ungay

ungay

English

Etymology

From un- +‎ gay.

Adjective

ungay (comparative more ungay, superlative most ungay)

1. (dated) Not gay; not cheerful or merry.
   • 1922, The Nation and Athenæum (volume 32, page 359)

     With specious baits they dangle the lure of cheapness as the sole attraction. Cheap clothes represent the falsest of all economies. Their life is not only short, it is exceedingly unpleasant and obviously ungay.

2. Not homosexual.
   • 2011, Allan Bérubé, My Desire for History: Essays in Gay, Community, and Labor History

     I had not come out yet and he was out but wasn't; quite ungay, I would say, and yet gay.

Verb

ungay (third-person singular simple present ungays, present participle ungaying, simple past and past participle ungayed)

1. (transitive) To make not gay or less gay.
   • 2009, J. R. Dewesse, To Be Loved: Because It Was Forbidden:

     He was too preoccupied by too many different feelings to think rationally and realize that he was doing it again, trying to “ungay” himself.

   • 2011, Nsedu B. Onyile, Ten Days With Minor:

     “That is what I believed until Sukuma ungayed me.” “I think you need to be resting at this time instead of trying to get ungayed!”

   • 2013, EM Linley, Snow Job:

     “[...] At first I thought he was trying to ungay me or something.” Monty laughed.

   • 2016, Cris Gutierrez, Through the Fire:

     “[...] You know there are still programs out there to un-gay the gays!” Julian exploded.

Alternative forms

• un-gay

Anagrams

• gunya