UNFAMILIAR Meaning and
Definition
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The term "unfamiliar" refers to something that is not known, recognized, or understood due to a lack of prior interaction, exposure, or knowledge. It describes a situation, object, concept, or person that is strange, unusual, or unfamiliar to an individual or a group. When encountering an unfamiliar entity, people may experience feelings of uncertainty, confusion, or discomfort as they navigate through a novel or unknown territory.
In the context of places or environments, being unfamiliar suggests being in an area that is completely new or foreign, lacking any prior acquaintance or experience. Similarly, in relation to objects, an unfamiliar item is one that has not been seen, used, or encountered before, thereby lacking familiarity and previous knowledge. The concept of unfamiliarity can also extend to ideas, theories, or concepts that are new or unfamiliar to an individual's knowledge base, requiring further exploration and understanding.
In terms of interpersonal relationships, unfamiliarity may refer to a lack of familiarity between individuals. This could imply that they have not previously met or interacted with each other, resulting in a lack of knowledge or understanding of each other's personality or characteristics.
Overall, the concept of unfamiliarity pertains to anything that is not known, recognized, or understood by an individual or group due to a lack of prior experience, exposure, or knowledge. It implies novelty, unfamiliar territory, or unexplored aspects that require further exploration, understanding, or acclimation.
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Not rendered agreeable by frequent use; not accustomed.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Top Common Misspellings for UNFAMILIAR *
* 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.
Other Common Misspellings for UNFAMILIAR
Etymology of UNFAMILIAR
The word "unfamiliar" consists of two parts: "un-" and "familiar".
The prefix "un-" is derived from the Old English word "un-", which has a negative or reversing effect when attached to a word. It is akin to the German "un-", Dutch "on-", and Latin "in-".
The word "familiar" comes from the Latin term "familiaris", which originally meant "pertaining to a household or family". Over time, it evolved to signify "known", "close", or "friendly". It is derived from the Latin noun "famulus", meaning "servant" or "household slave", ultimately traced back to the Indo-European root *dʰems- ("house").
When combined, "unfamiliar" essentially means "not known", "not close", or "not friendly".
Idioms with the word UNFAMILIAR
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unfamiliar territory
The idiom "unfamiliar territory" refers to being in a situation or place that is unknown or unfamiliar, often implying a sense of discomfort or uneasiness due to lack of knowledge or experience in that particular domain.
Similar spelling words for UNFAMILIAR
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