Unbirdlike

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. It does not resemble a bird in its appearance, manner, or behavior at all
2. Something of this kind lacks the typical traits of birds, such as feathers, song, or the ability to fly
3. The creature shows no likeness to birds in its form, movement, or habits

Etymology: "Unbirdlike" is a plain compound: the prefix "un-", meaning "not", joined to "birdlike", which itself combines "bird" with the suffix "-like", meaning "resembling" or "having the qualities of." Put together, the word describes something that does not resemble a bird in manner, shape, or character. The base elements are old. "Bird" is native English, and "-like" grew from the Old English "gelic," meaning "having the same form or appearance." The prefix "un-" is likewise native and has been used to form negative adjectives for centuries, so "unbirdlike" needs no borrowed material at all. Because the parts are so transparent, the word is best understood as a formation built on demand rather than a term with a history of its own. Its meaning follows directly from the sum of its pieces, and it is most often used in contexts where a writer wants to contrast something with the way birds move, sound, or behave.

Antonyms: birdlike