unwelcoming
|un-wel-com-ing|
B2
/ʌnˈwɛlkəmɪŋ/
not friendly
Etymology
Etymology Information
'unwelcoming' originates from the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not' and the word 'welcoming', which comes from Old English 'wilcuma', where 'wil-' meant 'pleasure' and 'cuma' meant 'guest'.
Historical Evolution
'welcoming' changed from the Old English word 'wilcuma' and eventually became the modern English word 'welcome', with 'un-' added to form 'unwelcoming'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, 'welcome' meant 'a pleasing guest', but 'unwelcoming' evolved to mean 'not making someone feel welcome'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
not friendly or receptive; making someone feel unwelcome.
The atmosphere in the room was unwelcoming.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:40