Unruffled

ppl. a. [UN-¹ 8.]

  1.  a. Not affected by any violent feeling; not agitated or disturbed; calm, unmoved.

1659.  W. Chamberlayne, Pharonnida, Ded. I have, with an unruffled confidence, given these papers a capacity of being publicly viewed.

1712.  Addison, Spect., No. 381, ¶ 4. His Temper is even and unruffled.

1751.  Smollett, Per. Pic., xcv. ‘Why shouldn’t I lend a hand?’… (answered the unruffled Pipes).

1754.  Connoisseur, No. 4, ¶ 9. Whose conversation flows with one even tenor, undisturb’d by sentiment, and unruffled by passion.

1829.  Lytton, Devereux, II. ii. The most unruffled composure.

1874.  Green, Short Hist., vii. § 3. 369. Her mind was unruffled by the spiritual problems which were vexing the minds around her.

  b.  Not excited by drinking.

1709.  Steele, Tatler, No. 27, ¶ 2. When he is himself, and unruffled with Intemperance.

1748.  Anson’s Voy., III. vii. 363. Perceiving that after they had dispatched four or five bottles…, the Mandarine still continued unruffled.

  2.  Not physically ruffled or made rough: a. Of water, etc. Also in fig. context.

1713.  Addison, Cato, I. iv. Calm and unruffled as a summer-sea.

1757.  W. Wilkie, Epigoniad, V. 135. A lake … Whose surface smooth, unruffled by the breeze, The hills inverted shows.

1814.  Wordsw., Excurs., II. 365. Days unruffled by the gale Of public news or private.

1824.  Miss L. M. Hawkins, Annaline, II. 229. Crags mantled in unruffled snow.

1883.  Tyndall, in Knowledge, 3 Aug., 73/2. Between the ferry and this bridge, the river Niagara flows unruffled.

  b.  Of feathers, leaves, the forehead, etc.

1816.  Wilson, City of Plague, II. iv. 106. Like an angel With hair unruffled in its radiance.

1821.  Scott, Kenilw., v. Now for … an open and unruffled brow!

1854.  Poultry Chron., I. 328/2. A pen of birds … unruffled in their plumage.

a. 1878.  Sir G. Scott, Lect. Archit. (1879), I. 320. Here the Byzantinesque foliage is nearly all of the plain unruffled form.

  3.  Not furnished with ruffles.

c. 1825.  Ld. Cockburn, Mem., i. (1856), 13. A shirt fastened at the neck by a black ribbon, and except on dress days unruffled.

  Hence Unruffledness.

1858.  Hawthorne, Fr. & It. Note-bks. (1881), II. 177. His propriety, his cleanliness and unruffledness.

1880.  Ruskin, Hortus Inclusus (1887), 77. The perfect cleanliness and unruffledness of white cap [in Chartres] is always a marvel.