ppl. a. [UN-1 8 b, 8 c; cf. next.]
1. Of persons: Not fought with or for.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. xviii. 25. He toke mede and money of the Scottis, to thentent they myght departe pryuely by nyght, vnfoughte withall.
1586. J. Hooker, Hist. Irel., 148/1, in Holinshed, II. Thinking it should be too great a dishonour vnto him to be bearded with a traitor, and to let him depart vnfought withall.
1619. Fletcher, etc., Knt. Malta, I. iii. Mountferrat should perceive my Sister had A Brother would not live to see her dye Unfought for.
1659. B. Harris, Parival’s Iron Age, 211. Prince Rupert … might have gone away unfought with but that such counsell was too cold for so hot a stomach.
[1822. Scott, Halidon Hall, I. ii. 9. If we leave it Unfought withal, it squares not with our honour.]
b. Not encountered in fight; without fighting.
1596. Edward III., III. iii. 139. These English faine would spend the time in words, That, night approching, they might escape vnfought.
1697. Dryden, Æneis, IX. 159. For fly they cannot, and, constrained to stay, Must yield unfought, a base inglorious prey.
2. Of battles, etc.: Not fought; uncontested.
1669. Earl Orrery, Parthen. (1676), 738. How many Battels … had been unfought?
1807. Wordsw., White Doe, III. 217. We yield (and can it be?) an unfought field!
1820. Praed, Eve of Battle, 68. Anticipation fires his brain With fights unfought.
1898. Westm. Gaz., 6 June, 2/2. We think that the constituency ought not to go unfought.
