ppl. a. [UN-1 8.]

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  1.  Not informed, instructed, or enlightened on some matter or in some respect.

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1597.  Sir R. Cecil, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. I. III. 45. His being a King not of many yeares … may happilie leave him uninformed of that course.

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1644.  Milton, Bucer on Div., To Parlt. B 2 b. I … was not un-inform’d that divers … men testify’d their daily approbation of the book. Ibid. (1667), P. L., VIII. 486. Guided by his voice, nor uninformd Of nuptial Sanctitie and marriage Rites.

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1725.  Pope, Odyss., VIII. 533. Who by Phœbus uninform’d, could … sing so well the woe?

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1794.  S. Williams, Vermont, 156. The uninformed spectator is struck with horror.

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1796.  Mme. D’Arblay, Camilla, IV. 328. She was uninformed he had propagated it.

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1854.  J. S. C. Abbott, Napoleon (1855), I. xxvii. 436. Uninformed as to its contents.

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1854.  Poultry Chron., I. 260/2. Persons … totally uninformed on the subject.

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  absol.  1815.  J. Cormack, Abol. Fem. Infanticide Guzerat, i. 5. This is a position, which the uninformed and the unintelligent alone will dispute.

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1892.  Temple Bar, Oct., 185. Notwithstanding the abstract nature of his studies, Mr. Hopkins was a charming companion, even to the uninformed.

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  2.  Uninstructed, uneducated, ignorant.

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1647.  Clarendon, Hist. Reb., II. § 98. They … obtained Proselytes of weak uninformed Ladies.

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1745.  Fielding, Tom Jones, VI. ii. So great e politician … must surely … find out what passes in the rude uninformed mind of a girl.

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1791.  Newte, Tour Eng. & Scot., 372. Uninformed and credulous minds readily discover a similitude.

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1825.  Coleridge, Aids Refl., 169. Even though the uninformed Heathens should not perish.

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  b.  Marked by lack of enlightenment, information, or knowledge.

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1796.  Gisborne, Walks Forest (ed. 2), i. 14. Him uninform’d attachment to his chief arranged Beneath Rebellion’s standard.

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1817.  J. Scott, Paris Revisit. (ed. 4), 114. In the vagueness of uninformed speculation.

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1891.  Daily News, 5 Nov., 2/5. The bankers pledged themselves … with blind and uninformed confidence.

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  3.  Not animated, enlivened, or inspired.

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1709.  Swift, Vind. Bickerstaff, Wks. 1755, II. I. 172. If an uninformed carcase walks still about.

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1711.  Steele, Spect., No. 33, ¶ 12. Without this irradiating Power … her most perfect Features are Uninform’d and Dead.

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1803.  Wordsw., Yew-Trees, 19. A growth Of … fibres serpentine upcoiling, and inveterately convolved,—Nor uninformed with Phantasy, and looks that threaten the profane.

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  † 4.  Unimproved by art. Obs.

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1748.  Foote, Knights, I. Wks. 1799, I. 61. A raw boarding-school girl … with a mind unpolished, a figure uninformed.

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