Unquietness

[UN-¹ 12, 5 b.]

  1.  A source of trouble or disquiet.

1514.  Barclay, Egloges, II. (1570), B i b. When thou wouldest slepe…, Then is their musike to thee vnquietnes.

1585.  Abp. Sandys, Serm., 340. Some are troubled with one vnquietnes, and som with another.

1654.  R. Baker, trans. Balzac’s Lett. (vol. II.), 13. If he have no other unquietness but what he is like to have from me.

  2.  An unquiet condition or state of things; a state of trouble or discord.

1523.  [Coverdale], Old God & New (1534), A j. In this greate unquietnes of comen weales.

1560.  Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 216. The state of the prouince … tendeth to greate vnquyetnes.

1603.  in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.), I. 48. Tumultuous behaviour … whereby great unquietness did grow.

1674.  Essex Papers (Camden), 262. I hope there will be nothing to disturbe y^e peace there, or bring any unquietnesse here.

1860.  Bp. S. Wilberforce, Addr. Cand. Ordination, 217. This evil of unquietness, religious strife, and discord.

  3.  The condition or fact of being restless or turbulent in conduct.

1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 90 b. Treason, fraude,… periury, vnquyetnes, obduracion,… with suche other.

1555.  Eden, Decades (Arb.), 53. Isopes frogges to whom for they vnquietnesse Iupiter sent a hearon.

1647.  N. Bacon, Disc. Govt. Eng., I. lvi. 160. The unquietnesse of some of the English brought the King to some thoughts of arbitrary rule.

1681.  H. Nevile, Plato Rediv., 19. He cannot be denyed to be a great motive of the Peoples unquietness.

1724.  Welton, Chr. Faith & Pract., 188. Men’s unquietness and wavering in their principles.

1829.  Lytton, Disowned, 116. The unquietness and agitation of man’s character.

  b.  Physical restlessness.

1670.  Evelyn, Sylva (ed. 2), 24. Stubbed Oak is the fittest Timber for the Case of a Sider-Mill … as best enduring the unquietnesse of a ponderous Rolling-stone.

1856.  Miss Yonge, Daisy Chain, I. i. An unquietness at the ends of her shoes, betraying the restlessness of the digits therein contained.

  4.  The condition of being disquieted or disturbed.

1548.  Elyot, Inquies,… care, vnquietnesse,… lack of reste.

1553.  Brende, Q. Curtius, VI. 110 b. With a bashed countenaunce (wel declaring the vnquietnes of his minde).

1589.  Cooper, Admon., 243. To the great hindrance … & vnquietnes of the church of God.

1638.  R. Baker, trans. Balzac’s Lett., III. 19. My unquietnesse would have continued still, if you had not taken the paines to calme it.

1649.  T. Ford, Lusus Fort., 93. Seeking rest in it’s unquietnesse, but finding none.

1683.  Apol. Prot. France, vi. 93. Her great unquietness of Spirit.

1702.  Echard, Eccl. Hist., III. viii. 469. Being overprest with a Load of Grief and Guilt, he resolv’d to put an End to his Unquietness.

a. 1806.  H. K. White, Time, 628. Time … Will waft him to repose … Far from the unquietness of life.

1855.  Kingsley, Misc. (1859), I. 54. The Queen’s continual unquietness will grow to contentment.