ppl. a. (UN-1 8.)
1585. Abp. Sandys, Serm., xv. 264. The voluntarie and vnprouoked operation of the spirite.
1641. Bp. Hall, Answ. Vind. Smectymnuus, To Rdr. A 3. When … the Smectymnuans,… unprovoked, unthought of,… flye in my face, as men wrongfully accused.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 427, ¶ 2. This Heroine had … out-done the whole Sisterhood of Gossips, in … unprovoked Malice.
1759. Sterne, Tr. Shandy, II. xii. These unprovoked strokes at my uncle Toby’s [hobbyhorse].
1819. Scott, Ivanhoe, xli. To discover … who have been my unprovoked enemies.
1849. C. Brontë, Shirley, xxiii. In answer to unprovoked insult.
Hence Unprovokedly adv., -ness.
1663. Boyle, Usef. Exp. Nat. Philos., I. v. 95. Galen … somewhere *unprovokedly and causelessly enough derides Moses.
1781. T. Davies, Mem. Garrick (ed. 3), I. 23. He was rudely and unprovokedly attacked by a boisterous man.
1864. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., XVI. xii. IV. 455. His conduct … has nothing of bad, at least of unprovokedly bad.
1856. Faber, Creator & Creature, II. i. God’s … tenderness,… His extraordinary *unprovokedness.
