Now rare. [UN-1 7. Cf. IGNOBLE a.]
1. Not noble or distinguished by rank or birth.
1382. Wyclif, 1 Sam. ii. 30. Who so euere honourith me, Y shal glorifie hym; forsothe who dispisen me, shulen be vnnoble. Ibid., 1 Cor. iv. 10.
1489. Caxton, Faytes of A., I. x. 29. The noble men bare a garment vnlyke to them that were vnnoble.
1545. Brinklow, Compl., 38 b. No noble or vnnoble man shall retayne any of the kyngs subiectys withowt lauful wagys.
1571. Golding, Calvin on Ps. xlvii. 5. He setting all the world asyde, had adopted to himself a feawe unnoble persons.
1607. Cowell, Interpr., s.v. Corruption of blood, If he were noble, or a gentleman before, he and his children are made vnnoble and vngentle in respect of the father.
1660. Waterhouse, Arms & Arm., 179. They must be contented to stand included under the base and unnoble state of people.
1832. S. Austin, trans. Tour Germ. Prince, III. iv. 80. It is an almost universal weakness of the unnoble in England to parade an acquaintance with the noble.
1855. Singleton, Virgil, II. 478. Other unwedded maids In Latium be, and in Laurentine fields, Nor they unnoble in their pedigree.
b. absol. (chiefly pl.) or as sb.
1382. Wyclif, Isaiah iii. 5. Ther shal striue the child aȝen the old man, and the vnnoble aȝen the noble.
c. 1400. Apol. Loll., 43. Noiþer … of pore to be maad riche, ne gloriouse of þe vnnoble.
a. 1513. Fabyan, Chron., II. xxxix. 27. Artogayle … imaginyd causes agayne his nobles to put theym from theyr … dignyties, and in theyr places to sette & ordeyne vnnoble.
1581. Pettie, trans. Guazzo’s Civ. Conv., II. (1586), 92. Hee which despiseth the vnnoble, despiseth his first Fathers.
1602. Fulbecke, 1st Pt. Parall., Introd. 3. The noble and vn-noble were put to death.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. 69/1. It is the Duty of the unnoble to Honor and Salute a Gentleman.
sb. 1563. Foxe, A. & M., 70 b/1. He had followers of his doltish religion, both of the nobles, and vnnobles of Rome.
† 2. a. Of or pertaining to one who is not of noble birth or rank. Obs.
c. 1520. [see UNNOBLENESS].
1561. T. Hoby, trans. Castiglione’s Courtyer, III. Hh ij b. So glorious a soule, that deserued … renowme after death, as in lief it dwelled in an vnnoble body.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, II. ii. The perfections are such in the partie I love, as the feeling of them cannot come into any unnoble hart.
† b. Of things: Undistinguished, unnoted, common, mean. Obs.
1382. Wyclif, 1 Cor. i. 28. God chees the vnnoble thingis [L. ignobilia] and dispisable thingis of the world.
1589. Cooper, Admon., 199. The … unnoble thinges of the worlde … God hath chosen.
1590. Burrough, Meth. Physick, 211. The bloud being driuen backe from the vnnoble members, it rusheth vp to the principal members.
1612. Drayton, Poly-olb., v. 332. Since, holy Dauid’s seat; which of especiall grace Doth lend that nobler name, to this vnnobler place.
1631. Widdowes, Nat. Philos., 51. The more un-noble senses are Tasting, and Smelling.
3. Not noble in disposition; ignoble, mean, base: a. Of persons.
1566. Gascoigne, etc., Jocasta, II. i. So, woulde the Gods, that in this noble realme Shoulde never long unnoble tyrant reigne.
1616. Breton, Good & Bad, Wks. (Grosart), II. 6/2. An vnnoble man is the griefe of Reason, when the title of honour is put vpon the subiect of disgrace.
1641. Earl Cork, Diary, in Lismore Papers, Ser. I. (1886), V. 195. Papers concerning the vnnoble Earle of Middlesex.
transf. 1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 321. Neither is there any Horsse, swift or slow, noble, or vnnoble, that can be guided without these [reins].
b. Of actions, character, etc.
1606. Shaks., Ant. & Cl., III. xi. 50. I haue offended Reputation, A most vnnoble sweruing.
1628. Ford, Lover’s Mel., II. ii. My affections … are pure, Without all mixture of unnoble thoughts.
1680. Life Edw. II., in Select. Harl. Misc. (1793), 37. If Lancaster had been of so unnoble a disposition.
1855. Singleton, Virgil, I. 152. Him, likewise,… If now … he fails, Conceal at home; nor his unnoble eld Forgive.
Hence Unnobleness.
c. 1400. New Test. (Paues), 2 Cor. vi. 8. Þoroȝ worschupe & vnnobelnesse, þoroȝ diffamynge & good loos.
c. 1520. Barclay, Jugurth (1557), 75 b. The lownes and vnnoblenes of Marius encreased to hym fauour specially of the commentie which were come of vnnoble bloude, as he was.
1569. J. Sanford, trans. Agrippa’s Van. Artes, 127 b. That they whiche had not slayne some enimie, shoulde go girte with a halter in reproche of vnnoblenes.
1618. Fletcher, Loyal Subj., I. iii. You made this Vow, and whose unnobleness, Indeed forgetfulness of good— Ar. No more.
