unacquired

A child has an unacquired talent for music.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Not obtained or gained through effort: "unacquired" describes something that is not obtained, earned, or developed through one's own actions or experiences.
   • Innate or inherent: It can also refer to qualities, traits, or possessions that are present from birth or origin, rather than being learned or procured.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • His talent for music was unacquired; he could play the piano perfectly from the age of three. (His musical ability was innate, not learned.)
  • The land was unacquired by the family; it had been passed down for generations. (The land was not obtained through purchase or effort but inherited.)

Advanced Usage

• "unacquired property": In legal contexts, this refers to assets that are not obtained through purchase, gift, or inheritance, but are owned by birthright or original ownership.

  • The tribe's claim to the territory was based on unacquired rights from time immemorial. (Their rights were inherent, not gained through later actions.)

• "unacquired knowledge": Knowledge that is instinctive or intuitive, not learned.

  • Some philosophers argue that certain moral principles are unacquired, being part of human nature. (These principles are innate.)

Variants and Related Words

• Acquired (adj): obtained or gained through effort or experience.

  • She has acquired a taste for classical music. (She developed this preference over time.)

• Unacquirable (adj): not able to be obtained or gained.

  • That rare book is unacquirable at any price. (It cannot be bought or found.)

Synonyms

• Innate: present from birth; inborn.
• Inherent: existing as a natural or essential part of something.
• Inherited: received from ancestors by birth.
• Native: belonging to one by nature.

Antonyms

• Acquired: obtained through effort or experience.
• Learned: gained through study or practice.
• Earned: obtained as a result of work or merit.

Related Idioms

• Born with a silver spoon in one's mouth: to be born into wealth or privilege (an unacquired advantage).

  • He didn't work for his fortune; he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. (His wealth was unacquired.)

• Second nature: something that is so ingrained it seems innate, though it may be learned (often contrasted with unacquired).

  • For a professional athlete, training is second nature, but the raw talent may be unacquired. (The talent is inborn, while the discipline is learned.)