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unkindly. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
unkindly, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
unkindly in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
unkindly you have here. The definition of the word
unkindly will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
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English
Pronunciation
Etymology 1
From Middle English unkyndely; equivalent to un- + kindly (adjective). Compare Old English unġecyndelīċ.[1][2]
Adjective
unkindly (comparative more unkindly, superlative most unkindly)
- Not kindly.
- Not kind, lacking in friendliness, warm-heartedness or sympathy.
1850, Nathaniel Hawthorne, chapter 2, in The Scarlet Letter, a Romance, Boston, Mass.: Ticknor, Reed, and Fields, →OCLC:Preceded by the beadle, and attended by an irregular procession of stern-browed men and unkindly visaged women, Hester Prynne set forth towards the place appointed for her punishment.
- (archaic) Rough, unfavourable, bad.
1658, Thomas Browne, “The Garden of Cyrus. . Chapter III.”, in Hydriotaphia, Urne-buriall, Together with The Garden of Cyrus, , London: Hen Brome , →OCLC, page 130:From this superfluous pulp in unkindely, and wet years, may arise that multiplicity of little insects, which infest the Roots and Sprouts of tender Graines and pulses.
1789, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, “Anthem for the Children of Christ’s Hospital”, in The Poetical Works of S. T. Coleridge, volume 1, London: William Pickering, published 1834, page 5:Unkindly cold and tempest shrill / In life’s morn oft the traveller chill,
- (obsolete) Unnatural, contrary to the natural or proper order of things.
- 1678, Robert Sanderson, Nine Cases of Conscience Occasionally Determined, London: H. Brome et al., p. 128,
- the want of mercy in a Father, is more unkindly, more unseemly, more unnatural than in another man
Derived terms
Etymology 2
From Middle English unkyndely; equivalent to un- + kindly (adverb) or unkind + -ly. Compare Old English unġecyndelīċe.[3][4]
Adverb
unkindly (comparative more unkindly, superlative most unkindly)
- In an unkind manner.
c. 1590–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :Good master, take it not unkindly, pray, / That I have been thus pleasant [i.e. joking] with you both.
1868–1869, Louisa M Alcott, Little Women: , (please specify |part=1 or 2), Boston, Mass.: Roberts Brothers, →OCLC:If she and John love one another, they can wait, and test the love by doing so. She is conscientious, and I have no fear of her treating him unkindly.
1918, Rose Macaulay, chapter 11, in What Not, London: Constable, page 222:Chester and Prideaux were dragged firmly but not unkindly down the stairs and out through the door.
- (obsolete) In an unnatural manner.
1667, John Milton, “Book III”, in Paradise Lost. , London: [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker ; nd by Robert Boulter ; nd Matthias Walker, , →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: , London: Basil Montagu Pickering , 1873, →OCLC, lines 455-458:All th’ unaccomplisht works of Natures hand, / Abortive, monstrous, or unkindly mixt, / Dissolvd on earth, fleet hither, and in vain, / Till final dissolution, wander here,
Antonyms
References
- ^ “unkindly, adj.”, in OED Online , Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.
- ^ “unkīndelī, adj.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
- ^ “unkindly, adv.”, in OED Online , Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.
- ^ “unkīndelī, adv.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.