a. (UN-1 7 b.)
(a) 1576. Fleming, trans. Caius’ Dogs, D 2. Be the bull neuer so monsterous,… neuer so vntameable.
1577. Hellowes, Gueuara’s Chron., 58. The Parthians were a people so vntameable to be subdued, that [etc.].
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 112. The Indian little Pig-Cony … is … more tractable in hand; howbeit vntamable.
1692. Dryden, Don Sebastian, I. i. Still untameable! In what a ruine has thy head-strong Pride … plung’d thy People.
1764. Harmer, Observ., viii. § 11. 326. The Arabs have been always looked upon as an untameable people.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist., III. 343. This animal … [is] more savage and untameable than any other quadrupede.
1818. Milman, Samor, VII. 172. I know thee now, majestic Rebel! thee The untraceable, untameable!
1833. J. Rennie, Alph. Angling, 25. The pike is held to be a more wild, untameable fish than the carp.
1870. N. F. Hele, Aldeburgh, vii. 77. They [sc. short-horned owls] are very untameable.
1890. Spectator, 11 Jan. Cruel and untameable though they [sc. the Masai] seem.
fig. 1836. F. Mahony, Rel. Father Prout, 274. A genuine poet … enjoys the mental chase in proportion to the wild and untameable nature of the game.
(b) 1567. R. Mulcaster, Fortescue’s De Laud. Leg., 92. The lustes of the fleash are wanton, & almoste vntamable.
1571. Golding, Calvin on Ps. ix. 21. He subdeweth their untamable wilfulnesse by force.
a. 1677. Barrow, Serm., Wks. 1687, I. 33. His own unsatiable desires,… and untameable passions, will disquiet him.
1742. Young, Nt. Th., V. 262. A Pomp untameable of Weed prevails.
1768–74. Tucker, Lt. Nat. (1834), II. 380. This vigour and untamable violence of the sensitive faculties.
1818. Shelley, Lett., Pr. Wks. 1888, II. 224. The untameable profusion and loveliness of nature.
1860. Hawthorne, Marb. Faun, xviii. It was a delight to behold this untamable water.
Hence Untam(e)ably adv.
1807. Trans. Linn. Soc. (1808), IX. 177. In a state of confinement, they appear to be untameably savage.
