a. [UN-1 7.]
1. Not favorable to growth or development. Also const. to.
1726. Thomson, Winter, 718. Those sullen seas, That wash th’ ungenial pole, will rest no more.
1796. W. H. Marshall, W. England, II. 100. The frequency of rain … renders West Devonshire,… in a wet season, ungenial to Agriculture.
1829. Southey, Sir T. More, II. 142. No plants will thrive in a cold and meagre soil, ungenial to their nature.
1856. Emerson, Eng. Traits, Land, ¶ 1. Art … transforms a rude,… ungenial land into a paradise of comfort and plenty.
fig. 1768. [W. Donaldson], Life Sir B. Sapskull, II. i. 7. The citizen from the ungenial atmosphere of Watling-Street.
b. Of weather: Cold or wet; raw.
1815. Jane Austen, Emma, l. I did not quite like your looks on Tuesday, but it was an ungenial morning.
1885. Manch. Exam., 14 May, 5/1. The ungenial weather has compelled the outdoor part of the programme to be abandoned.
2. Not agreeable or pleasant (to one).
1796. Mme. D’Arblay, Camilla, V. 243. She declined the excursion, as … ungenial to her feelings.
1822. Lamb, Elia, I. Praise of Chimney-sweepers. The rake … curses the ungenial fume, as he passeth.
1857. Dufferin, Lett. High Lat. (ed. 3), 401. Henceforth, the words … can convey no cold or ungenial associations to my ears.
b. Not congenial or suited to the genius of.
1871. Earle, Philol. Eng. Tongue, 145. We must regard this as being a creation of the English speech-genius. To the Danish it is ungenial.
3. Not cheerful, jovial, or kindly.
1796. Mme. D’Arblay, Camilla, V. 38. [I] appeared to you too rigorous, too ungenial.
1867. Ld. Houghton, in Brodrick, etc., Ess. Reform, 48. An ungenial German, ignorant of our language and offensive to our manners.
1870. Lowell, Among Bks., Ser. I. 237. The Puritans had their faults. They were narrow, ungenial.
1889. Gretton, Memory’s Harkb., 25. He was of a somewhat ungenial, crusty temperament.
Hence Ungeniality.
1859. G. Wilson, Mem. E. Forbes, iv. (1861), 109. A deep, quiet enthusiasm … which his ungeniality of nature could not prevent being contagious.
