a. [UN-1 8.]

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  1.  Of horses: Unmounted; untrained.

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1592.  Shaks., Ven. & Ad., 320. The vnbackt breeder full of fears, Iealous of catching, swiftly doth forsake him.

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1613.  W. Browne, Brit. Past., I. v. 98. A stubborne Nagge of Galloway: Or vnback’d Iennet, or a Flanders Mare.

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1656.  Stanley, Hist. Philos., iv. (1687), 136/2. Being demanded how the Learned differ from the unlearned, he answered, as Horses unback’d from such as are well manag’d.

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1753.  Hogarth, Anal. Beauty, xvii. 223. A fine Arabian war-horse, unbacked, and at liberty, and in a wanton trot.

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1787.  Generous Attachment, II. 66. My Louisa’s long unbacked mare … frisked like a fawn across the neighbouring meadow.

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  2.  Not backed or supported; not endorsed.

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1609.  Daniel, Civ. Wars, III. lxxix. He … will not avouch thy fact, But let the weight of thine owne infamie Fall on thee, vnsupported, and vnbackt.

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1642.  H. More, Song of Soul, To Rdr. Nor is reason unback’d with better principles mathematically satisfiable in matters of this kind.

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1658.  Earl Monm., trans. Paruta’s Wars Cyprus, 34. Most … were new men, and unexperienced, especially being unback’d by Horse.

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1846.  Mrs. Gore, Eng. Char. (1852), 115. A sucking politician unbacked by parliamentary interest.

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1854.  H. Miller, Sch. & Schm. (1858), 548. They were in danger of being put down, unbacked by the popular support which in such a cause they deserved.

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1892.  Daily News, 25 May, 2/3. An arrangement which gives only an unbacked promise of half interest.

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  b.  Not backed by betting.

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1883.  Times, 22 Oct., 10/2. This year he took part in the race for the Great Yarmouth Handicap,… but he was unbacked and unplaced.

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  3.  Not furnished with a back or backing.

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1861.  Daily Tel., 19 Aug. The target fired at was an unbacked slab of wrought iron.

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1895.  Funk’s Stand. Dict., Unbacked, having no back, as a stool.

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