unmarked
UK: ʌnˈmɑːkt | US: ʌnˈmɑːrkt
adj. not bearing identifying marks or labels
adj. not noticed or recorded
adj. (linguistics) lacking a grammatical or semantic feature that is typically present
The word "unmarked" combines the Old English prefix "un-" (meaning "not") with the verb "mark" (from Old English "mearcian," meaning "to indicate or note"). The suffix "-ed" turns it into an adjective. Historically, "mark" traces back to Proto-Germanic *markō ("boundary, sign"), reflecting the idea of making something identifiable. The negative prefix "un-" flips the meaning to imply absence of distinction or attention.
The unmarked police car blended into traffic.
Her contributions went unmarked in the final report.
In linguistics, the plural form "cats" is marked, while "sheep" is unmarked.
The grave remained unmarked for decades.
Unmarked trails can be dangerous for hikers.