An unpaired word is one that, according to the usual rules of the language, would appear to have a related word but does not. Such words usually have a prefix or suffix that would imply that there is an antonym, with the prefix or suffix being absent or opposite.
Many unpaired words are the result of one of the words disappearing from popular usage, though others were never part of a pairing and just begin with the same letters as used in common prefixes.
Derived from Old English word cunnan meaning "well-known" or "familiar"; rarely used
Ungainly
Gainly
Rarely used antonym
Unkempt
Kempt
Rarely used antonym
Unruly
Ruly
Rarely used antonym
Unstinting
Stinting
Rarely used antonym
Untoward
Toward
Not an antonym
Unwieldy
Wieldy
Rarely used antonym
Humorous unpaired words
The quote "if con is the opposite of pro, is congress the opposite of progress?" is not attributed to any individual but is frequently repeated, being mentioned by Forbes magazinehttp://www.forbes.com/2003/11/26/cx_ah_1126tentech.html amongst others. Congress is from the Middle Englishcongresse meaning a body of attendants, (Latin congressus, meaning a meeting), and progress is from Middle English progresse (Latin pr?gressus) meaning to advance. Here, pro and con are in fact not opposite, with con meaning "together" and pro meaning "supporting" or "in place of" (while in other contexts con, or contr- can mean "against").
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