† 1. Incontrovertible, indisputable, irrefutable.
1577. trans. Bullinger’s Decades, III. ix. 460. That diuine saying of Sainct Peter remaineth for euer vncomptroleable.
1602. Warner, Alb. Eng., Epit. (1606), 362. It is to be noted, as warranted out of vncontrowlable authours, that [etc.].
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., VI. i. 273. His labours are rationall, and uncontroulable upon the grounds assumed.
1673. Cave, Prim. Chr., III. iii. 304. He makes it an uncontrolable Argument of the Truth.
1701. Swift, Contests Nobles & Comm., i. The error of those, who think it an uncontrollable maxim, that power is always safer lodged in many hands than in one. Ibid. (1738), Pol. Conversat., Introd. 74.
2. Not subject to control from a higher authority; absolute.
1593. G. Harvey, Pierce’s Super., Wks. (Grosart), II. 180. Armed with that supreme & Vncontrowlable authoritie, which they affect in causes Ecclesiasticall.
1630. R. Johnson’s Kingd. & Commw., 526. His sentence in matters of Law and Religion is uncontrollable.
1672. Marvell, Reh. Transp., I. 140. He had vested them with an … unlimited power, and uncontroulable in the Government of Religion.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 167, ¶ 3. I have grasped imaginary Scepters, and delivered uncontroulable Edicts.
1752. Hume, Ess. & Treat. (1777), I. 39. Authority … can never … become quite entire and uncontroulable.
1809. Mar. Edgeworth, Manœuvring, xv. She had an uncontroulable right to marry as she thought proper.
1836. J. Gilbert, Chr. Atonem., ii. 49. The power of the Creator over all his creatures is entirely uncontrollable.
b. In quasi-adverbial use.
a. 1704. T. Brown, Praise Drunkenness, Wks. 1730, I. 35. Consider whether ’tis not the Drunkard, that … acts so uncontroulable as the Gods themselves.
3. That cannot be controlled or restrained.
1648. R. Josselin, Diary (1908), 54. The wofull uncontroulable encrease of all manner of wickedness.
1665. Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (1677), 262. Cardarigas … fancies to himself that they were brought thither by some uncontroulable destiny to be destroyed.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa (1811), I. i. 2. His natural imperiousness and fierce and uncontroulable temper.
1823. Scott, Quentin D., ix. His horse, seizing the bit with his teeth, went forth at an uncontrollable gallop.
1846. McCulloch, Acc. Brit. Empire (1854), II. 629. Poverty and misery produced by accidental and uncontrollable causes.
1879. H. C. Wood, Therap., 570. Hydrophobia is a perfectly uncontrollable disease.
absol. 1754. Richardson, Corr. (1804), IV. 89. Dr. Young is another uncontrollable, therefore unaccountable.
1819. Shelley, Ode West Wind, 47. The impulse of thy strength, only less free Than thou. O uncontrollable!
