Unwrappable

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. An attribute of an item indicating that it cannot be enclosed by a covering material due to its dimensions or form
2. Describing an object that is not conducive to being wrapped up owing to its inherent features or bulk
3. Capable of not being covered by any wrapping material due to size or shape

Etymology: "Unwrappable" is a plain English formation built from two existing pieces. Its base is "unwrap", which joins the prefix "un-", meaning "reverse the action of", to "wrap", meaning to fold or cover something in material. "Unwrap" thus means to undo that covering. Adding the suffix "-able", meaning "capable of being", gives "unwrappable", something that can be unwrapped. The word is also built as "un-" attached to "wrappable", meaning able to be wrapped. Both routes give the same result: the adjective describes something that cannot be unwrapped, usually because its covering is sealed or fused shut. Because the negative prefix and the suffix work together here, the word is a clear example of how English stacks affixes onto a verb to create new adjectives.