1. Not materially solid.
1611. Cotgr., Insolide, vnsolide, vnsound.
1615. Chapman, Odyss., XI. 60. I … would not suffer any one to dip Within our offring, his vnsolide lip, Before Tiresias.
1646. Mayne, Serm. Unity, 38. A thin, unsolid, brittle, painted blast of wind.
1690. Locke, Hum. Und., II. iv. § 5. The continuity of unsolid, inseparable, and immoveable Parts.
1733. Watts, Philos. Ess., V. i. (1734), 116. ’Tis not solid Extension, for that is Body or Matter…. ’Tis not empty or unsolid Extension, for that is pure Space.
1768–74. Tucker, Lt. Nat. (1834), I. 298. Nor is it conceivable that any assortment of unsolid … parts should form a solid … body.
1829. J. Phillips, Geol. Yorks., 73. These unsolid materials fall and waste away into slopes.
1896. Daily News, 22 Jan., 5. German manufacturers are advised … to forsake the making of unsolid or ugly furniture.
fig. 1845. Mill, Diss. & Disc. (1859), II. 256. The breaking up of the great unsolid structure which Charlemagne had raised.
2. fig. Having no substance or sound basis.
1593. in Maitl. Club Misc. (1840), I. 58. The presbiterie debarris Connald Strutheris for his vnsolid speichis … fra the communioune at this present seasoun.
1639. W. Sclater, Worthy Commun., 37. Its cleare, that this Consubstantiation of the Lutherans is unsolid.
1642. Milton, Apol. Smect., 45. Unsolid and corrupted judgements both in doctrine and life.
1730. Thomson, Winter, 753. Whither now are fled … those unsolid hopes Of happiness?
1792. G. Wakefield, Mem. (1804), I. 115. The generality of them [sc. criticisms] are triviall or unsolid.
1854. H. Miller, Sch. & Schm., 204. To separate the solid from the unsolid thinking contained in my abstract.
1873. M. Arnold, Lit. & Dogma, p. xxiv. To what is unsolid in the New Testament he applies a negative criticism ably enough.
3. Lacking solid worth or merit.
1731. A. Hill, Advice to Poets, 193. But ah! far short the unsolid tinklers rise, Nor soar, but flutter, in the muse’s skies.
Hence Unsolidly adv.; Unsolidness.
1611. Cotgr., Insolidement, vnsoundly, vnsolidely.
a. 1684. Leighton, Comm. 1 Peter ii. (1693), 261. Consider this as our happiness, and the unsolidness of other comforts, and priviledges.
1755. Johnson, Loosely,… unsolidly; meanly; without dignity.
