Pronunciation: [ʌnɐtˈɛndɪd] (IPA) 
The word "unattended" is spelled as /ʌnəˈtɛndɪd/. It consists of five syllables and can be divided into three parts: "un-" as a prefix meaning "not," "atten-" from the word "attend," and "-ed" as a suffix indicating past tense. The vowel sound in the first syllable is pronounced as [ʌ], and the second syllable includes a schwa sound [ə]. In the last syllable, the letter "i" is pronounced as [ɪ], and the final sound is [d].
Unattended refers to something that is not given attention, care, or supervision. It describes objects, situations, or activities that lack the presence or involvement of someone who can monitor, manage, or look after them.
Typically used to describe physical objects or locations, unattended implies that no one is present to attend to or oversee them. For instance, an unattended suitcase in a public place is one that has been left alone without anyone looking after it. Similarly, an unattended house refers to a dwelling that has no inhabitants or caretakers present at a given time. The term suggests a sense of abandonment or neglect, highlighting the absence of someone responsible or accountable for the object or location.
Unattended can also refer to the lack of supervision or care in a behavioral or social context. This may involve activities or situations where individuals are left to themselves without guidance or observation. For example, an unattended child is one who is not under the direct supervision of an adult. It implies that the child is left alone, disregarded, or without appropriate attention, which may pose risks to their safety or well-being.
In summary, unattended refers to the state of something being left without supervision, care, or attention, whether it be physical objects, places, or individuals. It conveys a sense of abandonment or neglect, highlighting the absence of someone responsible for ensuring the well-being or proper management of the entity in question.
Not accompanied; having no attendants.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word unattended can be traced back to the combination of two root words: un- and attended.
The prefix un- is derived from Old English and has the meaning of not or lack of. It is commonly used to create negation or reversal in words.
The root word attended comes from the Old French word atendre, which means to wait or to expect. Atendre originated from the Latin word attendere, which combines ad (meaning to) and tendere (meaning to stretch or to extend).
Therefore, when these two parts are combined, unattended literally means not attended or lack of attention.
