ppl. a. [UN-1 8.]
1. Unwielded; uncontrolled.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., IV. iv. 470. Is the Chayre emptie? is the Sword vnsway’d? Is the king dead? Ibid. (c. 1600), Sonn., cxli. Nor my fiue sences can Disunde one foolish heart from seruing thee, Who leaues vnswai’d the likenesse of a man, Thy proud hearts slaue … to be.
2. Uninfluenced, unaffected.
1615. Sandys, Trav., III. 154. I will declare what I haue obserued, vnswayed with either of their vices.
1652. Benlowes, Theoph., II. li. Make haste Lest you into despair be cast: The Judge unsway’d.
1718. J. Hughes, Patriot, 14. Where’s the patriot, by these virtues known, Unsway’d by others’ passions, or his own?
1808. Wellington, in Gurw., Desp. (1835), IV. 249. It was my opinion (unswayed, I trust, by any unworthy motives) that [etc.].
1847. Harris, Life Ld. Hardwicke, II. 327. Perseverance in the strict line of honesty and duty, unswayed by any considerations of this nature.
3. Unmoved, unstirred.
1851. Hawthorne, Snow Image, etc. (1883), 200. The drops of rain that came down in monotonous succession, unswayed by a breath of wind.
Hence Unswayedness.
a. 1656. Hales, Gold. Rem., I. (1673), 246. That constancy and unswayedness in our lives and actions.
