uncouth

uncouth
uncouth (adj.) O.E. uncuð "unknown, uncertain, unfamiliar," from UN- (Cf. un-) (1) "not" + cuð "known, well-known," pp. of cunnan "to know" (see CAN (Cf. can) (v.)). Meaning "strange, crude, clumsy" is first recorded 1510s. The compound (and the thing it describes) widespread in IE languages, Cf. L. ignorantem, O.N. ukuðr, Goth. unkunþs, Skt. ajnatah, Armenian ancanaut', Gk. agnotos, O.Ir. ingnad "unknown."

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Uncouth — Un*couth , a. [OE. uncouth, AS. unc?? unknown, strange: un (see {Un } not) + c?? known, p. p. of cunnan to know. See {Can} to be able, and cf. {Unco}, {Unked}.] 1. Unknown. [Obs.] This uncouth errand. Milton. [1913 Webster] To leave the good that …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • uncouth — I adjective agrestis, awkward, barbaric, barbarous, boorish, brutish, callow, churlish, clownish, clumsy, coarse, crass, crude, discourteous, doltish, gawky, graceless, gross, heavy handed, ill bred, ill mannered, impolite, incultus, indelicate,… …   Law dictionary

  • uncouth — *rude, rough, crude, raw, callow, green Analogous words: *awkward, clumsy, gauche …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • uncouth — [adj] clumsy, uncultivated awkward, barbaric, boorish, cheap, clownish, coarse, crass, crude, discourteous, disgracious, gawky, graceless, gross, heavy handed, ill bred, illmannered, impertinent, impolite, inelegant, loud, loud mouthed, loutish,… …   New thesaurus

  • uncouth — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ lacking good manners, refinement, or grace. ORIGIN Old English, «unknown» …   English terms dictionary

  • uncouth — [unko͞oth′] adj. [ME < OE uncuth, unknown < un , not + cuth, pp. of cunnan, to know: see CAN1] 1. Archaic not known or familiar; strange 2. awkward; clumsy; ungainly 3. uncultured; crude; boorish uncouthly adv. uncouthness n …   English World dictionary

  • uncouth — adj. 1 (of a person, manners, appearance, etc.) lacking in ease and polish; uncultured, rough (uncouth voices; behaviour was uncouth). 2 archaic not known; desolate; wild; uncivilized (an uncouth place). Derivatives: uncouthly adv. uncouthness n …   Useful english dictionary

  • uncouth — uncouthly, adv. uncouthness, n. /un koohth /, adj. 1. awkward, clumsy, or unmannerly: uncouth behavior; an uncouth relative who embarrasses the family. 2. strange and ungraceful in appearance or form. 3. unusual or strange. [bef. 900; ME; OE… …   Universalium

  • uncouth — [OE] Uncouth originally meant ‘unknown’ or ‘unfamiliar’ – a sense which survived into the 17th century (‘Now the whole superficies of the earth as well uncouth as discovered, is but a little point’, John Boys, Works 1616). ‘Crude, awkward’ is a… …   The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins

  • uncouth — [[t]ʌ̱nku͟ːθ[/t]] ADJ GRADED (disapproval) If you describe a person as uncouth, you mean that their behaviour is rude, noisy, and unpleasant. ...that oafish, uncouth person. Syn: coarse …   English dictionary

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