unbidden — not asked for or invited; coming without being requested
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: not asked for or invited; coming without being requested
Pronunciation (IPA): /ʌnˈbɪdən/
Example Sentences
- His unbidden comment about my cooking made the dinner party awkward.
- Unbidden, the song from her childhood began playing in her mind.
- The cat walked into the meeting room unbidden and sat on the CEO's laptop.
unbidden
ADJECTIVE[/ʌnˈbɪdən/]
not asked for or invited; coming without being requested
Uninvited neighbor crashes dinner
What was hidden behind the forbidden emerges unbidden.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Unbidden derives from Old English 'biddan', meaning 'to ask, request, or command', combined with the negation prefix 'un-'. In Medieval times, when royal summons and invitations were absolute in social hierarchy, the word developed the specific sense of 'appearing without being called or invited by authority'.
Breakdown
un- (not) + bid (to request or command) + -en (past participle suffix). The past participle form 'bidden' denotes the state of being requested or commanded, which the prefix 'un-' negates to mean 'unrequested' or 'uninvited'.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“His unbidden comment about my cooking made the dinner party awkward.”
“Unbidden, the song from her childhood began playing in her mind.”
“The cat walked into the meeting room unbidden and sat on the CEO's laptop.”
“Her unbidden laughter during the serious presentation embarrassed everyone.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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