a. Forms: 7–8 unbyassed, 7– unbiassed, 8– unbiased; 7–8 unbyass’d (7 -byas’d), unbiass’d (7, 9 -bias’d), 8 unbyast. [UN-1 8.]
1. Of bowls, etc.: Having no bias.
1607. G. Wilkins, Miseries Enforced Marr., iv. These men … headlong run, like an unbias’d bowl.
1825. J. Nicholson, Operat. Mechanic, 173. The piston, therefore, being in an unbiassed state, as regards the pressure, will again be raised to its original situation by the counterpoise weights.
2. fig. Not unduly or improperly influenced or inclined; unprejudiced, impartial: a. Of persons.
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., II. § 77. They were as sure, that so many so unbiass’d men, would never be elected again.
1686. W. Hopkins, trans. Ratramnus, Dissert. v. (1688), 100. Which are the Sentiments of Ratramnus, as will evidently appear to any unbyass’d Reader.
1710. Tatler, No. 235, ¶ 2. My Lady … is wholly unbiassed in dispensing her Favours among them.
1775. Wesley, Calm Address, 12. I am unbiassed: I have nothing to hope or fear from either side.
1823. Keble, Serm., iii. (1848), 72. A considerate unbiassed man, acting steadily by this rule.
1861. Ld. Brougham, Brit. Const., xvii. 265. Its [the House of Lords’] veto upon all the measures that pass the Commons,… its more calm deliberation on all questions, unbiassed by mob clamour.
absol. c. 1721. Mrq. Tullibardine, in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. I. 126. The unbiass’d are strangely disjoynted through the busie artifice of those who find their account in unexpressable confusion.
b. Of the judgment, mind, feeling, standards of action, etc.
1654. R. Whitlock, Ζωοτομια, 209. In humane Learning I appeale to every Mans own impartiall Breast, whether he can boast an unbiassed Judgement?
1673. Dryden, Amboyna, Ded. A iij. You have serv’d him with unbyass’d Honor, and with unshaken resolution.
1724. Swift, Drapier’s Lett., Wks. 1755, V. II. 104. The minds of a jury, which ought to be wholly free and unbyassed.
1776. Gibbon, Decl. & F., x. I. 252. He submitted the choice of the censor to the unbiassed voice of the senate.
1808. Helen St. Victor, Ruins of Rigonda, II. 6. A heart, unbiassed to any particular individual.
1846. Mrs. Gore, Eng. Char., I. 117. The Linkman sees with unbiassed eyes, and declaims with unblushing enunciation.
1873. C. M. Davies, Unorthod. Lond. (1876), 104. And probably in no section of religious development is this unbiassed judgement more essentially necessary.
c. Of particular actions, opinions, etc.
1668. Temple, Lett. to Bridgman, Wks. 1720, II. 63. The general Opinion conceived here, of your Lordship’s … unbiass’d Pursuit of the true Interest of the Kingdom.
1690. Locke, Hum. Und., I. iv. § 25. Without any other design, than an unbiass’d enquiry alter Truth.
1742. Richardson, Pamela, III. 248. He will judge us according to the unforced and unbyassed Use we make of that Light.
1791. Burke, Corr. (1844), III. 193. All … which a man without authority can give,—his unbiassed opinion, his honest advice, and his best reasons.
1812. Sir H. Davy, Chem. Philos., 25. Every field of enquiry was open for the free and unbiassed exercise of the powers of genius.
1843. Bethune, Sc. Fireside Stor., 72. Upon these concurring circumstances—supported as they were by the unbiassed testimony of Dr. G———, he was set at liberty.
1862. H. Spencer, First Princ., I. i. § 6 (1875), 20. An unbiassed consideration of its general aspects.
3. As adv. = next. rare–1.
1796. Mme. D’Arblay, Camilla, VII. iv. If impartially and unbiassed, the Major is refused.
Hence Unbiassedly adv., Unbiassedness.
1676. Doctrine of Devils, 159. As is plain, if any man do but *unbyassedly consider the several places, where the word is used, as I have intimated afore.
1699. Locke, in Fox Bourne, Life (1876), II. xv. 472. With a free mind that unbiassedly pursues truth it cannot be other wise.
1718. Hickes & Nelson, J. Kettlewell, III. ciii. 443. Who … shall Faithfully and Unbyasedly Persue the Blessed Work of Christian Union.
1886. Cyclist, 25 Aug., 1165/1. The same printer very unbiassedly turned out both bills.
1660. Bp. Hall’s Remains, Pref. b ij b. He claims the liberty of reserving his own Judgement, and more especially to pag. 387. where in the close of the Tract his *unbyassedness is clearly professed.
1692. Locke, Toleration, Wks. 1714, III. 462. ’Tis Want of Attention and Unbyassedness in you, that puts your Religion past doubt with you.
