Is there a word unwelcomed?

1. 69

   Elsie Hagleyposted 9 years ago

   Is there a word unwelcomed?
   
   When some one come to the door and you don't want to see them, should the word be you are "not welcomed " or "unwelcomed"

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2. 0

   Colin323posted 9 years ago

   The unwelcomed refers to your general feeling about that person as a visitor to your door; the not welcomed relates to your particular response when they do call !  There's a story here, Elsie!

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   1. 69

      Elsie Hagleyposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks Colin, I'm writing a article for hubpages but wasn't sure which was right. By your answer, I think I will use not welcomed, Appreciate your quick reply.

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   2. 76

      alancaster149posted 7 years agoin reply to this

      There is a possible scenario for 'unwelcomed': "Where other guests had been greeted and made welcome, there was one visitor as yet unwelcomed. He had been effectively ignored".

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3. 82

   peachpurpleposted 9 years ago

   i usually see "Salesmen not welcome" on the glass door, never unwelcome

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   1. 69

      Elsie Hagleyposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Yes I have seen that also in that situation. Still thinking of using "not welcomed".

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4. 76

   alancaster149posted 9 years ago

   'Unwelcomed' doesn't apply anywhere.
   You can be 'unwelcome', as someone whose presence or company is not wanted or desired. 'Unwelcome' also applies to a comment uncalled for.
   'Not welcome' applies to a forewarning to undesired visitors or to comments that might be made. Once you have been welcomed you can't be 'unwelcomed', although you can be thrown out if you make yourself unwelcome.
   (Refer: 'unwelcome', Oxford concise English Dictionary - the same will probably apply to Websters).

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      Marie Flintposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      That's quite an explanation, Alan! (Loving it.)

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   2. 69

      Elsie Hagleyposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I agree with you Marie, good explanation and very helpful.

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      alancaster149posted 7 years agoin reply to this

      Of course there is the outside chance of someone who's arrived at a venue/party, who has escaped the host's attention and has as such been 'unwelcomed', although by and large we'd say 'not yet met and greeted'.

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   DannoManposted 9 years ago

   What you are attempting to do is turn an adjective into a verb. Not that this has never been done, but it is unwise in this case. Unwelcome is what someone is or was. "Unwelcomed" would imply that someone who at some point was welcome, somehow lost that characteristic.
   
   The notices we see in store fronts saying, "salesmen not welcome," could be worded "salesmen unwelcome" without changing the meaning at all. Salesmen who [are] not welcome are definitely unwelcome. But if you try to turn that last adjective into a verb it doesn't work out so well. First, there is a problem with the tense. If it were actually a verb, unwelcomed would clearly be past tense, so you would be describing something that has already occurred (and may no longer be the case). And then there is the confusion factor. Since there is already a good way to say that you don't want someone around (or--past tense--didn't want them around), this new word serves to confuse the reader. "Is there some meaning here that I don't understand? Is this the same or different from saying 'not welcome?'"
   
   The exceptional authority on language, Bryan Garner (Garner's Modern American Usage) would probably call this a needless variant.

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   1. 69

      Elsie Hagleyposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Well that was an extensive answer, but it sure confused me not sure what I should use, but most likely stay with "not welcomed".

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6. 72

   Twilight Lawnsposted 9 years ago

   There definitely is a word "unwelcomed". It is an adjective, but having said that, I don't think I would have used it.  It is somewhat clumsy. "He was not wlecomed" would be a nice way of getting around it.
   Yet "An unwelcomed bout of 'flu' (influenza) created a poor situation in the work force" scans better than “A not welcomed bout of 'flu' (influenza) created a poor situation in the work force"
   Ah! The English Language. What mazes and labyrinths it drags us down.

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   1. 69

      Elsie Hagleyposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      You answered my question, there definitely is a word "Unwelcomed"
      I must probably will not use it. This question has given me food for thought. Thanks.

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   2. 58

      DannoManposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      "It was an unwelcome bout of flu," would still be better than putting it in the past tense with "unwelcomed." What dictionary do you find this "word" in, please?
      
      I can tack on an 'ed' onto just about anything and call it a word if I have a mind to.

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   3. 72

      Twilight Lawnsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Try the following, DannoMan:http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/unwelcomed
      And we weren't talking about tacking an ed onto words, were we?

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   4. 58

      DannoManposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Don't be unfriendlied. I was pointing out that this was my view of the word:  one that had arbitrarily been assaulted by an 'ed' that looked entirely foreign and …um, unwelcomed. …making it look entirely uninterestinged and unpalatabled.

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7. 73

   Marie Flintposted 9 years ago

   I guess I can best answer with examples:
   
   an unwelcomed guest
   You are not welcomed at my house!
   
   Both are used, and both work.

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   1. 69

      Elsie Hagleyposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Yes i'm getting very confused. I'm writing an article about being welcomed or not. eg "visiting new neighbours" the difference between being welcomed or not welcomed. Like having the door slammed in your face when you knock on the door.

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8. 60

   old albionposted 7 years ago

   Hi Elsie. I would think the words should read; not welcome.

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   1. 69

      Elsie Hagleyposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      I agree you are right, now two years later I can see it clearly.
      Thanks for stopping by.

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9. 96

   Glenis Rixposted 7 years ago

   I just obtained a door sticker from my local Council which reads "We do not answer the door to uninvited callers". Something similar would resolve your dilemma

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10. 80

    jodigirl88posted 7 years ago

    I'm pretty sure it is "unwelcome" without the d. No such word as unwelcomed. I looked it up in a thesaurus also.  unwanted, undesirable etc.. hope that helps.

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11. 60

    escole61posted 6 years ago

    I think I might tell the person that they are being 'intrusive' or, if less direct, say 'it's inconvenient.' 'Not welcome' or 'unwelcome' would not be the first words that spring to mind if I was trying to say it to someone, face to face.

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    1. 69

       Elsie Hagleyposted 6 years agoin reply to this

       Thanks for the reply, interesting, you have a nice polite way of saying it.
       Have a great weekend.

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