1. Not sounding in harmony: unmelodious.
a. 1634. Chapman, Rev. for Honour, II. i. 224 These sounds are unharmonious.
1727. Swift, Let. Eng. Tongue, Wks. 1755, II. I. 188. Such harsh unharmonious sounds, that none but a northern ear could endure.
1753. R. Clayton, Jrnl. fr. Cairo to Mt. Sinai, 4. The noisy sonnets of our Eastern friends, who … designed these their unharmonious vociferations as a compliment.
1832. G. Downes, Lett. Cont. Countries, I. 139. Some country-seats, one of which bears the unharmonious name, Gutsch.
1859. R. F. Burton, Centr. Afr., in Jrnl. Geog. Soc., XXIX. 266. An unharmonious chorus of collective voices.
b. Not yielding or producing harmonious sounds.
1742. Young, Nt. Th., III. 89. Transfixt by fate,… How from the summit of the grove she fell, And left it unharmonious!
1784. Cowper, Task, III. 734. Wholesome airs,… And groves, if unharmonious, yet secure From clamour.
a. 1861. T. Woolner, My Beautiful Lady, Night, i. What trite old folly unharmonious sages … write … Of sin original and growing crime!
2. Not exhibiting harmony or agreement.
1667. Milton, P. L., XI. 51. Those pure immortal Elements that know No gross, no unharmoneous mixture foule.
1796. Mrs. M. Robinson, Angelina, I. 125. Pardon me … for the impertinence of supposing that your enlightened mind can for a moment be unharmonious.
1805. Loudon, Improv. Hot-Houses, 38. Walls and flues covered with white plaster, the raw glare of which … has a harsh and unharmonious effect.
1846. Grote, Greece, IX. (1862), II. 246. The distinct and unharmonious elements of which the population … was made up.
1876. Bernstein, Five Senses, 120. The cause of the harmonious or unharmonious relation between colours.
