Unsettlement: meaning, definitions and examples
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unsettlement
[ ʌnˈsɛtəlmənt ]
state of disorder
Unsettlement refers to a state of disorder or instability. It denotes a condition in which things are not settled or are in a state of flux. This term can be used to describe social, economic, or personal situations that are characterized by uncertainty.
Synonyms
disorder, instability, turmoil
Examples of usage
- The country faced political unsettlement after the election.
- Financial unsettlement led to widespread anxiety among investors.
- The unsettlement in the community was palpable after the incident.
Word origin
The term 'unsettlement' is derived from the prefix 'un-', indicating negation or reversal, added to 'settlement', which itself comes from the Old French 'aselement', meaning 'a settling'. 'Settlement' gained prominence in Middle English and historically referred to an agreement, a resolution, or the act of establishing a community. The combination of these elements in 'unsettlement' suggests a rejection or disruption of established order. The concept has roots in legal, social, and environmental contexts, often used to describe periods of change or chaos in societies, economies, or personal lives.