unassisted

/ˈʌnəˌsɪstɪd/

If your five-year-old ties his shoes unassisted, your mother might call him "little Einstein." Doing something unassisted means doing it without help.

Unassisted is an example of a word with two prefixes. The first prefix, un, means the reverse of, and in this case the second prefix, a, means at. The root word sist comes from the Latin word sistere, to stand. So unassisted is another way of saying "without anyone standing by to help."

Definitions of unassisted

1. adjective

   unsupported by other people
   synonyms: single-handed, unbacked

   unsupported

   not sustained or maintained by nonmaterial aid
2. adjective

   lacking help
   synonyms:

   naked

   (of the eye or ear e.g.) without the aid of an optical or acoustical device or instrument

   unaided

   carried out without aid or assistance

   antonyms:

   assisted

   having help; often used as a combining form

   motor-assisted

   relying on an engine for propulsion in addition to muscle power

   power-assisted

   supplementing or replacing manual effort