unchecked
UK: ʌnˈtʃekt | US: ʌnˈtʃekt
adj. not restrained, controlled, or verified
adj. (of growth or spread) not limited or stopped
The word "unchecked" combines the prefix "un-" (Old English "un-," meaning "not") with the root "check" (from Old French "eschequier," meaning "to control or verify," originally derived from Persian "shāh," meaning "king," via the chess term "check"). The suffix "-ed" turns it into an adjective. The term evolved from the literal sense of "not restrained" (as in chess) to broader meanings of lack of control or verification.
The virus spread unchecked due to lax safety measures.
His enthusiasm went unchecked during the debate.
Unchecked rumors can cause unnecessary panic.
The garden was overgrown with unchecked weeds.
Authorities warned against unchecked use of natural resources.