inexpertadj.n.
/ɪnˈɛkspəːt//ɪnɛkˈspəːt/ A. adj.† 1. Not having experience, without experience; inexperienced, unacquainted. Const. in, of. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > customary or habitual mode of behaviour > unaccustomedness or state of disuse > [adjective] > not used or accustomed > not used or experienced
youngOE
inexpertc1450
unfleshed1542
green1548
fresha1557
callow1580
pen-feathered1598
puisne1598
puny1602
unfledgeda1616
inexperienced1626
pin-feathered1641
sucking1648
infledgeda1661
inexperient1670
fledgeless1769
wet behind the ears1851
c1450 tr. Thomas à Kempis De Imitatione Christi iii. viii. 74 Þei þat biþ ȝit newe & inexperte in þe wey of god.
1526 Bible (Tyndale) Heb. v. 13 Every man that is feed with mylke is inexpert in the worde of rightewesnes.
a1621 J. King in C. H. Spurgeon Treasury of David (1871) II. Ps. xxx. 8 Utterly inexpert of the way into so far a country.
1697 in Colonial Rec. Pennsylvania (1852) I. 519 The best of us all being but inexpert in mainie things relating to those affairs.
1862 J. R. Lowell Biglow Papers 2nd Ser. 54 Himself, haply, not inexpert of evil in this particular.]
2. Wanting the readiness, aptitude, or dexterity derived from experience; not expert; unskilled.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ability > inability > unskilfulness > [adjective]
craftlessOE
unslyc1275
unexperta1425
incrafty?1520
imperite?1550
unskilful1565
skilless1573
artless1586
inexpert1598
unarted1603
boisterous1609
unhandsomea1616
unwieldy1666
unartful1683
undexterous1688
unaccomplished1709
not so (also not too) hot1845
rotten1867
one-fingered1868
button pushing1896
1598 A. M. tr. J. Guillemeau Frenche Chirurg. 5/2 Although that theire Chyrurgian is wholy inexperte.
1612 T. Taylor Αρχὴν Ἁπάντων: Comm. Epist. Paul to Titus i. 6 They are not vnlike an inexpert musician.
1739 W. Melmoth Fitzosborne Lett. (1763) 378 Inexpert in the management of this sort of contests.
1807 J. Barlow Columbiad viii. 314 In counsel sage, nor inexpert in arms.
1871 T. Carlyle in J. W. Carlyle Lett. & Memorials (1883) II. 157 Workmen honest though inexpert.
B. n. [modern, after expert n.]
An inexpert or unskilled person; opposed to expert n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ability > inability > unskilfulness > [noun] > unskilful person
groper1693
inexpert1879
Hoosier1926
1879 J. McCarthy Hist. our Own Times II. xxi. 102 All these made on the mind of the ordinary inexpert a confused impression.
1883 American 6 371 A test examination for experts, a competitive examination for inexperts.
Derivatives
inˈexpertly adv. in an inexpert way, unskilfully.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ability > inability > unskilfulness > [adverb]
uncraftily1519
unexpertly1565
unskilfully1565
ill1579
fumblingly1598
unskilly1648
unartfully1724
inexpertly1822
1822 J. M. Good Study Med. III. 564 In attempting the recovery of those who have been hung, and particularly who have inexpertly hung themselves.
1897 Atlantic Monthly 79 126 Paddling inexpertly through a lake.
inˈexpertness n. unskilfulness, want of expertness or dexterity derived from practice.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ability > inability > unskilfulness > [noun]
uncraftiness?1520
unexpertness1538
unskilfulness1544
unskill1565
sinisterity1623
inexpertness1744
skillessness1823
inexpertise1926
1744 H. Walpole Let. 9 Feb. in Lett. to H. Mann (1833) I. xcv. 346 The French pursued them, outsailed them, and missed them, by their own inexpertness.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1900; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.n.c1450