The letter “u” regularly acts as a best-supporting character. For example, it accompanies the letters “m,” “p,” and “q.” It often appears beside “n,” too, typically revealing a negative or opposing action: unhand, unconscionable, unappeased, unbelievable, et cetera, et cetera.
“Unguent” perhaps acts as a sort of outlier; it behaves as neither an opposite nor a negative. The word is a noun meaning “a soothing or healing salve.” That is, an unguent is an ointment. NEOSPORIN and BENGAY both fall under its purview, making unguent, cough, an umbrella term.
In addition, the letter “u” travels alongside several letters to form the common prefixes of “ultra” and “under.” A few of those words receive attention in the list of words below. (Ubiquity and ubiquitous obtain no recognition whatsoever since they’re already overused in several industries. The same principle applies to utilize.) Most of the words found here, though, veer toward the uncommon because, well, weird words are much more interesting than the, ahem, usual suspects.
Udder
Noun. [From the Middle English. From the Old English ūder. Akin to the Old High German ūtar, udder. From the Latin uber. From the Greek outhar. From the Sanskrit ūdhar.] (Before 1100s) A large, pendulous organ consisting of two or more mammary glands enclosed in a common envelope and each provided with a single nipple—see COW illustration. MAMMARY GLAND.
(The temporary farmhand couldn’t prevent wrinkling her nose when she touched the cow’s udder for the first time.)
Ugsome
Adjective. [From the Middle English. From uggen, to fear or inspire fear. From the Old Norse ugga, to fear.] Archaic. (1400s) FRIGHTFUL, LOATHSOME.
(Henry’s ugsome appearance belied a gentle spirit.)
Ullage
Noun. [From the Middle English ulage. From the Middle French eullage, act of filling a cask. From eullier, to fill a cask. From the Old French ouil, eye or bunghole. From the Latin oculus, eye.] (1300s) The amount that a container (as a tank or cask) lacks of being full.
(The ullage becomes important when brewing beer or fermenting wine.)
Ultraism
Noun. (1821) The principles of those who advocate extreme measures (as radicalism). An instance or example of radicalism.
(Altruism sometimes leads to ultraism, but caution should be exercised: The former typically concerns people while the latter prioritizes rigid ideology.)
Ululate
Verb. [From the Latin ululatus, past participle of ululare. Of imitative origin.] (1623) HOWL, WAIL.
(The willow seemed to ululate in the strong, northeasterly wind.)
Umbrage
Noun. [From the Middle English. From the Latin umbraticum. Neuter of umbraticus, of shade. From umbratus, past participle of umbrare, to shade. From umbra, shade or shadow. Akin to the Lithuanian unksna, shadow.] (1400s) SHADE, SHADOW. Shady branches: FOLIAGE. An indistinct indication: vague suggestion: HINT; a reason for doubt: SUSPICION. A feeling of pique or resentment at some fancied slight or insult <took ~ at the speaker’s remarks>.
(To prevent widespread umbrage, the mayor ought to direct his remarks to the public rather than his secretary.)
Umpteen
Adjective. [Blend of umpty (such and such) and –teen (as in thirteen).] (c. 1914) Very many: indefinitely numerous. Also spelled: umpteenth.
(The frazzled mother told her four children, all under the age of five, for the umpteenth time not to grab things off the store shelves.)
Uncanny
Adjective. (1843) Seeming to have a supernatural character or origin: EERIE, MYSTERIOUS. Being beyond what is normal or expected: suggesting superhuman or supernatural powers <an ~ sense of direction>. Chiefly Scottish: SEVERE, PUNISHING. Synonym: see WEIRD.
(The two girls’ uncanny resemblance to each other caused teachers to mistake them for sisters.)
Uncertainty Principle
Noun. (c. 1934) A principle in quantum mechanics: it is impossible to assert in terms of the ordinary conventions of geometrical position and of motion that a particle (as an electron) is at the same time at a specified point and moving with a specified velocity.
(“Try reading John Locke’s ideas about motion, distance, and location,” Harry said to Lisa, “and you might be glad to return to the uncertainty principle.”)
Underhand
Adverb. (1538) In a clandestine manner; archaic: in a quiet or unobtrusive manner. With the target seen below the hand holding the bow. With an underhand motion <bowl ~; pitch ~>.
Adjective. (1545) Aimed so that the target is seen below the hand holding the bow <~ shooting at long range>. UNDERHANDED. Done so as to evade notice. Made with the hand brought forward and up from below the shoulder level.
(The boy attempted to walk underhand, but the guard recognized the behavior and called for him to halt.)
Unison
Noun. [From the Middle French. From the Medieval Latin unisonus, having the same sound. From the Latin uni- + sonus, sound—more at SOUND.] (1575) Identity in musical pitch, specifically, the interval of a perfect prime; the state of being so tuned or sounded; the writing, playing, or singing of parts in a musical passage at the same pitch or in octaves. A harmonious agreement or union: CONCORD — unison, adjective — in unison. In perfect agreement; so as to harmonize exactly. At the same time: SIMULTANEOUSLY.
(A cappella groups like Pentatonix and Straight No Chaser demonstrate what it means to sing “in unison.”)
Uppity
Adjective. [Probably from up + -ity (as in persnickity, variant of persnickety).] (1880) Putting on or marked by airs of superiority: ARROGANT, PRESUMPTUOUS <was offended by the ~ attitude of the waiter>.
(“Just because he’s doing Whole30 doesn’t mean he gets to be all uppity about it,” Mark said heatedly.)
Urchin
Noun. [From the Middle English. From the Middle French herichon. From the Latin ericius, from er. Akin to the Greek chēr, hedgehog. From the Latin horrēre, to bristle or tremble—more at HORROR.] (1300s) HEDGEHOG. A mischievous youngster: SCAMP. SEA URCHIN.
(“I suppose,” Celia mused, “the hedgehog connection could explain how the terms ‘urchins’ and ‘street rats’ relate.”)
Usurp
Verb, verb transitive. [From the Middle English usurpen. From the Middle French usurper. From the Latin usurpare, literally, to take possession of by use. From usu (ablative of usus, use) + rapere, to sieze—more at RAPID.] (1300s) To seize and hold (as office, place, or powers) in possession by force or without right <~ a throne>. To take the place of by or as if by force: SUPPLANT. Verb transitive: to seize or exercise authority or possession wrongfully.
(Game of Thrones might as well be called Usurp the Throne; almost everybody kills somebody or enacts some underhanded, complicated scheme to sit the throne.)
Utopia
Noun. [From the imaginary and ideal country in Utopia (1516) by Sir Thomas More. From the Greek ou, not or no + topos, place—more at TOPIC.] (1610) An imaginary and indefinitely remote place. Often capitalized: a place of ideal perfection, especially in laws, government, and social conditions. An impractical scheme for social improvement.
(If you were to trace utopia to its Greek roots, you would discover it means “no place.”)
U-Turn
Noun. (1930) A turn resembling the Letter “u”; especially: a 180-degree turn made by a vehicle in a road. Something (as a reversal of policy) resembling a U-turn.
(Before my mom figured out where things were in El Paso, she performed a lot of U-turns.)
Uxorious
Adjective. [From the Latin uxorius, uxorious, uxorial. From uxor, wife.] (1598) Excessively fond or submissive to a wife.
(Everyone hoped Gabriel would get over the honeymoon period and cease his uxorious behavior.)
What are your favorite “u” words? Share them in a comment.
Image: Mark Bonica (Creative Commons)