'unrewarded' originates from the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not' and the word 'rewarded' from Old French 'rewarder', where 're-' meant 'again' and 'warder' meant 'to guard'.

'rewarder' transformed into the Middle English word 'rewarden', and eventually became the modern English word 'reward'.

Initially, it meant 'to give something in return', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'not receiving a reward'.