unborrowed

unborrowed

The library's unborrowed books remain on the shelf.

Definition
  1. Adjective:
    • Not borrowed: "Unborrowed" describes something that is not obtained through borrowing; it is original, intrinsic, or owned outright rather than taken on loan from another source.
Usage Examples
  • (Her ideas were original and not taken from others.)
  • (The text was not copied or borrowed from another work.)
  • (His money was not loaned from others but came from his own efforts.)
Advanced Usage

  • "unborrowed light": a poetic or literary phrase meaning natural or inherent illumination, as opposed to reflected or borrowed light.

    • The moon shines with unborrowed light in the clear night sky. (The moon's glow is natural and not reflected from another source.)

  • "unborrowed authority": power or legitimacy that arises from within, not delegated or borrowed from others.

    • The queen's unborrowed authority came from her lineage, not from external alliances. (Her authority was intrinsic and not granted by others.)
Variants and Related Words
  • Borrow (verb): to take something with the intention of returning it.
    • He had to borrow money for the repairs. (He took a loan.)
  • Borrowed (adj): taken on loan; not original.
    • The borrowed dress fit her perfectly. (The dress was not her own.)
  • Unborrowed (adj): the opposite of borrowed; not taken on loan.
Synonyms
  • Original: not derived from something else; first of its kind.
  • Intrinsic: belonging naturally; essential.
  • Inherent: existing in something as a permanent attribute.
  • Self-derived: obtained from oneself, not from external sources.
Antonyms
  • Borrowed: taken on loan or from another source.
  • Derivative: imitative of the work of another artist, writer, etc.
  • Secondhand: previously owned or used by another; not original.
Related Idioms
  • "On borrowed time": a phrase meaning continuing to exist or function beyond the expected or allotted period.
    • The old car was running on borrowed time. (It was expected to break down soon.)
    • Note: This idiom uses "borrowed" in a metaphorical sense and contrasts with "unborrowed" as a concept of ownership or originality.