ppl. a. [UN-1 8.]
1. Devoid of concern or interest; uninterested, indifferent, unmoved.
c. 1635[?]. Waller, Misc., On Lady Isabella, 2. Such moving sounds from such a careless touch! So unconcern’d her self, and we so much!
1659. Gentl. Calling (1696), 2. I have been no unconcerned … Spectator of the Depression the Gentry have fallen under.
1725. Pope, Odyss., XXIII. 169. Canst thou, oh cruel! unconcern’d survey Thy lost Ulysses, on this signal day?
1796. Mme. D’Arblay, Camilla, III. 81. See but how he smiles … in defiance of all his efforts to look unconcerned!
1822. Scott, Peveril, xxxiii. Had Peveril come thither as an unconcerned visitor, his heart would have sunk within him.
b. Const. about, at, in.
1659. Pearson, Creed, vii. 614. If there were no other judge beside our own soules, we should be … wholly unconcern’d in our own condemnations.
1697. Collier, Ess. Mor. Subj., I. (1709), 155. To suppose that he has made the Nature of Man such, that … he should be unconcerned about the Happiness of his Neighbour.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, IV. xiii. He was not unconcerned at the accident.
1822. Lamb, Elia, I. Artificial Comedy. A passing pageant, where we should sit as unconcerned at the issues,… as at a battle of the frogs and mice.
c. Of feeling, conduct, etc.
1658. Phillips, Indifference, a carelesse, general, and unconcerned affection.
1702. Echard, Eccl. Hist. (1710), 617. The holy man gave him an unconcern’d answer.
1820. Hazlitt, Lect. Dram. Lit., 14. The same strength and depth and richness,… poured out in unconcerned profusion from the lap of nature.
1853. R. S. Surtees, Sponge’s Sp. Tour, xxxvii. He saw Soapey Sponge’s preparations for departure with an unconcerned air.
2. Not affected by concern or anxiety; free from solicitude; undisturbed.
1660. Cowley, Ode his Majesty’s Restoration, xv. Methoughts I saw the three Judæan Youths … In the Chaldæan Furnace walk; How chearfully and unconcern’d they talk!
1685. Dryden, Thren. August., i. We liv’d as unconcern’d and happily As the first Age in Natures golden Scene.
1747. Hervey, Medit., Contempl. Night (1840), 226. To be utterly unconcerned, where it is the truest wisdom to take the alarm.
1800. Mrs. Hervey, Mourtray Fam., II. 226. If I had been cool and unconcerned…; but I was in a fright.
1897. Mary Kingsley, W. Africa, 351. I attempted to look as unconcerned as possible.
3. Indifferent or uninterested between two parties; disinterested, impartial.
1664. Atkyns, Orig. Printing, Ded. C ij b. I have so far prevailed upon your Royal Goodness, as to ask unconcern’d Councel what is best to be done.
1697. Dryden, Æneis, X. 166. Each to his proper fortune stand or fall; Equal and unconcerned I look on all.
a. 1718. Prior, Poems, Democritus & Heraclitus, 5. Between You both I unconcern’d stand by.
1748. Smollett, R. Random, xxx. I begged to be examined by some unconcerned person on board.
4. Not concerned or involved, having no part or share, in something.
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., II. § 7. They believed there was no part of their Civil Government, uninvaded by them, and no Persons of what Quality soever unconcerned and … unhurt in them.
1683. Apol. Prol. France, i. 9. The two Successors of Henry the Fourth look’d not upon themselves as unconcern’d in this Edict.
1764. Harmer, Observ., iv. § 14. 163. The robb of grapes … is, I should think, unconcerned in this enquiry.
b. Not concerned or occupied with something.
1667. Milton, P. L., XI. 174. The Morn, All unconcern’d with our unrest, begins Her rosie progress smiling.
1732. Berkeley, Alciphr., IV. § 16. They were indolent gods, unconcerned with human affairs.
c. Without const. Also ellipt., not affected by drink; sober. (Cf. CONCERNED ppl. a. 2.)
1668. Howe, Bless. Righteous, 5. Not … as an unconcern’d circumstance, that hath nothing to do with the businesse spoken of.
1699. Bentley, Phal., Pref. p. lxxvi. It’s a very difficult thing, for a person unconcern’d and out of the reach of Harm, to be a fair Arbitrator there.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa, VII. 373. Mowbray and Tourville grew very noisy…. As to myself, the little part I had taken in their gaiety kept me unconcerned.
