[UN-1 8 b, 8 c. Cf. MHG. ungedaht (G. ungedacht), Du. ongedacht.]
1. Not thought of, unexpected.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VI., 110 b. While kyng Charles did politiquely consider … what a sodain and vnthought chaunce of a smal thyng, might do in a battaill.
1653. J. Taylor (Water P.), Cert. Trav. Uncert. Journ., 16. Undeserv’d, unlook’d for, and unthought From them my purse and person both were fraught.
1738. G. Lillo, Marina, II. i. The hot salt tears this unthought loss drew from me.
1745. Young, Nt. Th., VIII. 114. As they spin our hours On Fortune’s wheel, where accident unthought Oft, in a moment, snaps life’s strongest thread.
1903. Kipling, 5 Nations, Wage-Slaves, 61. They that have wrought the end unthought Be neither saint nor sage.
b. With on, of. (Cf. THINK v.2 5 c, 7 b.)
1538. Elyot, Inopinatus, vnthought on or vnloked for.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, I. iv. It may be, his pen with more leasure doth polish the rudenesse of an unthought-on songe.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., III. ii. 141. The day … That … This gallant Hotspur … And your vnthought-of Harry chance to meet.
1621. Lady M. Wroth, Urania, 451. One night he came vnlook’d for to our house, but not vnthought on by me.
1666. Boyle, Orig. Forms & Qual., 418. By a way unthought on (that I know of) by any Body.
1676. Hale, Contempl., I. 52. A little … accident … may put a period to all those pleasures … in an unthought of moment.
1713. Berkeley, Hylas & Phil., III. Wks. 1871, I. 356. What security can I have … that no unthought-of objection or difficulty will occur hereafter?
1748. Richardson, Clarissa (1811), III. xxxvi. 216. Consequences, unthought of by you or me.
1860. Froude, Hist. Eng., V. 490. A return to communion with the See of Rome was unthought of.
1890. ‘R. Boldrewood,’ Col. Reformer (1891), 449. This distant, long-dry, unthought-of reservoir.
† 2. (With complement or ellipt.) Not regarded in a certain (specified or implied) way. Unthought long, without feeling time long. Obs.
1595. Spenser, Epithal., 378. Thou likewise didst loue, though now vnthought.
a. 1637. B. Jonson, Underwoods, Eupheme, ix. 44. As spirits had stolne her spirit in a kisse,… And left her lovely body unthought dead!
a. 1806. in R. Jamieson, Pop. Ballads, I. 94. He harpit to the king, To haud him unthought lang.
3. Unimagined; not devised in thought.
1639. Cokaine, Masque, Dram. Wks. (1874), 10. Forsake the woods, fond Satyr, and but try The unthought difference ’twixt them and us!
1672. Marvell, Reh. Transp., II. (1674), 46. I wish it unsaid as it was unthought.
1743. Young, Nt. Th., V. 147. Each salutation may slide in a sin Unthought before.
1815. Milman, Fazio, 67. Is’t to be mad … To speak with … continuous flow, Yet know not how the unthought words start from me?
1850. Thackeray, Pendennis, lxxii. If you knew … how I lie awake and think of those hard sentences,… and wish them unspoken, unthought!
† 4. Unheeded, disregarded. Obs.
1640. Yorke, Union Hon., 185. [He] returned from his unthought banishment, [and] tooke King Richard prisoner.
† 5. Unpremeditated. Obs.
1648. Pol. Ballads (1860), I. 74. With speech unthought, quick revelation,… See a new Teacher of the Town.
