ppl. a. [UN-1 8.]
1. Not compelled or constrained.
1598. Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. ii. Colonies, 513. Being fed … With wholesome Fruits of an un-forced soyl.
1624. Heywood, Gunaik., V. 231. Artimesia … unforced and uncompeld followed the expedition of Xerxes against Greece.
1697. Dryden, Æneis, XI. 654. Why thus, unforced, should we so tamely yield?
1741. Richardson, Pamela, III. 248. He will judge us according to the unforced and unbyassed Use we make of that Light.
1805. Wordsw., To the Daisy, 52. Unforced by wind or wave To quit the Ship for which he died.
1884. 19th Cent., March, 436. The unforced zeal and docility of the horse.
b. Of plants: Not produced out of season.
1868. Daily News, 8 July. Some of the fuchsias … would have borne comparison with any unforced flowers of their class.
2. Not pushed beyond the natural limits; not produced by exertion or effort; easy, natural.
1604. Shaks., Oth., II. i. 239. This granted (as it is a most pregnant and vnforc’d position) who stands so eminent … as Cassio do’s?
1665. J. Spencer, Vulg. Proph., 52. All the great Prophets … delivered themselves in a natural and unforc’d order of words.
1717. Addison, trans. Ovid’s Met., III. Notes, Wks. 1721, I. 242. This is one of Ovid’s finished stories. The transition to it is proper and unforced.
1790. Paley, Horæ Paul., xii. § 2. Here we have a fair unforced example of coincidence.
1850. W. Irving, Goldsmith, i. 17. The unforced humor, blending so happily with good feeling and good sense, and singularly dashed at times with a pleasing melancholy.
1883. D. C. Murray, Hearts, ix. His objections … were unforced and genuine.
3. Requiring or involving no physical exertion.
1643. Denham, Cooper’s H., 42. With such an easie and unforc’t ascent.
1765. Sterne, Tr. Shandy, VIII. xix. By an unforced compression … of his cap with the thumb and the two forefingers.
Hence Unforcedly adv.; Unforcedness.
1632. G. Sandys, Ovid’s Met., XIII. Notes, 451. This may vnforcedly admit of the former interpretation.
1664. H. More, Myst. Iniq., 261. The naturalness and unforcedness of this Imbibition shall be made good.
1696. M. Henry, Life P. Henry, iv. Wks. 1853, II. 647/1. Such a distribution as the matter did most easily and unforcedly fall into.
