Meaning and usage of the word unanswered in English

The word "unanswered" has its roots in Old English. The first recorded use of the word dates back to around the 8th century. Initially, the word was "unanswor" or "un-ānswer", which consisted of the negative prefix "un-" and the verb "ānswer", meaning "to answer". During the Middle English period (circa 1100-1500), the word evolved into "unansweryd" or "unanswere", which retained its negative prefix and continued to convey the idea of something left unresponded to or unacknowledged. Over time, the word was shortened to its modern form, "unanswered", and has been used to describe situations where a question, request, or concern has gone without response or resolution. Despite its evolution, the core meaning of "unanswered" remains tied to the concept of something awaiting a reply or response.