1. Not congenial or kindred; unsympathetic.
[1775. Ash.]
1813. Scott, Rokeby, II. iv. And small the intercourse, I ween, Such uncongenial souls between.
1846. Trench, Mirac., xxix. (1862), 402. The disturbing influences of that uncongenial circle.
1884. Black, Jud. Shakes., xiii. Refusing to harbor such uncongenial guests.
2. Unsuited to the nature of the thing mentioned or under consideration.
1788. V. Knox, Winter Even., xxx. (1798), II. 202. In England, a cold northern country, where I imagine its growth is impeded by an uncongenial climate.
1830. Lyell, Princ. Geol., III. vii. (1835), III. 86. Insects … can readily spread themselves wherever their progress is not opposed by uncongenial climates.
1846. J. Baxter, Libr. Pract. Agric. (ed. 4), I. 67. The stratum beneath,… if uncongenial to the growth of the tree, will assuredly cause it to canker.
1873. Symonds, Grk. Poets, v. 136. Into the Æolian style Anacreon introduced a new and uncongenial element.
3. Not suited or agreeable to one’s temperament; not to one’s taste.
1805. Ann. Rev., III. 58. This is best resisted by uncongenial employment during youth.
1860. Mrs. Carlyle, Lett. (1883), III. 20. The reading of that book will be an even more uncongenial job.
1905. ‘Guy Thorne’ [C. Gull], Lost Cause, iii. He felt that he was in a thoroughly uncongenial atmosphere, though he was sorry for the alarm he had caused.
b. Const. to, with. † Also as adv., in disagreement, at variance with.
1799. Sickelmore, Agnes & Leonora, II. 190. They trusted … that their father … would … relinquish his intention of marrying his daughter uncongenial with her wishes.
1812. Shelley, in Dowden, Life (1887), I. 221. Oxonian society was insipid to me, uncongenial with my habits of thinking.
1839. Hallam, Hist. Lit., III. ii. § 25. This … important book … must have been very uncongenial to the ruling party.
1871. Jowett, Plato, I. 66. The good is congenial, and the evil uncongenial to every one.
