a. Forms: (see RIGHTEOUS a.). [OE. unrihtwís (UN-1 7 + RIGHTEOUS). Cf. ON. úréttvís (MDa. uretvis, Sw. orättvis).]

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  1.  Not righteous or upright; unjust, wicked: a. Of persons.

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c. 888.  Ælfred, Boeth., xxxvii. § 1. Geher nu an spell be … þam unrihtwisum cyningum.

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c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Luke xvi. 10. Se þe ys on lytlum unrihtwis, se ys eac on maran unrihtwis.

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c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 115. Þe nihȝeðe unþeau is þet þe king beo unrihtwis.

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c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 19. Alle þe unrihtwise men … hersumieð þe deuel.

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c. 1380.  Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 19. Alle unriȝtwise men þat serven to him [sc. the devil] as hise trewe knyȝtis.

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14[?].  Tundale’s Vis., 274. Þou art not lele iustise, Þou art fals and unryghtwyse.

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1474.  Caxton, Chesse, 28. Cambyses … had an vnrightwis juge.

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1526.  Tindale, Heb. vi. 10. God is not vnrighteous that he shulde forget youre worke.

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1572.  R. T., Discourse, 48. The Sadduces … were most vnrightuous.

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1651.  Hobbes, Leviathan, III. xlii. 306. There being nothing in mens Manners that makes them righteous, or unrighteous.

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1712.  M. Henry, Expos., Isaiah lv. 7. Here’s a Call … to the Wicked, and the Unrighteous Man.

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1791[?].  Bentham, Draught Code, Wks. 1843, IV. 316. An unrighteous judge, or rather a judge who would otherwise be unrighteous.

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1871.  Jowett, Plato, I. 158. Many men are utterly unrighteous, unholy, intemperate.

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  absol.  c. 825.  Vesp. Psalter, v. 6. Ne ðorhwuniað ða unrehtwisan biforan eʓum ðinum.

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c. 1200.  Vices & Virtues, 83. Ic wile tache ðo unrihtwisen ðine weiȝes.

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a. 1400.  New Test. (Paues), App., 1 Pet. iii. 18. For onys Crist was for oure synnes deed, þe riȝtwyse for the vnriȝtwise.

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1623.  R. Carpenter, Conscionable Christian, 14. What then shall the vnrighteous be able to say … for themselues?

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1712.  M. Henry, Expos., Isaiah lv. 7. The Unrighteous that live in the neglect of plain Duties.

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1835.  Wilson’s Tales Borders, I. 58/1. The innocent have been left to perish amang the unrighteous.

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  b.  Of actions, etc.

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971.  Blickl. Hom., 33. Se awyrʓda gast is heafod ealra unrihtwisra dæda.

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c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 2014. His wif wurð wilde, and nam in ðoȝt vn-riȝt-wis luue.

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a. 1300.  Cursor M., 29507. O thrijn wijs Mai cursing be tald onrightwijs.

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c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 3539. The rape vnrightwis of his Riche qwene.

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1481.  Caxton, Reynard, xlii. (Percy Soc.), 160. Somme helpe them forth in theyr vnryghtwys dedes.

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1535.  Coverdale, 2 Macc. iv. 35. The vnrightuous death of so godly a man.

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1590.  Spenser, F. Q., II. x. 60. Octauius here lept into his roome, And it vsurped by vnrighteous doome.

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1667.  Milton, P. L., III. 292. Thir own both righteous and unrighteous deeds.

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1725.  Pope, Odyss., IX. 630. Angry Neptune heard th’ unrighteous prayer.

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1846.  Mrs. A. Marsh, Father Darcy, II. xxi. 365. Those who have dared to prostitute holy things to unrighteous purposes.

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1853.  ‘Ouida,’ Held in Bondage, i. I. 17. He was … full of most unrighteous oaths.

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  † c.  Incorrect, false. Obs.–1

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1507.  Extr. Aberd. Reg. (1844), I. 437. That the mettis and mesouris be assait,… and quhar thai be fundin unrichtuus be distroit.

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  2.  Not rightly due or deserved.

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1855.  Singleton, Virgil, II. 100. Anchises’ offspring … from his soul Compassionated their unrighteous lot.

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  Hence Unrighteous v., to make unrighteous.

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1593.  Nashe, Christ’s T., K ij b. Thou that ere this hast disparradiz’d our first Parent Adam, and vnrightuouzd the very Angels.

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