Unthickened

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Not having been made thicker, denser or more viscous, as with a liquid that has kept its original consistency
2. Describing a liquid, sauce or substance that has not been thickened and remains thin or runny
3. Remaining thin in consistency, having received no added starch, reduction or other thickening agent

Etymology: "Unthickened" is a plain formation: the prefix "un-", meaning "not", attached to "thickened", the past participle of "thicken." Used as an adjective, it describes something that has not been made thick or dense, such as a sauce or liquid that has had no starch or reduction added to it. The pattern is ordinary English, so the interest lies in the parts rather than in any surprising turn of meaning. "Thicken" itself comes from the adjective "thick," which traces back to Old English "þicce," and the verb was formed by adding the suffix "-en," which in English commonly turns adjectives into verbs meaning "to make [the adjective's quality]." Combining that verb with "un-" gives a word that simply reverses the process.

Antonyms: thickened