Undue

a. [UN-¹ 7 + DUE a., after OF. indeu, L. indēbitus.]

  1.  Not properly owing or payable.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VIII. 241. For þe pope greved þe chirches of Engelond wiþ taxes and wiþ paiementis undewe and uncustemable.

1818.  Colebrooke, Obligations, 98. It was not undue, though payment might have been postponed.

1843.  Carlyle, Past & Pr., II. xii. My Lord of Clare, coming to claim his undue ‘debt’ in the Court at Witham.

  2.  Not appropriate or suitable; improper. Also of times, etc.: Unseasonable.

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., II. xix. (1495), 45. Also in an undewe manere the deuyll coueyted highnes that fell not for hym.

1436.  Pol. Poems (Rolls), II. 176. Thow this proverbe be homly and undew, Yet be liklynesse it is for soth fulle trew.

c. 1440.  Jacob’s Well, 165. Whan playes arn hantyd in vndewe places & in vndewe tyme.

1541.  Act 33 Hen. VIII., c. 21 § 1. Culpeper and she met … at an vndue houre of a leuen a clocke in the night.

1585.  T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., I. xvii. 19. Wee woulde not at an vndue houre enter amongest the Turkes armie.

1641.  Sir E. Dering, Sp. on Relig. (1642), 77. Throwing that overboard which is adventitious, borrowed, and undue.

1680.  W. Allen, Peace & Unity, Pref. p. lx. Our undue separations, and unchristian Contentions.

a. 1716.  Bp. O. Blackall, Wks. (1723), I. 250. It is a Sin to omit the holy Duty, and it is likewise a Sin to perform it in an undue manner.

1774.  J. Bryant, Mythol., I. 344. They seem to have been aware, that they were guilty of an undue representation.

1865.  Kingsley, Herew., xxi. Men-at-arms…, who would, on due or undue cause shown, hunt men while he hunted game.

1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), V. 58. The undue awarding of honours is the ruin of states.

  3.  Not in accordance with what is just and right; unjustifiable; illegal.

c. 1400.  Apol. Loll., 11. If þe pope … graunt or behiȝt ani swilk þingis … for vndeu seruise, or oþer vndeu cause and vnpertinent.

c. 1440.  Jacob’s Well, 99. Ȝif þou do it … wyth exces of vndewe mesure, wyth a strong wyll to sle,… it is dedly synne.

1456.  Coventry Leet Bk., 293. Diuers subbaillifs of this Cite afore this han made many vndue returnes of preceptes directed … vnto theym.

1598.  Florio, Iritto, vnlawfull, vndue, vnfit, vnright.

1622.  Bacon, Hen. VII., 14. Which proceeding being even at that time taxed for vigorous and undue [etc.].

1660.  R. Coke, Justice Vind., Ep. Ded. 7. Such miscreants … had by undue ways devoured the patrimony of the Church.

1692.  Luttrell, Brief Rel. (1857), II. 601. Irish letters say, divers persons were committed for undue practices.

1783.  Burke, Rep. Aff. India, Wks. XI. 149. Complaints against the inferiour collectors of the Landed Revenue, stating their undue and vexatious exactions.

  b.  In special contexts.

  (a)  1477.  Earl Rivers (Caxton), Dictes, iij b. To gadre money … by subtyl extorcion or other undewe meanes.

1534.  Act 26 Hen. VIII., c. 2. Without gile, fraude, or other vndew meane.

1621.  Elsing, Debates Ho. Lords (Camden), App. 136. Those innes … that have benne lately erected by his undue meanes.

1676.  Hale, Contempl., II. 132. Frauds, and Plots, and Underminings, and Undue Means.

  (b)  1687.  Bp. Cartwright, in Magd. Coll. & Jas. II. (O.H.S.), 134. The Election was undue.

1736.  Gentl. Mag., VI. 440/1. The Petition … complaining of an undue Election and Return for the City of Coventry.

1764.  T. Hutchinson, Hist. Mass., I. (1765), 62. This election was immediately determined … to be undue … [and] a warrant issued for a new.

  (c)  1735.  Bolingbroke, On Parties, 122. Thus He acquired an undue Influence over the Elections.

1772.  Junius’ Lett., Ded. p. viii. Long parliaments are the foundation of the undue influence of the crown.

1854.  Act 17 & 18 Vict., c. 102 (title), An Act to … amend the Laws relating to Bribery, Treating, and undue Influence at Elections.

  † c.  Of persons: Acting unjustly. Obs.^–1

a. 1400.  Pistill of Susan, 236. Hir domus men vnduwe do hir be withdrawen.

  4.  Going beyond what is appropriate, warranted, or natural; excessive.

a. 1684.  Leighton, Comm. 1 Pet. iv. 8 (1849), II. 350. [Love] delights not in the undue disclosing of brethren’s failings.

1739.  Hist. Works of Learned, I. 137. He seems to own they are both chargeable with some Instances of undue Warmth and Zeal.

1780.  Cowper, Progr. Error, 269. Pleasure admitted in undue degree, Enslaves the will.

1814.  Chalmers, Evid., i. 21. An undue advantage has been given to that argument.

1865.  Tylor, Early Hist. Man., i. 2. An undue confidence in the statements of ancient writers.

1893.  Traill, Soc. Eng., Introd. p. xiv. The undue prominence formerly given … to these matters has produced a reaction.

  Hence Undueness. rare.

1653.  W. A[llen] (title), An Answer … in which … the Undueness of mixt Communion is declared. Ibid. (1680), Peace is Unity, Pref. p. xxxv. I shall … argue the undueness of their practise that withdraw … upon the foresaid ground.