The word "undeservedly" is spelled with an "un-,"which means "not," followed by "deservedly," which means "in a justified manner." The pronunciation of "undeservedly" is /ˌʌndɪsˈzɜːvədli/. The stress falls on the third syllable. The "s" sound in the middle is pronounced as a voiced "z" because it comes between two vowel sounds. The "e" in "ely" is unstressed and pronounced as a neutral vowel "uh." Overall, the spelling of "undeservedly" follows its pronunciation quite closely.
Undeservedly is an adverb derived from the adjective "undeserved," meaning lacking merit, not worthy, or not earned. It refers to something happening or being given to someone in a manner that is without reason or justification, indicating that the action or outcome is unfair or unjust.
When used to describe a situation, undeservedly implies that the circumstances or consequences are not fitting or appropriate in light of the individual's actions, behavior, or qualities. It suggests that someone is receiving something positive or negative without any justifiable cause, thus violating the principles of fairness, reward, or punishment.
For instance, if someone receives an award or recognition that they did not earn or deserve, it can be said that they received it undeservedly. Similarly, if an individual is subjected to criticism or punishment that exceeds what is appropriate or reasonable for their actions, it can be described as happening undeservedly.
Undeservedly often conveys a sense of injustice or dissatisfaction, pointing out a discrepancy between what is earned or deserved and what actually takes place. It underscores the absence of fairness, equity, or proportionality, emphasizing that the outcome is undesired and contradicts commonly accepted norms or expectations.
Without desert, either good or evil.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word "undeservedly" is derived from the combination of two components: "unde-" and "deservedly".
The prefix "unde-" comes from the Latin word "undē", meaning "from" or "away", indicating the negation or inversion of what follows. In this case, "unde-" implies the opposite of "deservedly" or the absence of deservedness.
The word "deservedly", on the other hand, is formed from the word "deserve", which originated from the Old French word "deservir". It is a combination of the Latin prefix "de-" meaning "down" or "completely", and the Latin verb "servire" meaning "to serve" or "to deserve". So, "deservedly" means to be worthy of something or to have earned something fairly.