unfair English · revision 7064

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1700}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ʌnˈfɛə(ɹ)/, /ʌnˈfɛː(ɹ)/ ''(UK)''; /ʌnˈfɛɚ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[un-]] and [[fair]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) Old English had [[m|ang|unfæger|t=unlovely, ugly]], from the older sense of fair, and this sense persisted into Middle English.^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Not equitable or impartial, unjust: 1713, in Berkeley;^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) MWU dates it to 1700.^(MWU 2024) The older sense, not beautiful, is from about 888 and obsolete.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Wicked or evil is an obsolete Middle English sense.^(OED 1989) Of persons and their minds it is from 1724.^(OED 1989) Of the wind, unfavourable, is from 1801.^(OED 1989) Of an employer, not paying the usual wages, is from 1886,^(OED 1989) and ''unfair competition'' and ''unfair dismissal'' are legal uses.^(OED 1989)^(LDOCE 2009) Shakespeare used a verb unfair, to deprive of beauty.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 888 – not beautiful (obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1713 – unjust.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1801 – of the wind, unfavourable.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1886 – not paying the usual wages.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Not based on or behaving according to the principles of [[equality]] and [[justice]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Not following the rules of a game or sport.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[unfairly]]

+ * [[unfairness]]

+ * [[unfair competition]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[fair]]

+ * [[fairness]]

+ * [[unjust]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}