1. Without due cause or justification; without proper regard to right and wrong; unrightfully, improperly.
1399. Langl., Rich. Redeles, II. 124. Þus ȝe derid hem vnduly with droppis of anger.
1426. Audelay, Poems (Percy Soc.), 35. Aȝayns the order of holé cherch and Goddys ordenawns This dole is undeulé dalt, hit maketh dystans.
1477. Earl Rivers (Caxton), Dictes, 44 b. Nether is nothing so [un]couenable to a king as to coueyte vnduely the goodes of his peple.
1598. Florio, Indebitamente, vndulie, vnlawfullie.
1659. in Picton, L’pool Munic. Rec. (1883), I. 214. The same Ley shalbe denyed and not paid, being unduly taxed.
1687. Reason. Toleration, 33. Unless it can be prov’d that it is for the Common Good,… the Penal Laws are unduly made.
1721. Strype, Eccl. Mem., III. xix. 161. Remitting and relaxing to all persons … All the fruits and profits from the same taken, however unduly.
1796. Mme. D’Arblay, Camilla, III. 394. She could only feel reproach from a conquest, unduly, unfairly and uningenuously obtained.
1844. Mrs. Browning, Lost Bower, ix. While beyond,… Malvern hills, for mountains counted Not unduly, loom a-row.
b. Irregularly.
1660. Jer. Taylor, Ductor, I. iv. rule 16 § 4. Alexander the third … was a schismatical Pope,… and unduly elected.
† 2. Without due care or industry; badly; not in the right way. Obs.
1423. Rolls of Parlt., IV. 255/2. All the werk of Brauderie so undwely made as above. Ibid. (1444), V. 108/1. Divers Sherryffs … unduely and yvell and untruely served the Kyng and his poeple.
1477. Earl Rivers (Caxton), Dictes, 35 b. Many erre by cause they seke her [sc. Wisdom] vnduely and blame her without cause.
3. More than is due or proper; excessively.
a. 1779. Warburton, Serm., Wks. 1788, V. 431. The mechanism of the body,… when unduly agitated either by sensation or reflection.
1841. Myers, Cath. Th., IV. § 19. 276. Unquestionably External evidences … have been unduly magnified.
1869. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1875), III. xii. 281. On such mere backslidings William had never been unduly harsh.
