uncomfortable

UK: ʌnˈkʌmftəbl | US: ʌnˈkʌmfərtəbl

Definition

  1. adj. causing physical or mental discomfort

  2. adj. feeling uneasy or awkward

  3. adj. lacking ease or convenience

Structure
un <not>comfort <ease>able <capable of>
Etymology

The word "uncomfortable" combines three morphemes:

  1. "un-" (Old English "un-"), a prefix meaning "not," negates the following root.
  2. "comfort" (Latin "confortare," via Old French "conforter"), meaning "to strengthen" or "ease." Over time, it evolved to signify physical or mental relief.
  3. "-able" (Latin "-abilis"), a suffix indicating capability or tendency.
    Originally, "comfort" implied strengthening (from Latin "fortis," meaning "strong"), but its meaning softened to "ease" in Middle English. Adding "un-" reverses the sense, while "-able" extends it to describe a state of being.
Examples

  1. The hard chair made the long meeting very uncomfortable.

  2. She felt uncomfortable discussing personal matters at work.

  3. The room was uncomfortably hot in the summer.

  4. His silence created an uncomfortable atmosphere.

  5. Wearing tight shoes can be extremely uncomfortable.