[UN-1 12.]
† 1. Unnatural conduct; absence of natural affection or consideration for others. Obs.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 13018. Þis herod … vnkendnes kidd ful rjf, He reft his broþer philipp his wijf.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. III. 280. Vnkuyndenesse is Comaundour and kuyndenesse is Banescht.
1380. Lay Folks Catech. (L.), 938. Yf he kepe hem [sc. the commandments] not he doþ to god more vnkendenesse þan ony broþer may do to anoþer.
c. 1400. Beryn, 1354. He cursid his grete vnkyndnes To foreȝit his modir.
1477. Rolls of Parlt., VI. 173/1. The grett offences, unkyndnese and mysbehavyngs, that … Nevell hath doon.
a. 1513. Fabyan, Chron., I. xv. (1811), 15. The vnkyndnesse of his ii. doughters, consyderynge theyr wordes to hym before spoken and sworne.
1570. Homilies, II. Wilful Rebellion, I. (1640), 282. So farre doth their unkindnesse, unnaturalnesse, wickednesse … excell anything … that can be expressed.
† b. Uncharitableness; niggardliness. Obs.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XVI. 263. Diues deyed dampned for his vnkyndenesse Of his mete & his moneye to men that it neded.
† 2. Ingratitude, unthankfulness. Obs.
c. 1340. Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 5587. Agayne þam sal Crist allege sone,… And reherce his benefices,… To reprove þam of þair unkyndenes.
1380. Lay Folks Catech. (L.), 946. Yf we with-stond þat lord þat made vs … we do þe most vnkendenesse þat may be wroȝt.
c. 1450. Mirk’s Festial, 113. Saynt Barnard yn Cristys person makyth gret waymentacyon for þe vnkyndnesse þat he sethe yn men.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 362/2. We receyue dayly many bienfaites of this cyte and it sholde be a grete unkyndness to us yf we socoured it not in this grete nede.
1531. Elyot, Gov., II. xiii. The moste damnable vice … is ingratitude, commenly called unkyndnesse.
1585. Abp. Sandys, Serm., 189. After that God had thus set forth his great goodnesse towardes them, hee chargeth them with their great vnkindenesse towards him.
1605. Shaks., Lear, III. ii. 16. I taxe not you, you Elements with vnkindnesse. I neuer gaue you Kingdome, call’d you Children.
† b. A flock (of ravens). Obs.–0
c. 1452. in Trans. Philol. Soc., 1907–10, III. 52. Vnkyndenys of rauynnys.
1486. Bk. St. Albans, f vj.
3. The fact of being unkind; unkind action or treatment.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Anel. & Arc., 292. My self I mourdre with my prevy thoght For sorowe and routhe of your vn-kyndnesse.
1390. Gower, Conf., II. 299. This Emperour al that he tolde Hath herd, and thilke unkindenesse He seide he wolde himself redresse.
c. 1491. Chast. Goddes Chyld., 12. Trouth fynde they nowhere but wronges detraccyons and unkyndenes.
1535. Coverdale, 2 Macc. xiv. 30. When Machabeus sawe that Nicanor beganne to be churlish vnto him … he perceaued that soch vnkyndnes came not of good.
1594. R. Wilson, Coblers Proph., III. iii. Know you not, vnkindnes kills a woman?
1621. J. Taylor (Water P.), Unnat. Father, Wks. (1630), 136/2. Ruing his vnkindnesse to his Wife.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., I. vi. 27. Some Weep for the losse of Friends; Others for their unkindnesse.
1742. Gray, Eton, 76. The stings of Falshood those shall try, And hard Unkindness’ alter’d eye.
1784. Cowper, Task, VI. 627. Attachment … proof alike Against unkindness, absence, and neglect.
1825. Scott, Talism., xx. Eloquent in urging her own defence, the Queen was far more so in pressing upon Richard the charge of unkindness.
1882. ‘Ouida,’ Maremma, I. 69. Joconda feared no scorn and unkindness on the score of her birth.
b. An instance of this; an unkind action.
1505. in Mem. Hen. VII. (Rolls), 266. The whiche the kynge … takithe for a grete onkyndnes.
1555. Bradford, Lett., in Foxe, A. & M. (1583), 1661/1. All those vnkyndnesses, rudenes, &c., whereof you accuse your selfe.
1606. Shaks., Ant. & Cl., I. ii. 138. Why then we kill all our Women. We see how mortall an vnkindnesse is to them.
1660. Trial Regic., 133. I hope he will think it no unkindnesse in me.
1809–14. Wordsw., Excurs., VI. 776. Her uncharitable acts, I trust, And harsh unkindnesses are all forgiven.
1860. Emily Eden, Semi-attached Couple, xiii. A series of small unkindnesses is very offensive indeed.
4. Unkindly feeling; ill-will, enmity, hostility. Now rare or Obs.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 144. With a course of vnkyndnes he caste in his thoghte, The freike vpon faire wise ferke out of lyue.
1465. in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 302. The tyme of thar unkyndnesse other warre with the citie.
1562. Child. Marr., 203. By which did growe an vnkindnes betwene them.
1588. Marprel. Epist. (Arb.), 38. Because the gamesters … wan all his monie at trey trip [he] tooke such vnkindenes at the alehouse that [etc.].
1624. Capt. Smith, Virginia, III. 52. This bred some vnkindnesse between our two Captaines.
1658. Jer. Taylor, Lett., in 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 5. If ever you have … heard of any overtures of unkindnesse betweene them.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 24 April 1692. Unkindness between the Queene and her sister.
1823. Scott, Quentin D., vii. I will bestow another to wash away unkindness. Ibid. (1825), Betrothed, xviii. He died when we were in unkindness with each other.
† 5. Unnatural character or quality. Obs.
1502. Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W., 1506), I. vii. F iv b. By this artycle we sholde knowe the mysery & ryght unkyndenesse of humayne condycyon.
a. 1513. Fabyan, Chron., V. cxxiv. 104. Whan the Embassade … had shewyd ye vnkyndnesse of this warre with the ieopardyes that myght ensue of ye same.
