Unexerted

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Not having been put into use, applied or put forth, so that no force, effort or influence has been expended
2. Describing something that has not been brought into action, such as strength or influence that was never applied
3. Left unused, with no effort, force or power having been deployed or applied to a task or purpose

Etymology: "Unexerted" is formed by attaching the prefix "un-", meaning "not", to "exerted," the past participle of "exert." The verb "exert" comes from Latin "exserere," meaning "to thrust out" or "put forth," built from "ex-" ("out") and "serere" ("to join or put in a row"). The original picture is of something pushed outward, which is why "exert" came to mean putting strength or effort forth, and "exerted" describes effort that has been applied. Adding "un-" reverses that sense: "unexerted" describes force or effort that has not been put forth, held back or kept in reserve. The prefix is a productive English device, so the word is a transparent combination rather than a term with its own separate history.