[UN-1 8 b, 8 c. Ci. Du. ongezet in sense 1.]
† 1. Of time or place: Not previously appointed or arranged. Obs.
Chiefly in phr. at unset steven: see STEVEN sb.2 2.
c. 1386. [see STEVEN sb.2 2].
1430–40. Lydg., Bochas, II. xxi. (1494), h iiij/1. At the vnset houre their falsnesse he wyll quyte.
1476. Paston Lett., III. 162. The Duke toke grete corage to goo … to conquer them, but the[y] berded hym att an onsett place.
1543–a. 1600. [see STEVEN sb.2 2].
a. 1600. Montgomerie, Misc. Poems, v. 47. For man may meit at unset stevin, Thoght montanis nevir meitis.
† b. Of events: Not predetermined; unfixed, uncertain. Obs.
1550. Baldwin, Mor. Philos., P vi. But yf that the chaunce of thynges be vnset, It is folly to feare that we knowe we maye let.
1559. Mirr. Mag., O. Glendour, xxvii. Of thinges to cum the haps be so vnset That none but fooles may warrant of them make.
† 2. Not seated at table. Obs.–1
c. 1475. Rauf Coilȝear, 148. ‘Gang begin the buird,’ said the Coilȝear. ‘That war vnsemand, forsuith, and thy self vnset.’
3. Not assigned or allocated (to one); unlet.
1480. Acta Dom. Conc. (1839), 70/2. Land … haldin of our souuerain lorde and fre vnset for termes or for male.
1523. Lincoln Wills (L. Rec. Soc.), V. 120. I will that … all myne inward stuf that was myne owne unset to my wyf remayne to … my daughters.
1580–1. Reg. Privy Council Scot., III. 358. To warrand the same unsett, sauld, assignit, or disponit to utheris.
1736. in Picton, L’pool Munic. Rec. (1886), II. 165. There are some few back seats yet unsett.
1825–9. Mrs. Sherwood, Lady of Manor, I. viii. 334. During the absence of Lord T—, the family-mansion had remained untenanted, the houses of servants and dependents unset.
4. With advs. Not set down, forth, out, up, etc.
c. 1445. Pecock, Donet, 138. Þese ij. forbodis of avoutrye…, whi ben not þei stillid and vnsett forþ expressely?
1530. Palsgr., Introd., p. v. I have … assayde … that there shulde fewe wordes … worde for worde be unsetforthe.
1547. Act 1 Edw. VI., c. 6 § 1. The same poore persons … be now unoccupied and unset aworke.
1594. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., III. xi. § 8. They vrge that God left nothing in his word vndescribed,… nothing vnset-downe.
1629. Hobbes, Thucyd., 75. The Athenians … recriminated the Megareans, for hauing tilled holy ground, and vnset-out with bounds.
1639. Knaresb. Wills (Surtees), II. 168. One new stand bed unsett upp.
5. † a. Unset leek, a (young) leek not transplanted. Obs.
1530. Palsgr., 249/2. Onsetleke, porret.
1563. Hyll, Art Garden. (1593), 128. If you desire only to haue vnset Leekes.
1601. Holland, Pliny, II. 424. Ashes for to be drunke with the juice of unset leeks in cold water.
1611. Cotgr., Porrette, Maidens Leeke, bladed Leeke, vnset Leeke.
b. Not planted.
1573. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 75. Set … yoong bay and his berie. Or set their stone, vnset leaue out none.
1577. Harrison, England, III. viii. (1878), II. 57. Notwithstanding that they haue remained there vnset by the space of fortie dais and more: yet some [saffron heads] … haue brought foorth two or three floures a peece.
1597. Gerarde, Herbal, I. i. 2. Common Medow grasse groweth of it selfe, vnset or vnsowen, euery where.
1653. Blithe, Eng. Improver Impr., 169. Shouldst thou be occasioned … to keep thy sets longer unset, be thou sure thou get their Roots into the ground.
c. Not furnished with plants.
c. 1600. Shaks., Sonn., xvi. Many maiden gardens yet vnset, With vertuous wish would beare your liuing flowers.
6. Not placed in a setting; unmounted.
1561. T. Hoby, trans. Castiglione’s Courtyer, II. R i b. A iewell that vnsett seemeth faire.
c. 1592. Bacon, Conf. Pleasure (1870), 15. If these rich peeces be so faire vnsett, what are they sett?
1684. Lond. Gaz., No. 1906/4. An Emerald unset,… having a narrow Bizel. Ibid. (1702), No. 3811/4. Lost…, a large Diamond-drop,… unset.
1834. West. Daily Press, 20 June, 7/5. Necklets of unset amethysts,… and other stones.
1891. Science-Gossip, XXVII. 36/1. Lack of uniformity in unset specimens.
7. Not composed or arranged.
1631. Brathwait, Whimzies, Traveller, 93. Not an irregular haire about him, nor an unset looke to attend him, nor an uncomposed cringe to accoutre him.
1821. Lamb, Elia, I. Ears. Those unconnected, unset sounds are nothing to the measured malice of music.
8. Not surgically set.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies, General, I. (1662), 6. An unset bone is better then a bone … ill set.
9. Of the sun: Not gone beneath the horizon.
1860. W. W. Reade, Liberty Hall, I. ix. 158. Though very pretty she was only a moon with the sun unset, for [etc.].
