The word "unchastised" is spelled /ʌnˈtʃeɪstaɪzd/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The first syllable "un" is pronounced as "ʌn" which means not or opposite of. The second syllable "chast" is pronounced as "tʃeɪst" which means pure or innocent. The suffix "ised" is pronounced as "aɪzd" which indicates the past participle form of the verb "chastise". Therefore, the word "unchastised" means not punished or not condemned for an improper behavior or action.
Unchastised is an adjective that describes a state or condition of being not reprimanded or not disciplined for one's actions or behaviors. It refers to the absence of receiving any form of admonishment, punishment, or correction for a certain conduct, either minor or major.
When someone is unchastised, they have escaped any negative consequences or repercussions for their wrongdoing. This could be due to avoiding detection or because the authority figure or disciplinary entity responsible for enforcing consequences failed to take action. Consequently, the individual remains unaffected by any censure or penalty for their actions.
The term unchastised can be applied to various situations, ranging from minor personal misdeeds to significant societal transgressions. It implies that the person involved hasn't received the necessary guidance or correction to discourage repetition of their inappropriate behavior.
Unchastised can also be used metaphorically to describe the absence of criticism or blame in a non-literal sense. For example, one may refer to an unchastised opinion or an unchastised mistake, indicating that the viewpoint or error in question has gone unacknowledged, uncorrected, or unaddressed by others.
Overall, unchastised emphasizes the state of being untouched by reproach, discipline, or punishment, leaving the person or action unaltered and potentially leading to further instances of the same behavior.
Not corrected or punished.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word unchastised is derived from the combination of the prefix un- and the verb chastise.
The verb chastise has its roots in Old French chastier, which meant to punish or to chasten. The Old French word itself came from the Latin term castigare, which conveyed the idea of to correct or to make better.
The prefix un- is a common prefix in English that indicates negation or reversal. Therefore, when the prefix un- is added to chastised, it creates the word unchastised, which means not chastised or not punished.