a. [UN-1 7.]
1. Not having the proper religious faith; infidel, unbelieving. Also absol.
1382. Wyclif, 1 Cor. vii. 12. If ony brothir haue an vnfeithful wyf, and sche consentith for to dwelle with hym, leue he hir not. Ibid. (1388), Ps. l. 15. I schal teche wickid men thi weies; and vnfeithful men schulen be conuertid to thee.
1456. Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 106. Thai landis that the unfaithfull men haldis.
1534. More, Treat. Passion, Wks. 1341/2. Justinus writing of our faith in his second Apologye to the unfaithful Emperour Antonius.
1560. Bible (Genev.), 2 Esdras xv. 4. For euery vnfaithful shal dye in his vnfaithfulnes.
16435. Milton, Divorce, I. viii. The author of a generall divorce between the faithfull and unfaithfull seed. Ibid. (1667), P. L., XII. 481. What will betide the few, His faithful, left among th unfaithful herd, The enemies of truth?
176874. Tucker, Lt. Nat. (1834), II. 484. Whatever supernatural virtue or nutritive faculty the priest has infused into the bread, are verily received by the unfaithful.
1800. Asiat. Ann. Reg., Misc. Tr., 334/1. Therefore he who follows Mahommedanism and violates this treaty, so comporting himself like the unfaithful [etc.].
† b. Not in accordance with faith; irreligious.
1549. Compl. Scot., i. 22. Mony ignorant pepil hes confermit ane ymaginet onfaythtful opinione in ther hede.
2. Not keeping good faith; acting falsely or treacherously. Also absol.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 714. Vnfaithfull freke, with þi fals cast, Þat such a lady belirt.
1530. Palsgr., 328/1. Unfaythfull of promesse, desloyal.
1549. Cheke, Hurt Sedit., L j. Shall they not truly say the subiectes to be more vnfaithfull in disobedience, than other subiects worse ordered be.
1600. Shaks., A. Y. L., IV. i. 199. I will thinke you the most patheticall breake-promise that may bee chosen out of the grosse band of the vnfaithfull.
1620. in Foster, Eng. Factories Ind. (1906), I. 209. Theis Pegu factors were fownde to be royotous, vitious and unfaithfull.
a. 1729. Congreve, Ovids Art of Love, III. 63. The prince so far for piety renownd, To thee, Eliza, was unfaithful found.
1803. Wellesley, in Owen, Desp. (1877), 331. I propose to view this transaction as the combined offence of two unfaithful servants.
1832. Ht. Martineau, Demerara, iii. 35. I should be unfaithful if I had ever promised either.
b. transf. Of things.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, III. xii. The unfaythfull armour yeelding to the swoordes strong-guided sharpenesse.
1615. G. Sandys, Trav., 2. A sea tempestuous and unfaithfull, at an instant incensed with sudden gusts.
1669. Dryden, Tyrannic Love, I. i. I Did first the depth of trembling Marshes sound, And fixd my Eagles in unfaithful ground.
1726. Leoni, trans. Albertis Archit., I. 35. Sea-sand is unfaithful in supporting great Weights.
1779. Sheridan, Monody on Garrick, 14. As Fancy, oft, ..Has viewd by shadowy Eves unfaithful Gloom, A weeping Cherub on a Martyrs Tomb.
1831. G. P. R. James, Phil. Augustus, I. v. One of those people whose lipsthose ever unfaithful guardians of the treasures of the heartare peculiarly apt to murmur unconsciously.
1842. Tennyson, Love & Duty, 91. With quiet eyes unfaithful to the truth.
c. Not following an original, not translating or translated, faithfully; incorrect, inexact.
a. 1697. Aubrey, Lives (1898), II. 174. He was a learned man, but is much blamed for his unfaithfull quotations.
1724. A. Collins, Gr. Chr. Relig., 163. The Septuagint seems the work both of ignorant and unfaithful Translators.
1776. Mickle, trans. Camoens Lusiad, Introd. 130. The unfaithful and unpoetical version [of the Lusiad] of Fanshaw.
1798. Ferriar, Illustr. Sterne, etc., 91. Burton has spoiled this passage by an unfaithful translation.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xix. IV. 332. An unfaithful interpreter of the sense of the nation.
1864. Pusey, Lect. Daniel, 379. To which act this writer probably alluded in his unfaithful paraphrase, chrism shall be removed.
d. spec. Not faithful in wedlock.
1828. Webster, s.v., An unfaithful husband or wife.
1841. W. Spalding, Italy & It. Isl., II. 147. Galeotto Manfredi, having married Francesca Bentivoglio not only was unfaithful to her, but treated her with cruelty.
3. Of conduct: Characterized by want of good faith; not honest or upright.
1565. Cooper, s.v. Perfidia, To be deceiued by ones treacherie and vnfaithfull dealing. Ibid., s.v. Infidus, An vnfaithfull league that will not long be kepte.
1651. Jer. Taylor, Serm. for Year, xxiii. 292. Lying or craftinesse, and unfaithful usages, robs a man of the honour of his soul.
1680. Otway, Orphan, IV. vi. I might think with Justice most severely Of this unfaithful dealing with your Brother.
1704. Trapp, Abra-Mulé, II. i. 451. Spies who for hope Of a Reward, will give the Sultan notice Of such unfaithful Dealing.
1866. Geo. Eliot, F. Holt, v. Your father was, as I understand, a man whose walk was not unfaithful.