a. [OE. unspédiʓ (UN-1 7.), MDu. onspoedich (Du. -spoedig), OHG. unspuotîg. Cf. WANSPEEDY a.]
† 1. Poor, indigent. (OE. only.) Obs.
c. 893. K. Ælfred, Oros., I. i. § 23. Þa ricostan men drincað myran meolc, & þa unspediʓan & þa þeowan drincað medo.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., I. 578. He ʓeendebyrde þone unspediʓan fiscere ætforan ðam rican casere.
† b. Of land: Barren, unproductive. Obs.–1
a. 1000. Genesis, 962. ʓesæton þa æfter synne sorʓfulre land, eard & eðyl unspediʓran.
2. Unprofitable; unsuccessful.
a. 1300. E. E. Psalter lxxxviii. 34. Ne wemme mi witeworde, and þat forthga of mi lippes, vnspedy noght make þa.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter, xvi. 14. Make þaim vnspedy and kast þaim down.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., I. xvi. 89. The werk ther of schulde be the vnsaueryer and the vnspedier.
3. Slow, sluggish. rare.
1615. G. Sandys, Trav., 117. The water … passing along with a mute and vnspeedy current.
