[UN-1 7. Cf. ON. úlíkligr (Icel. ólíklegur, MSw. olikliker, Sw. oliklig, MDa. uligelig, Norw. ulikleg).]
1. Not likely to occur or come to pass; improbable in respect of occurrence.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, IX. 670. He oft full vnlikly thing Brocht rycht weill to full gud ending.
1488. Cely Papers (Camden), 169. They of Bruges sayth all schall be well schortely but hytt ys onlyckly.
1513. Douglas, Æneid, XI. viii. 119. Tyme … Reducit hes full mony onlikly thyng To bettir fyne than was thair begynning.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Gold. Bk. M. Aurel., xxxvi. (1536), R ii. The more yll they vtter, the more vnlykely is the redres therof ageyn.
c. 1580. Bugbears, I. ii. 121. Why is it a thing vnpossyble or vnlikelie that sprites wil deall withe gold?
1642. D. Rogers, Naaman, 200. Thus Papists conceiue it an unlikelyer thing: that [etc.].
1692. Bentley, Boyle Lect., 218. Which makes it … more improbable, that they should interfere … even in the last and unlikeliest instance.
1861. Paley, Æschylus (ed. 2), Supplices, 979, note. However, κἄωρα is an unlikely crasis.
b. Not likely to be true or correct; improbable in respect of fact.
1592. Shaks., Ven. & Ad., 989. The one doth flatter thee in thoughts unlikely, In likely thoughts the other kills thee quickly.
1613. Purchas, Pilgrimage (1614), 595. Josephus and Eusebius thinke them to bee the Israelites, which is vnlikely.
1673. Dryden, Marr. à la Mode, III. i. They tell, for news, such unlikely stories!
1712. J. James, trans. Le Blond’s Gardening, 141. An Opinion very unlikely, to believe Trees have their Male and Female.
1780. Mirror, No. 73. If this … be the effect of habit, which is not unlikely.
1871. Freeman, Norm. Conq., IV. xviii. 231. The presence of Matilda … at such a time is in itself unlikely.
c. Not likely, in various implications.
1535. Coverdale, Ecclus. xi. 6. Many tyrauntes haue bene fayne to syt downe vpon the earth, & ye vnlickly hath worne ye crowne.
1593. Sidney’s Arcadia, IV. ¶ 1. That by unlikeliest meanes greatest matters may come to conclusion.
1622. Donne, Serm., 25. A farre vnlikelier sort of people, then any of these.
1656. Cowley, Davideis, IV. 828. Nor would ill Fate that meant me to surprise, Come cloath’d in so unlikely a Disguise.
1694. Atterbury, Serm. Isaiah lx. 22, 14. This … was an Unlikely way of gaining Proselytes.
1749. Lavington, Enthus. Meth. & Papists, II. (1754), 129. He cures Diseases … with unlikely Remedies.
1774. G. White, Selborne, lxi. A succession [of swifts] still haunts the same unlikely roofs.
1847. C. Brontë, J. Eyre, xxxiv. That a poor lad was come, at that unlikely time, to fetch Mr. Rivers.
1855. A. J. Morris, Words for Heart & Life, iii. 52. God is in the habit of employing unlikely instruments.
1898. ‘Merriman,’ Roden’s Corner, ii. Cases where brilliant men have failed and unlikely ones have covered themselves with … glory.
Comb. 1858. Faber, Spir. Confer. (1870), 131. Those vices of which the unlikeliest-looking souls are often the likeliest to be guilty.
d. sb. An unlikely person.
1867. Latham, Black & White, 98. He goes round with his … papers, dealing one to each passenger likely or unlikely (because the unlikelies would be offended if omitted).
2. With complement: a. With to and inf. (active or passive).
1395. Purvey, Remonstr. (1851), 84. The noueltees of this Innocent ben vnlicli to be sothe.
1412–20. Lydg., Chron. Troy, IV. 23. Vnlikly [it was] euere vs to han had victorie.
c. 1450. Mirk’s Festial, 140. Ierusalem … was þe strengest cyte yn all þe world, and vnlykly forto haue ben wonon.
1611. Florio, Inaccadeuole, vnlikely to chance or befall.
1658. Osborne, Adv. Son, Wks. (1673), 112. The not unlikeliest to know Truth.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 143, ¶ 1. It will be much more unlikely for us to be well-pleased.
1764. Museum Rust., IV. 11. Salt-petre Bay, which is not unlikely to have been so denominated from salt-petre there.
1842. Loudon, Suburban Hort., 377. They are the most unlikely to become fruit-buds.
1890. ‘R. Boldrewood,’ Col. Reformer (1891), 216. He was as unlikely as Grahame to take … to the improvement of the common people.
b. With that and clause.
1412–20. Lydg., Chron. Troy, IV. 3243. For now, allas! vnlikly is þat we Shal euere wynne … Þis cite.
1722. Wollaston, Relig. Nat., v. (1724), 82. Make him understand how unlikely a thing it is, that they should be placed there only to adorn … a canopy over our heads.
1855. Orr’s Circ. Sci., Inorg. Nat., 226. It is not unlikely that the gas thus formed occupies the place of water.
1884. Thompson, Tumours of Bladder, 55. It is not unlikely that some of these may be congenital.
† 3. Unsuitable, unsuited; not fit or proper. Obs.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Merch. T., 936. That whan I considere youre beautee, And ther with al the vnlikly elde of me, I may nat certes … Forbere to been out of youre compaignye.
c. 1440. Capgrave, Life St. Kath., III. 782. His clothis to his woordis arn ful onlykly.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, II. viii. 84. Thou art a boystous man and an vnlykely to telle of suche dedes.
1571. Southampton Court Leet Rec. (1905), I. 77. Such as arre … unlyklye and unmeete men to serve for that poorpose.
1588. Nottingham Rec., LV. 221. Yt ys an onlykelye house for suche one to dwelle there.
b. Unseemly, unbecoming; not acceptable or agreeable; objectionable, distasteful. Obs. exc. dial.
1456. [see UNLIKELINESS 2].
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, II. 263. On a caar wnlikly thai him cast.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, II. ii. (1912), 153. For a very unlikely envie she bath stumbled upon, against the Princesses … beautie.
1590. Serpent of Devis., B j/2. The most unlikely person and the most wretch that in any countrye might be found.
1725. Ramsay, Gentle Sheph., I. i. 24. Yet I am tall, and as weel built as thee, Nor mair unlikely to a lass’s eye.
1889. N. W. Linc. Gloss., 586. Unlikely, bad, displeasing.
† c. Unpromising; poor in quality or condition.
1560. Rolland, Seven Sages, 46. This auld tre … fra the ȝoung takis all substance and air;… Sa the ȝoung plant is sa vnliklie maid.
a. 1648. Ld. Herbert, Hen. VIII. (1683), 522. That Forests … should be driven once in the year, and unlikely Tits in them to be killed.
