' + 'make soft'; over time the combined form has been used simply to indicate something that has not been softened or has been made not soft, with little change in basic meaning.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
past participle form of 'unsoften' (i.e., 'made not soft' or 'caused not to be softened').
The metal remained unsoftened after the failed heat treatment.
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Adjective 1
not softened; remaining hard, harsh, or not made less severe or less intense.
The critic's unsoftened remarks surprised the committee.
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Last updated: 2025/09/19 16:51