a. Obs. [UN-1 5 b.] = INATTENTIVE a.
1591. Harington, Orl. Fur., Pref. A loose vnattentiue reader will hardly carrie away any part of the storie.
1665. Boyle, Occas, Refl., IV. Advt. A Reader that is not Unattentive, may easily collect … That they were written several years ago.
1710. Steele, Tatler, No. 167, ¶ 3. Young Men, who are too unattentive to receive Lectures.
1768–74. Tucker, Lt. Nat. (1834), II. 547. There is a virtue in keeping one’s self unconcerned at abuse or slander, unattentive to noise and impertinence.
Hence † Unattentively adv., -ness. Obs.
1611. Cotgr., Sourdement, deafely; also vnattentiuely.
a. 1649. Drumm. of Hawth., Hist. Jas. III., Wks. (1711), 44. By the ambition and unattentiveness of his friends, his worth was made the scaffold of his ruine.
1682. Norris, Heirocles, 133. Their unattentiveness to the Instructions of others.
