a. [UN-1 7.]
† 1. Unequal, unfavorable. Obs.–1
1565. Golding, Cæsar, 209. When he saw howe thencounter was in an vnindifferent place … [he] sent to … his Lieuetenant.
2. a. Of persons: Not impartial or fair-minded; prejudiced. Now arch.
1571. Golding, Calvin on Ps. xli. 3. The miserable man whom cruel and unindifferent persons surmise to bee forlorne.
1611. A. Munday, Brief Chron., A 8. This vertuous … man, knowing Death to be an vnindifferent Executor.
1673. O. Walker, Educ., 204. Unindifferent are those who are preingaged.
1852. Fraser’s Mag., March, 246/1. He may consequently be supposed, to use the language of the law, ‘to stand unindifferent as he stands unsworn.’
† b. Of actions, etc.: Lacking in impartiality or fairness. Obs.
1583. Golding, Calvin on Deut. xxxix. 231. Such vnindifferent dealing shall alwayes be taken for theft before God.
1600. Tate, in Gutch, Coll. Cur., I. 7. It may justly be thought unindifferent to nominate his own country for the place.
1602. Warner, Alb. Eng., Epit. 378. Stomacking … the vnindifferent sharing of the Nordaine Bootie.
3. Not indifferent; concerned, interested.
1813. Lamb, Play-ho Mem., Wks. 1908, I. 202. Those honest, hearty, well-pleased, unindifferent mortals above.
So Unindifferently adv., unfairly.
1608. Hieron, Defence, II. 126. He … maie easely perceyve … how unindifferently and unequally he sorteth us and Cochlæus togither.
