[UN-1 7. Cf. MDu. onsober.]
† 1. Uncontrolled, immoderate. Obs.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 3800. Dyamede … was … Vnsober with seruaundes,… Dredfull in dole for dissait þat he vsit. Ibid., 12507. The sea was vnsober, sondrit the nauy.
1535. Joye, Apol. Tindale (title-p.), To … defende himself ageinst so many sclaunderouse lyes fayned vpon him in Tindals vncharitable and vnsober Pystle.
1589. Fleming, Virg. Georg., II. 35. Ne hath he seene (hard) yron lawes nor pleadinges at the bar Vnsober, mad, and quarellous.
1648. Herrick, Hesper., To J. Wingfield. For ordaining, that thy words not swell To any one unsober syllable.
a. 1680. Butler, Char., Mel. Man. He … takes Pleasure in nothing but his own un-sober Sadness.
2. Unregulated in conduct; not staid or grave.
1542. Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 134. A young strepleyng must remedylesse from excessive and unsober revellyng come home lesse honest.
1550. Bale, Eng. Votaries, II. 88. Her eyes, her talke, her pase, all were vnsober, wylde, and wanton.
1637. R. Clerke, Serm., 485. I censure it [sc. drinking of healths] not simply, but for some unsober Ceremonies, that become not Christians.
1682. Gov. Pennsyl., 10. All that … are not convicted of Ill Fame, or unsober and dishonest Conversation.
1730. A. Petrie, Rules Good Deportm. Ch.-Officers, 121. [Deacons] must not be Drunkards, nor Unsober, nor Covetous.
1812. W. Tennant, Anster F., II. xlii. Th’ unsober spirit of the fiddle.
1829. Landor, Imag. Conv., II. 309. She is verily an unsober jade, who in her gravest humour will lead thee into quarrels, and in her gayest will pick thy pocket.
3. Affected by, addicted to, drinking.
1611. Florio, Insobrio, vnsober, drunken.
1846. Landor, Imag. Conv., Wks. II. 193/1. We must do all we have to do, while the nation is feasting and unsober.
1852. Mundy, Antipodes, I. 164. The loss or destruction of these fragile liabilities in the hands of rough, careless, and unsober characters.
Hence Unsoberness.
1548. Elyot, Immodestia, malapertnesse,… vnsobrenesse.
1681. Kettlewell, Chr. Obed., V. ii. 605. Several instances of unsoberness, when there is no scandal to our Brethren joined with them.
