Unfixed

ppl. a. [UN-¹ 8.]

  1.  Not fixed in a definite place or position; unfastened, loose, free.

  2.  fig.

1598.  Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. ii. IV. Columnes, 131. The Criticall and double-sexed Seven, The Number of th’ unfixed Fires of Heav’n.

1660.  Jer. Taylor, Ductor, I. iii. rule i. § 5. It is like a fire-stick, which … being gently mov’d gives a volatile and unfixed light.

1721.  Ramsay, Morning Interview, 93. Her unfix’d eyes with various turnings range.

1787.  T. Jefferson, Writ. (1859), II. 99. The Count of Vergennes has … had a very severe attack of what is deemed an unfixed gout.

1805.  Loudon, Improv. Hot-Houses, 65. A stripe of cloth … is left unfixed at top.

1837.  Dickens, Pickw., iii. There was a low cinder fire in a rusty unfixed grate.

1844.  Regul. & Ord. Army, 260. All Guards are to parade, with shouldered Arms, and unfixed Bayonets.

  † b.  Of persons: Not restricted by office to one or a special place. Obs.

1661.  Papers on Alter. Prayer-bk., 10. Generall unfixed Bishops, like the Evangelists or Apostles,… and the fixed Bishops of Parochial Churches.

1685.  Baxter, Paraphr. N. T., 1 Tim. iii. 7. The Ministerial Work was … Indefinite, by Itinerant, or unfixed Men.

  2.  fig. a. Unsettled, uncertain, undetermined; fluctuating, variable.

1654.  Z. Coke, Logick, Pref. To guid the intricate and perplexed thoughts of the unfixed people through the great Labyrinth of Time.

1697.  J. Potter, Antiq. Greece, I. ix. (1715), 48. It appears to have been unfix’d and arbitrary.

1763.  Johnson, 21 July, in Boswell. He is totally unfixed in his principles, and wants to puzzle other people.

1826.  E. Irving, Babylon, I. III. 197. Which … doth exactly determine the time of this trumpet which otherwise would have been unfixed.

1862.  Ansted, Channel Isl., III. xix. (ed. 2), 440. The orthography is not only unfixed, but … is varied.

  absol.  1844.  Mrs. Browning, Vis. Poets, clix. The tones … throbbed betwixt The incomplete and the unfixed.

  b.  Unstable; lacking permanency.

1669.  Boyle, Notes Atmospheres, in Contn. New Exp., I. 196. The weights themselves … are commonly made of Brass (a Metal very unfixt).

  † 3.  Not properly fitted. Obs.^–1

1643.  Chas. I., in Tregaskis’ Catal. (1907), 6. So many recovered men of that Regiment as are able to march, divers of whom have unfixed muskets.

  Hence Unfixedness.

1668.  J. Corbet, Sec. Disc. Relig. Eng., § xix. 44. Christianity it self would be much endangered in a state of Ataxy and unfixedness.

1707.  Norris, Treat. Humility, ii. 53. The unfixedness and dissipation of his spirit.

1754.  Edwards, Freed. Will, III. v. 174. There is a vast Indistinctness and Unfixedness in … very many of the Terms.

1840.  Mill, Ess. (1859), 65. That entire unfixedness in the social position of individuals.