Uni- | Meaning Of Prefix Uni- By Etymonline

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Origin and history of uni-

uni-

word-forming element of Latin origin meaning "having one only, single," from Latin uni-, before vowels un-, combining form of unus "one" (from PIE root *oi-no- "one, unique"). Not active in Middle English but in many words taken from French and Latin; its use with English forms or words was established 19c.

Entries linking to uni-

unicameral(adj.)

"consisting of a single (legislative) chamber," 1853, from uni- "one" + Late Latin camera "chamber" (see camera) + -al (1).

unicellular(adj.)

"consisting of a single cell;" 1858, see uni- + cellular.

• unicycle
• unidirectional
• uniform
• unify
• unigeniture
• unipersonal
• unipolar
• unisex
• unisexual
• unitard
• univalve
• univocal
• *oi-no-
• See All Related Words (15)

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unisonhaving one sound, sounding the same," from Late Latin unisonius "in immediate sequence in the scale, monotonous," from Latin uni...unicorn"having one horn," from uni- "one" (from PIE root *oi-no- "one, unique") + cornus "horn" (from PIE root *ker- (1) "horn;...personc. 1200, persoun, "an individual, a human being," from Old French persone "human being, anyone, person" (12c., Modern French personne) and directly from Latin persona "human being, person, personage; a part in a drama, assumed character," originally "a mask, a false face," such atrafficc. 1500, "trade, commerce," from French trafique (15c.), from Italian traffico (14c.), from trafficare "carry on trade," of uncertain origin, perhaps from a Vulgar Latin *transfricare "to rub across," from Latin trans "across" (see trans-) + fricare "to rub" (see friction),dragonmid-13c., dragoun, a fabulous animal common to the conceptions of many races and peoples, from Old French dragon and directly from Latin draconem (nominative draco) "huge serpent, dragon," from Greek drakon (genitive drakontos) "serpent, giant seafish," apparently from drak-, straltruism1853, "unselfishness, devotion to the welfare of others, the opposite of egoism," from French altruisme, coined or popularized 1830 by French philosopher Auguste Comte, with -ism + autrui (Old French altrui) "of or to others," from Latin alteri, dative of alter "other" (see alterengageearly 15c., engagen, "to pledge" (something, as security for payment), from Old French engagier "bind (by promise or oath), pledge; pawn" (12c.), from phrase en gage "under pledge," from en "in" (see en- (1)) + gage "pledge," through Frankish from Proto-Germanic *wadiare "pledge"supplicationlate 14c., supplicacioun, "earnest request, entreaty, plea," from Old French suplicacion "humble request" and directly from Latin supplicationem (nominative supplicatio) "a public prayer, thanksgiving day," noun of action from past-participle stem of supplicare "to beg humbly" (idiligencemid-14c., "constant and earnest effort to accomplish what is undertaken," from Old French diligence "attention, care; haste, speed" and directly from Latin diligentia "attentiveness, carefulness," from diligentem (nominative diligens) "attentive, assiduous, careful," present-partforsakeOld English forsacan "object to, oppose, refuse, deny; give up, renounce" (past tense forsoc, past participle forsacen), from for- "completely" + sacan "to struggle, dispute, wrangle; accuse, blame" (see sake (n.1)). Related: Forsaking. Similar formation in Old Saxon farsakan, Du

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‘cite’Page URL:https://www.etymonline.com/word/uni-CopyHTML Link:<a href="https://www.etymonline.com/word/uni-">Etymology of uni- by etymonline</a>CopyAPA Style:Harper, D. (n.d.). Etymology of uni-. Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved January 3, 2026, from https://www.etymonline.com/word/uni-CopyChicago Style:Harper Douglas, "Etymology of uni-," Online Etymology Dictionary, accessed January 3, 2026, https://www.etymonline.com/word/uni-.CopyMLA Style:Harper, Douglas. "Etymology of uni-." Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/uni-. Accessed 3 January, 2026.CopyIEEE Style:D. Harper. "Etymology of uni-." Online Etymology Dictionary. https://www.etymonline.com/word/uni- (accessed January 3, 2026).CopyRemove AdsAdvertisement

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TrendingDictionary entries near uni-

• unhuman
• unh-unh
• unhurt
• unhygienic
• unhyphenated
• uni-
• Uniate
• unicameral
• UNICEF
• unicellular
• unicorn

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