unretentive
|un-re-ten-tive|
C1
/ˌʌnrɪˈtɛntɪv/
lacking memory retention
Etymology
Etymology Information
'unretentive' originates from the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not' and the word 'retentive', which comes from Latin 'retentivus', meaning 'holding back'.
Historical Evolution
'retentivus' transformed into the Old French word 'retentif', and eventually became the modern English word 'retentive'. The prefix 'un-' was added to form 'unretentive'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, 'retentive' meant 'capable of holding back', but 'unretentive' evolved to mean 'lacking the ability to retain'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
lacking the ability to retain or remember information.
He was unretentive and often forgot important details.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/02/28 18:36