Unaffected

ppl. a. [UN-¹ 8. Cf. G. unaffectirt.]

  I.  1. Not adopted or assumed: a. Of qualities, feelings, etc.: Not simulated or pretended; real, genuine, sincere.

1592.  Daniel, Compl. Rosamund, lxxviii. A happy Country mayde, Whose vnaffected innocencie thinks No guilefull fraude.

1622.  Peacham, Compl. Gent., x. (1634), 90. Hee … cannot with Virgill containe himselfe within that sweet, humble, and unaffected moderation.

a. 1656.  Bp. Hall, Serm. on Eccl. iii. 4, Wks. 1808, V. 571. Not in a hypocritical way of ostentation,… but in a wise, sober, seemly, unaffected deportment.

1710.  Steele, Tatler, No. 198, ¶ 2. There appeared in the Face of Cælia a Chearfulness, the constant Companion of unaffected Virtue.

1796.  Mme. D’Arblay, Camilla, III. 184. Sir Sedley received them with the most unaffected pleasure.

1825.  Scott, Talism., xvii. A hurried glance of undisguised and unaffected terror.

1884.  Manch. Exam., 22 May, 5/2. A war which the great majority of the nation regard with unaffected dislike.

  b.  Of style or discourse: Free from affected words or phrases; simple, natural.

1598.  Hakluyt, Voy., Pref. ¶ 8. The harsh and vnaffected stile of his substantiall verses and the olde dialect of his wordes.

1619.  T. More, in A. Newman, Pleas. Vis., A iij b. Like to thy modest selfe, thy happy veine Is vnaffected.

1659.  Rushw., Hist. Coll., I. Pref. I have esteemed the most unaffected and familiar Stile the best.

1711.  Steele, Spect., No. 2, ¶ 3. Sir Andrew having a natural unaffected Eloquence.

a. 1721.  Sheffield (Dk. Buckhm.), Wks. (1723), I. 180. Here sweet Eloquence does always smile, In such a choice, yet unaffected Style, As must both knowledge and Delight impart.

1818.  Scott, Lett., in Lockhart (1837), IV. iv. 137. The letters you have published are, I think, his very best—lively, entertaining, and unaffected.

  c.  Of conduct, bearing, etc.: Free from affectation or artificiality.

1712.  Steele, Spect., No. 284, ¶ 1. An unaffected Behaviour is without question a very great Charm.

1791.  Mrs. Radcliffe, Rom. Forest, v. His Manners were unaffected and graceful rather than dignified.

1848.  Thackeray, Van. Fair, li. She said the wickedest things with the most simple unaffected air.

1876.  Miss Braddon, J. Haggard’s Dau., I. 67. Oswald was impressed by the simple pathos, the unaffected power, of the speaker.

  † 2.  Not desired or aimed at. Obs. rare.

1611.  Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., VII. xliv. § 3. 358. A cloud appearing of bloud and fire, immediately after his vnaffected Coronation.

  3.  Of persons: Not affected, unartificial or unpretentious, in manners.

1677.  Miége, Fr. Dict., II. Unaffected, qui n’est pas affecté.

a. 1721.  Sheffield (Dk. Buckhm.), Wks. (1723), II. 266. Montagu, methinks, represents Adam in his innocence…; naked, but not ashamed, because unblemished and unaffected.

1729.  T. Cooke, Tales, etc. 88. Hence, says the Bird of Venus, Boaster fly;… Me Men, and Gods, with Admiration view, Plain, unaffected, with my glossy Hue.

1818.  Lady Morgan, Autobiog. (1859), 21. He seems eminently intellectual, unaffected, and kind.

1889.  A. Lang, Prince Prigio, ii. 13. What nice, unaffected princes they are!

  b.  Sincere, honest (in some respect).

1796.  Mme. D’Arblay, Camilla, V. 221. An unaffected admirer of all she had heard of [her] good qualities.

  II.  4. Not affected or influenced in mind or feeling; untouched, unmoved. Also const. by, † to, † with.

c. 1586.  C’tess Pembroke, Ps. LVIII. ii. The aspick … On whom the charmer all in vaine applies His skillful’st spells…, self-deaf, and unaffected lies.

c. 1616.  Fletcher, Thierry & Theod., II. i. A poor, cold, unspirited, unmanner’d, Unhonest, unaffected, undone, fool.

1729.  Law, Serious C., iv. 67. The mock ceremony, instead of blessing our victuals, does but accustom us to trifle with devotion, and give us a habit of being unaffected with our prayers.

1741.  Richardson, Pamela, I. 177. How unaffected People were to the Distresses of others.

1803.  Censor, 1 Sept., 100. There is something … so moving in the narrative, that I think it is impossible any reader, however stoical, can remain unaffected.

c. 1820.  Mrs. Sherwood, Orange Grove, 17. The old man was quite unaffected, and looked quite stupid.

  † b.  Not inclined to a side or party. Obs.^–1

1619.  Sir E. Herbert, in Eng. & Germ. (Camden Soc.), 85. I hope his Majestie will find this state so unaffected and neutrall, that … their irresolution will keep them indifferent.

  5.  Not attacked by disease or illness.

1797.  M. Baillie, Morb. Anat. (1807), 403. Scirrhous tumours occasionally arise in the vagina itself … when the uterus is unaffected.

1873.  T. H. Green, Introd. Pathol. (ed. 2), 281. In this stage [of nephritis] the tubes and their epithelium are unaffected.

  6.  Not acted upon or altered by some agent or influence.

1830.  Mackintosh, Eth. Philos., Wks. 1846, I. 24. That happiness consisted in virtuous pleasure, chiefly dependent on the state of mind, but not unaffected by outward agents, was the doctrine of both.

1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), III. 615. Free from old age and unaffected by disease.

  b.  Similarly without const.

1833–4.  J. Phillips, Geol., in Encycl. Metrop. (1845), VI. 656. A tremour which might shiver elastic flint,… but leave the chalk unaffected.

1890.  Retrospect Med., CII. 182. Out of six cases treated … two were cured (?), three slightly relieved, and one unaffected.