Unoften is a rare formation from un- ('not') + often, from Middle English often, often, an extended form of oft, from Old English oft ('frequently'). Important recorded forms include un- (Old English) and oft (Old English). Morphologically, the un- element marks negation, reversal, removal, or deprivation, while the base supplies the action, quality, or state being denied or undone. The modern sense is largely compositional, with the historical elements narrowing into a stable English lexical item. In current use it covers not frequently; seldom. The wider family includes related words such as often.