ppl. a. Also 4–7 unkist, etc. [UN-1 8. Cf. Du. ongekust, Sw. okysst.] Not kissed; without being kissed.
1390. Gower, Conf., II. 92. Ofte he goth to bedde unkist.
a. 1400. Hymns Virg. (1867), 80. We schulen go vnkist boþe at þe dore & at þe gate.
a. 1542. Wyatt, ‘What should I say?’ 28. And thus betraide, Or that I wiste Farewell, unkiste!
a. 1592. Greene, Jas. IV., I. ii. I cannot abide a full cup unkissed.
1852. Whittier, April, 11. Round the boles of the pine-wood the ground-laurel creeps, Unkissed of the sunshine.
1870. Morris, Earthly Par., III. IV. 53. She sighed as those sweet sounds did fall From her unkissed lips.
† b. In the phrase unknown (unknowe or uncouth), unkissed. Obs.
1374. Chaucer, Troylus, I. 809. Vnknowe vnkyst and lost þat is vn-sought.
1401. Pol. Poems (Rolls), II. 59. On old Englis it is said, unkissid is unknowun.
1562. J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 148. Unknowen vnkist, and beyng knowen I weene, Thou art neuer kist, where thou mayst be seene.
1579. E. K., Ded. to Spenser’s Sheph. Cal., § 1. Our new Poete, who for that he is vncouthe (as said Chaucer) is vnkist, and vnknown to most men, is regarded but of few.
c. 1592. Nashe, Mar-Martine, xxii. Thou caytif kerne, vncouth thou art, vnkist thou eke sal bee.
1624. Bp. Mountagu, Immed. Addr., 119. I would gladly see and know, by what warrant I on Earth so vncouth and therefore vnkist,… can say unto them, Holy Peter, blessed Paul, pray for mee.
a. 1697. Aubrey, Lives (1898), II. 254. He … ransackt the MSS. of the church of Hereford (there were a great many that lay uncouth and unkiss).
[1897. V. Hunt (title), Unkist, Unkind!]
