1. = INCURABLE a. 1. (Common c. 1400–1650.)
a. Of wounds, diseases, etc.
1382. Wyclif, Deut. xxxii. 33. Venym of eddres vncurable. Ibid. (1388), Isaiah xiv. 6. The ȝerde of lordis, that beet puplis … with vncurable wounde.
a. 1425. trans. Arderne’s Treat. Fistula, etc., 4. I afferme noȝt that I miȝt hele al ffistulae in ano, ffor som ben vncurable.
c. 1450. Lydg., Secrees, 1425. The tyme dyuerse … sodeynly men schent, be seknessys which be unkurable.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 82. Lepry, fransy, & suche other, whiche be in maner vncurable.
1562. Turner, Baths, Pref. Many sore and otherwyse uncurable syknesses.
1593. Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., III. i. 286. Send Succours (Lords) and stop the Rage betime, Before the Wound doe grow vncurable.
1622. Gataker, Spirituall Watch, 86. Decay of nature, old age, and some vncureable diseases.
1650. Trapp, Comm. Exod. xv. 26. To an Almightie Physician no diseas is uncurable.
fig. 1652. Heylyn, Cosmogr., IV. 22. Of all Surfeits this of Forraign supplies is most uncurable.
b. Of persons. Also fig.
a. 1425. trans. Arderne’s Treat. Fistula, etc., 1. Sir Adam … made for to aske counsel at all the lechez and cirurgienz that he myȝt fynde … And all forsoke hym for vncurable.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., xxxvii. 152 (Add. MS.). Yit he dothe many synnes ayenst god, and so he is vncurable.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 36 b. As al those Romish be utterly uncurable.
1609. Bible (Douay), Deut. xxviii. 35. Be thou uncurable from the sole of thy foote unto the toppe of thy head.
1657. Sparrow, Bk. Com. Prayer, 138. Malice or revenge which makes us unpardonable and uncurable.
1775. Ash.
2. transf. and fig. = INCURABLE a. 2.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter, cxxxix. 3. Thai hafe … malice vncurabil in þaire hert.
c. 1545. H. Rhodes, Bk. Nurture, B iiij. An olde man & a yonge woman, to satysfye is vncurable.
1626. in Foster, Eng. Factories India (1909), III. 136. Her leake prooved uncureable.
1650. Baxter, Saints’ R., III. iii. (1662), 325. An eternal, absolute, tormenting, uncurable despair.
a. 1676. Hale, Prim. Orig. Man., I. iv. (1677), 103. The absurdities and incongruities … are infinite and uncurable.
Hence † Uncurableness; † Uncurably adv.
a. 1425. trans. Arderne’s Treat. Fistula, etc., 38. Whiche … makeþ euermore pronosticacion … als wele of deþ as of vncurablenes.
1548. Udall, Erasm. Par. Luke v. 59 b. Wheras theim selfes wer euen for this verai poynte vncurably wicked enemies of God.
1643. Milton, Divorce, vii. heading. A matrimony found to be uncurably unfit.
1651. Biggs, New Disp., ¶ 61. The uncurablenesse of diseases.
