1. = IMMOVABLE a. 1. Now rare.
1382. Wyclif, Exod. xv. 16. Be thei maad vnmouable as a stoon.
c. 1400. Maundev. (1919), xiii. 67. It is clept the dede see for it … is euere vnmeuable.
c. 1440. Alphabet of Tales, 447. Hur handis hang vp in þe ayre vnmouable.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Edw. IV., 192 b. He was set in the … stable throne, and vnmoueable chaire, of the croune of his realme.
1594. T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad., II. 11. Aristotle also … sheweth that he knew God vnder the name of the first moouer, who was perpetual and vnmoueable.
1626. Gouge, Serm. Dignity Chivalry, § 15. Like the unmoveable mountaines.
a. 1676. Hale, Prim. Orig. Man., I. vi. (1677), 123. If we should suppose the Circle A B C to move about a fixed unmoveable Center at D.
1776. Mickle, Camoens’ Lusiad, p. xxxvii. They remained unmoveable on the shore till the fleet … evanished from their sight.
1870. Lowell, Among my Bks., Ser. I. (1873), 129. Some man whose brain rests on a still more unmovable basis.
1874. W. Humphrey, in Ess. Relig. & Lit., Ser. III. 361. The unmoved and unmovable Prime Mover of the ever-moving universe of creatures.
b. sb. Something immovable.
1876. Mrs. Whitney, Sights & Ins., xx. We groped and peered under unmovables and pulled about everything that could be inoved.
2. = IMMOVABLE a. 2.
1388. Wyclif, Heb. vi. 18. God … puttide betwixe an ooth, that bi twey thingis vnmeuable, bi whiche it is impossible that God lie, we han strengeste solace.
c. 1425. in Anglia, X. 380/35. Vnmouabil tranquillite and reste of soule.
1502. Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W., 1506), I. vii. F i b. Sythen that Iustyce vnmeuable requyreth suche payne.
1599. Sandys, Europæ Spec. (1632), 111. Having their ground on the unmovable principles of true wisedome and vertue.
1638. Junius, Paint. Ancients, 28 A sad unmoveable countenance.
1650. Baxter, Saints’ R., III. vii. 383. They that are sure to receive the unmoveable Kingdom must yet serve God with reverence and godly fear.
1691. Norris, Pract. Disc., 248. This was ever … an unmoveable Objection.
b. = IMMOVABLE a. 2 b.
1382. Wyclif, Col. i. 23. Stable, and vnmouable fro the hope of the gospel.
1445. in Anglia, XXVIII. 259. Onmevable thou owist not endure, whan benygne preyers be offrid.
a. 1542. Wyatt, in Tottel’s Misc. (Arb.), 70. Wilde beastes in them, fierce loue in me is fed. Vnmoueable am I: and they stedfast.
1570. T. Wilson, Demosth. Orat., Life, 129. Who helde out with a stomacke vpright and vnmooueable, in all the … stormes of fortune.
a. 1624. Bp. M. Smith, Serm. (1632), 34. Fabricius … remained … vndauntable, and vnmoveable.
1683. Temple, Mem., Wks. 1720, I. 399. The Prince was unmoveable in the Point of not leaving his Allies.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa (1811), I. 154. Ungrateful girl, and unmovable as ungrateful!
1856. Miss Warner, Hills Shatemuc, xl. She begged to be allowed to stay…; but Elizabeth was unmoveable.
† 3. Of property: = IMMOVABLE a. 3. (Cf. MOVABLE a. 4.)
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xliv. (Lucy), 90. Þane sawyt þai … Þare gudis unmowable sone.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., I. x. 49. The endewing of preestis bi rentis and bi vnmoueable possessiouns.
1467–8. Rolls of Parlt., V. 593/1. The Londes and Tenementes, Goodes and Catalles, meovable and unmeovable.
1535. Coverdale, Judith viii. 7. Hyr husbande also had lefte her … greate vnmoueable possessions and many catell.
1565. Wills & Inv. N. C. (Surtees), 235. Executrix and mynyster of all my goods mewable and vnmewable.
c. 1618. Moryson, Itin., IV. (1903), 155. In … Italy the father dying intestate, the brothers diuide his mouable and vnmouable goods.
† b. sb. pl. Immovable goods. Obs.
1536. in Lett. Suppress. Monast. (Camden), 146. We … submytt owr selfes and our monasterye, with all the moveables and unmovables therof, unto your majesties accustomede grace.
1562. J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 148. Mouables, vnmouables, lande or farme, Thou hast not one grotes woorth, of good or goodnes.
a. 1577. Sir T. Smith, Commw. Eng. (1609), 121. Touching marriage and the right in moueables and vnmoueables which commeth thereby.
