Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “unmotivated” come from?

Unmotivated derives from English un- plus motivated, which comes from Latin mōtus (moved) via mōvēre, ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European h₂ent- (to be).

unmotivated (English): Lacking motivation, without impetus to strive or...

Definitions

  1. Lacking motivation, without impetus to strive or...

Ancestry of “unmotivated”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishmotivateTo provide someone with an incentive to do...
2English-atehaving the specified thing; characterized by the...
3English-cyUsed to form nouns of state, condition or quality...
4Anglo-Norman-cie—
5Latin-tiaoffice, rank
6Latin-iaUsed to form a feminine abstract noun, usually...
7Latin-iusforming adjectives from nouns; nominative neuter...
8Proto-Italic-jōsForms comparative adjectives
9Proto-Indo-European-yósCreates adjectives from noun or verb stems
Every word from Proto-Indo-European -yós →