unprovoked
UK: ˌʌnprəˈvəʊkt | US: ˌʌnprəˈvoʊkt
adj. Not caused by anything done or said; without justification or stimulus.
unprovoked = un<not> + provoke<incite> + ed<past participle suffix>
- un: A prefix meaning "not," from Old English un-, of Germanic origin.
- provoke: From Latin provocare (pro- "forth" + vocare "to call"), meaning "to incite or stir up."
- ed: A suffix forming past participles of verbs, indicating completed action.
Etymology Origin:
The word unprovoked combines the negative prefix un- with provoke, derived from Latin provocare ("to call forth"). Originally used in legal and rhetorical contexts, provoke evolved to mean "to incite anger or action." Adding un- negates this, creating a term for actions lacking external incitement. The -ed suffix marks it as an adjective describing such actions.
The attack was completely unprovoked, shocking everyone present.
Her unprovoked kindness made him suspicious.
The dog growled in an unprovoked manner, startling the guests.
Critics condemned the unprovoked aggression as a violation of international law.
He apologized for his unprovoked outburst during the meeting.