In common use from c. 1630.
1582. Stanyhurst, Æneis, II. (Arb.), 6. Priamus … On rusty shoulders sloa clapt his vnusual armoure.
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., III. ii. 98. Some Commet, or vnusuall prodigie.
1628. Wither, Brit. Rememb., 284. God will … Put some unusuall Plague in execution.
1682. Lister, Godartius Of Insects, 28. This is a Rare and unusuall Catterpillar.
1724. Swift, Drapier’s Lett., iv. A new governor, coming at an unusual time, must portend some unusual business.
1773. Life N. Frowde, 56. I returned to my Book…, in a Situation quite unusual to what I had ever before experienced.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., xli. Varney received his profligate servant with a rebuke of unusual bitterness.
1877. Huxley, Physiogr., 196. A cloud of unusual size and shape was seen hanging over the mountain.
Hence Unusuality.
1799. W. Taylor, in Robberds, Mem. (1843), I. 259. They have … an unusuality which startles.
1807. Southey, Lett. to J. May, 27 Jan. From its unusuality it would have a better chance of being read.
a. 1849. Poe, Marginalia, lvi. It is to be said of Sallust … that his obscurity, his unusuality of expression,… bore the impress of his genius.
