[ME. untīdi (UN-1 7.), = WFris. on-, ûntidich, MDu. ontidich (Du. ontijdig), MLG. untidich, OHG. unzitich (MHG. unzitec, -zitic, G. unzeitig), MSw. otidig, (M)Da., Norw. utidig untimely, unseasonable, unfavorable, etc.]
† 1. Untimely, unseasonable; unsuitable, unseemly.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 2400. Aflei from ham al uuel, Weorre & weane baðe, & untidi wederes!
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XX. 118. With his vntydy tales he tened ful ofte Conscience and his compaignye. Ibid. (1393), C. X. 262. The tarre is vntydy þat to þyne sheep by-longeþ.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 367/2. On-tydy, intemptatus (P. intemperatus).
1661. J. Arnway, Tablet, 91. Hitherto ye are come by an untidy Parliament, wherein … many … made grievous … shiprack of the Faith.
2. Of poor, mean, or uncared-for appearance; not kept in good order; not neat or orderly.
For the break in the evidence (as in the adv. above), cf. the history of TIDY a. (esp. sense 4).
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 1455. Sche schal … haue mo solempne cites and semliche casteles, þan ȝe treuly han smale tounes or vntydi houses.
c. 1529. Skelton, E. Rummyng, 151. Theyr lockes about theyr face, Theyr tresses vntrust,… Full vntydy tegges, Lyke rotten egges.
1545. Bale, Image Both Ch., I. ix. (1550), K i. Bishoppes, preestes, monkes,… were poore, abiecte, and vntydye.
1570. Foxe, A. & M. (ed. 2), I. 116. Therfore this vntydie ground of ours, bringeth forth so many Weedes.
[1775. Ash.]
1824. Carr, Craven Gloss., 119. Unheppen,… indecent, untidy.
a. 1825. Forby, Voc. E. Anglia, Untidy, unclean; sluttish.
1855. Poultry Chron., II. 541. The untidy one [sc. bee-keeper] permits cobwebs to occupy the corners of the bee-shed.
1884. F. M. Crawford, Rom. Singer, I. 4. There can be nothing so untidy about a house as children and chickens.
Hence Untidiness.
[1775. Ash.]
1845. E. B. Barrett, Lett. Browning (1899), I. 115. I rather like blots than otherwise—being a sort of patron-saint of all manner of untidyness.
1875. W. S. Hayward, Love agst. World, 13. I must be in a dreadful state of untidyness.
