ppl. a. [UN-1 8. Cf. MDu. ongegrondet, -gront (Du. -grond), G. ungegründet, Da. ugrundet, Sw. ogrundad.]
1. Not based or established in something.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 38. Euyle lawis vngroundid in holy writt & reson. Ibid. (c. 1380), Sel. Wks., III. 351. Þus love ungroundid in God … mut nedis faile.
1426. Audelay, Poems (Percy Soc.), 25. Ȝe beth ungroundid in grace.
2. Having no real basis or justification; unfounded, groundless.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 337. If he had not couetise of worldly goodis … he shuld … leue al siche rownyng þat is ungrundid.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lxii. § 16. A few men’s new, ungrounded, and as yet unapproved imagination.
1629. H. Burton, Truth’s Triumph, 291. Humane deuices, and labyrinths of vngrounded distinctions.
1672. Newton, in Phil. Trans., VII. 5084. I shall refer him to my former Letter, by which that conjecture will appear to be ungrounded.
1728. R. Morris, Ess. Anc. Archit., 70. The Executions of their own ungrounded Fancies.
1782. Priestley, Corrupt. Christianity, I. I. 30. Nothing can appear … more ungrounded.
1863. E. V. Neale, Anal. Th. & Nat., 58. Thus the whole operation appears either useless or ungrounded.
3. Of persons: Not properly instructed or informed (in something).
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., Prol. 3. Therfore to ech such vngroundid and vnredy and ouer hasti vndirnymer and blamer y seie [etc.].
1581. Mulcaster, Positions, iii. 11. It is a sufficient argument … of an vngrounded learner, if his error be in speeche.
1646. P. Bulkeley, Gospel Covt., II. 111. If any be ignorant and ungrounded in the doctrine of grace.
1670. Baxter, Cure Ch. Div., 168. The pitiful case of the ignorant and ungrounded, and troubled sort of religious persons.
