ppl. a. [UN-1 10 and 5 d.] Not concerning or affecting one; unconnected with one’s affairs or interests; having no importance or relevance.
1612. Donne, Progr. Soule, 2nd Anniv., 285. To know but Catechismes and Alphabets Of unconcerning things, matters of fact.
1651. Fuller, Abel Rediv., Jerome (1867), I. 29. They vexed him with trivial objections about unconcerning matters.
1742. Melmoth, Fitzosborne Lett. (1763), 438. With other topics of the same unconcerning kind.
a. 1779. Warburton, Unpubl. Papers (1841), 568. It will teach him to distinguish real from imaginary knowledge,… useful from unconcerning.
1821. Coleridge, Lett., Convers., etc. II. 22. Lonely in an unconcerning crowd of human figures.
1833. Lamb, Elia, II. Barrenness Imag. Faculty in Modern Art. As if unconscious of Bacchus, or but idly casting her eyes as upon some unconcerning pageant,… Ariadne is still pacing the … shore.
† b. Const. to, or with direct object. Obs.
1647. L. Haward, Charges Crown Rev., Ded. Having medled with the publishing of such a Subject so unconcerning my own quality.
1654. R. Whitlock, Ζωοτομια, 87. They will satisfie the Patients thirst with cooling Juleps, be they never so improper for the Malignity Nature hath to struggle with, or unconcerning her assistance to resist.
1667. Decay Chr. Piety, v. ¶ 10. 228. Those things that are either impossible in their nature, or unconcerning to us, cannot beget it.
