[UN-1 12.]
† 1. The quality of being troublesome. Obs.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VII. 331. He commaundede to put out Lanfranc out of Normandye for his unesynes [L. pro sua importunitate].
1712. in J. J. Vernon, Par. & Kirk Hawick (1900), 100. The s[ai]d day compeared Bessie Pasley … for her uneasiness among her nighbours.
2. Difficulty; difficult nature or character.
1594. R. Ashley, trans. Loys le Roy, 73 b. The vneasinesse of the places where he made his Conquests.
1645. Ussher, Body Div., 271. Frowardnesse, and uneasinesse to be intreated.
1691. T. H[ale], Acc. New Invent., 38. Very apt to gather Filth, and of no less uneasiness when fouled to be thoroughly cleansed again.
† b. Unwillingness, reluctance. Obs.
a. 1715. Burnet, Own Time, II. viii. (1897), I. 374. The king … charged him to tell him the truth. The other did it, though not without some uneasiness.
1737. Whiston, Josephus, Hist., IV. iii. § 3. The Roman garrisons,… partly out of their uneasiness to take such trouble,… did little or nothing.
† c. Unpleasantness; ill feeling. Obs.
a. 1734. North, Lives (1826), III. 366. I mentioned before some uneasinesses between the doctor and his seniors about elections.
1771. Ledwich, Antiq. Sarisb., 42. The Prelate stiffly refused, and thereby created much uneasiness between Henry and Pope Paschal.
3. Discomfort, trouble, or anxiety, as affecting one’s circumstances or welfare. Also (with pl.), an instance of this.
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., II. ii. 27. There’s not I thinke a subiect That sits in heart-greefe and vneasinesse Vnder the sweet shade of your gouernment.
1658. Whole Duty Man, vii. § 9. An abundant amends for all the uneasiness and hardship thou canst suffer in the way.
1681. J. Scott, Chr. Life, I. i. 8. Short intermissions of the pains and uneasinesses of a wretched Life.
1742. Richardson, Pamela, I. 13. But, may-be, without these Uneasinesses to mingle with these Benefits, I might be too much puffed up.
1805. A. Knox, Rem. (1834), I. 29. When we wish to rise above worldly uneasiness.
b. Physical discomfort (falling short of actual or definite pain).
1665. Boyle, Occas. Refl., II. xiv. 235. Having sadly Experienc’d the uneasiness of Sickness.
1709. Phil. Trans., XXVI. 491. The Cause of this Peeping in the Shell, I take to be from some Uneasiness the young Bird may find there.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), II. 55. The infant’s cries are sufficient indications of the uneasinesses it must at every interval endure.
1815. J. Smith, Panorama Sc. & Art, II. 446. With nearly all persons who have breathed this gas, not the least uneasiness or languor subsequently remains.
1862. A. Meadows, Man. Midwifery, 220. Pain in the seat of injury, followed by a general sense of uneasiness and distension.
c. Mental discomfort; anxiety, apprehension.
1682. Norris, Hierocles, 60. There is a necessity therefore of Impatience and Uneasiness, and that our misery be augmented from the ignorance of our selves.
1709. Lady M. W. Montagu, Lett. to Miss A. Wortley, 8 Aug. Till then I shall be in terrible uneasiness.
1756. Cowper, Wks. (1837), XV. 291. I have lately been under some uneasiness at your silence.
1844. Kinglake, Eöthen, xviii. My coming from an infected city did not cause him the least uneasiness.
1885. ‘Mrs. Alexander,’ At Bay, iv. The next day brought Glynn a few lines … which struck him as expressing more uneasiness than was intended.
