restlessadj.adv.
/ˈrɛs(t)ləs/, U.S. /ˈrɛs(t)ləs/ A. adj.
1.
a. Deprived of rest; finding no rest; esp. uneasy in mind or spirit.In some contexts passing into sense A. 3.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > state of being upset or perturbed > [adjective]
reigheOE
drofc1000
druvyOE
restlessOE
worya1225
forstraughtc1386
unquertc1390
unsaughtc1390
ill (evil) at easea1400
unrofula1400
unquietc1400
unrestya1413
unquieted?a1425
unrestful?c1425
unpeaceda1475
out of quieta1500
inquiet?1504
uneasya1513
perturbed1538
unquietous?1545
disquieted?1548
astraught1564
astraughted1565
agitate1567
turmoiled1570
disquiet1587
distroubled1590
weltered1590
disturbed1593
twitcheda1594
troublesome1596
stract1598
uncomposed1601
discomposed1603
incomposed1608
uncouth1660
unserene1664
chagrin1665
agitated1684
perturbated1704
disordered1711
perturbate1741
chagrineda1754
nervish1760
uncomfortable1796
funked1831
untranquillized1831
streaked1833
striped1839
discomfortable1844
streaky1848
bothered1851
funked out1859
bebothered1866
disorderly1871
fantod1883
rattled1885
aflap1887
shook1891
dicked-up1967
torqued1967
weirded out1973
OE Rule St. Benet (Wells) lxiv. 120 A byð geunstilled and restlease [OE Corpus Cambr. receleas, a1225 Winteney ræsteleas; L. quia numquam requiescit], þe mid ðam unþeawum beled byð.
c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Pardoner's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 400 Thus walke I lyk a restelees [v.rr. risteles, restlees] caytyf And on the ground which is my modres gate I knokke with my staf bothe erly and late.
c1450 in F. J. Furnivall Polit., Relig., & Love Poems (1903) 180 (MED) In a valey of þis restles mynde I souȝte..Trustynge a trewe loue for to fynde.
a1535 T. More Hist. Richard III in Wks. (1557) 69/1 So was his restles herte continually tossed & tumbled.
a1592 R. Greene Frier Bacon (1594) sig. H4 How restles are the ghosts of hellish spirites, When euerie charmer..Cals vs from nine-fold trenched Blegiton.
1667 J. Dryden Annus Mirabilis 1666 cii. 26 Restless he pass'd the remnants of the night.
a1711 T. Ken Anodynes in Wks. (1721) III. 421 As in the Night I restless lie, I the Watch-Candle keep in Eye.
1761 F. Sheridan Mem. Miss Sidney Bidulph I. 326 My poor mother has been so restless, and so much out of order, these two days.
1805 W. Scott Lay of Last Minstrel vi. xxviii. 188 That he a pilgrimage would take To Melrose Abbey, for the sake Of Michael's restless sprite.
1856 R. A. Vaughan Hours with Mystics I. vi. i. 179 His cares were thrown off, and he was restless and anxious no longer about little things.
1904 L. F. Baum Marvelous Land of Oz xv. 183 This morbid picture cast a gloom over the entire party, making them restless and anxious.
1963 Good Housek. Home Encycl. (ed. 5) 30 Fitted Tailored Sheets, those with boxed ends simplify bed-making and are a boon to the restless sleeper.
2001 Nat. Health Oct. 12 Practise this asana at the beginning of your yoga session, as it calms a restless and agitated mind.
b. Marked or characterized by unrest; affording or yielding no rest.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > restlessness > [adjective] > marked by absence of rest
unrestful?c1450
restless1557
wrestless1621
1557 Earl of Surrey et al. Songes & Sonettes sig. I.iii (heading) The louer describeth his restlesse state.
1573 I. Whitney Sweet Nosgay sig. Dvv The noysome nightes, in restlesse Bedde, I bring vnto his ende.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) iii. ii. 24 Better be with the dead,..Then on the torture of the Minde to lye In restlesse extasie. View more context for this quotation
1684 A. Behn Voy. to Isle of Love 62 in Poems Several Occasions Is this the recompence at last, Of all the restless hours I've past?
1742 H. Fielding Joseph Andrews iv. i. 278 Restless, interrupted Slumbers, and confused horrible Dreams were her Portion the first Night.
1776 S. Johnson Let. 21 Oct. (1992) II. 358 My nights are very restless and tiresome.
1785 W. Cowper Task i. 44 Restless was the chair; the back erect Distress'd the weary loins.
a1806 H. K. White Remains (1807) I. 21 Now, let me leave my restless bed.
1822 P. B. Shelley Hellas 3 We strew these opiate flowers On thy restless pillow.
1887 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 12 Feb. 318/2 He had had a restless night, with intervals of sleep.
1935 E. Bowen House in Paris ii. iv. 121 The morning-room where they had put her was a bleak restless place where nobody ever settled.
1971 B. Head Maru ii. 117 After a restless night, she had made up her mind to leave Dilepe for a short while, if only to take a short train journey to another village.
1989 Which? Car Buying Guide 52/1 Harsh, restless ride, unpleasant on rough roads.
2.
a. Of a condition: unceasing, continuous, unremitting. Now rare or merged in sense A. 3.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > change > absence of change, changelessness > lasting quality, permanence > [adjective] > lasting, continuous
endlessc888
perpetuala1382
unceasing1382
restless?c1425
biding1430
continual1462
remanent?a1475
incessant1532
uncessant1548
incessable1552
never-ceasing1567
still1570
ceaseless1590
indesinent1601
unceasable1604
unintermissive1610
constant1653
jugial1654
tarrying1654
insuccessive1678
perpetuative1785
?c1425 (c1390) G. Chaucer Fortune (Cambr. Ii.3.21) (1879) l. 70 This world hath euer resteles [a1456 Ashm. restlesse] trauayle.
a1439 J. Lydgate Fall of Princes (Bodl. 263) v. 1843 (MED) Note in cronicles ther knihtli gouernaunce, Ther restles labour Romeyns for tauaunce.
a1525 Contempl. Synnaris l. 1214, in W. A. Craigie Asloan MS (1925) II. 229 The Rage Is euer restless but quyete.
1592 R. Greene Pandosto (new ed.) sig. B Those which were ye cause of his restles sorrow.
1597 W. Shakespeare Richard III i. iv. 77 Princes..often feele a world of restlesse cares. View more context for this quotation
1637 J. Milton Comus 21 It shall bee in eternall restlesse change Selfe fed, and selfe consum'd.
1691 T. Hale Acct. New Inventions 6 By their Arts..were Sir Philip Howard, and Company in a restless manner urged to give Answers.
1701 F. Manning Poems 8 What compensation will you make For giving me Love's restless Pains?
1776 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall I. i. 7 The restless activity of Hadrian was not less remarkable when compared with the gentle repose of Antoninus Pius.
1838 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece (new ed.) II. xv. 251 For four years longer Asia was still kept in restless turmoil.
1875 B. Jowett tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) V. 360 The motion..quiets the restless palpitation of the heart.
1938 E. G. Richardson Physical Sci. Mod. Life v. 97 Particles as small as these do not sink because..they are bandied about in the restless molecular motions.
b. Of a thing: constantly in motion, continually operating; never ceasing or pausing.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > restlessness > [adjective] > specifically of things
restless?a1439
the world > action or operation > continuing > [adjective] > continuous or without stop or pause (of action)
ithanda1300
continualc1340
unstintingc1380
perpetuala1382
unfailinga1382
unceasing1382
everlastinga1398
restless?a1439
continuedc1440
running1492
incessant1532
uncessant1548
incessable1552
universal1561
never-ceasing1567
still1570
unpausing1585
ceaseless1590
uncessable1596
indesinent1601
uninterrupted1602
unceasable1604
Sabbathless1605
unceased1605
unintermissive1610
unstaying1616
constant1653
jugial1654
uninterrupted1657
stopless1660
uncheque1671
chronical1672
unarrested1733
well-sustained1743
uninterrupt1776
unsuspended1792
sustained1796
pauseless1820
unhalting1832
persistent1842
unresting1856
unbreaking1870
non-stop1915
a1439 J. Lydgate Fall of Princes (Bodl. 263) iii. l. 4336 Thus auarice, to ve[r]tu most contrarie, Founde among vices ful contagious, Euer bisi the restles ston to karie, Now up, now doun.
c1565 ‘T. C.’ tr. G. Boccaccio Galesus Cymon & Iphigenia sig. B.iiij The restless Tide, that beares his Barke with waltryng waues.
1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene v. x. sig. V8v With restlesse force, Into his shield it readie passage found. View more context for this quotation
1600 W. Shakespeare Henry V iii. vi. 27 That Godes blinde that stands vpon the rowling restlesse stone.
a1618 J. Sylvester tr. Little Bartas in tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Diuine Weekes & Wks. (1621) 772 The daily Course Of restless Stars.
1700 J. Dryden Chaucer's Palamon & Arcite iii, in Fables 65 The Courser paw'd the Ground with restless Feet.
1782 W. Cowper Hope in Poems 141 A painful passage o'er a restless flood.
1841 M. Elphinstone Hist. India I. iii. xi. 365 They are..active, with peculiar features, and a quick and restless eye.
1878 J. R. Seeley Life & Times Stein I. 232 For a moment it was reasonable to hope that she [sc. France] would also sheathe her restless sword.
1947 J. Steinbeck Pearl v. 86 The wind blew freshly into the estuary, a nervous, restless wind.
1990 Gramophone May 1965/2 The production..tends towards the balletic and is restless in movement.
3.
a. Of a person or animal: taking no rest; constantly stirring or active, or wishing to be so; averse to being quiet or settled; fidgety.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > restlessness > [adjective] > specifically of persons
restless?a1513
a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 165 The restles suallow commandit scho also To feche all fowll.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Jer. xlvi. 25 I will vyset that restlesse people off Alexandria.
1572 (a1500) Taill of Rauf Coilȝear (1882) 822 Thir riche restles renkis ruschit out full raith.
1582 T. Bentley et al. Monument of Matrones To Rdr. I haue laboured..with restlesse Ruth to go after the maidens in the haruest.
1603 R. Knolles Gen. Hist. Turkes 55 Where these restlesse people ceased not by all meanes to enlarge their empire.
1649 J. Milton Εικονοκλαστης Pref. sig. B3 To choose that interpretation which may best mind us of what our restless enemies endeavor.
1718 Free-thinker No. 42. 2 Poverty and Avarice are the restless Companions of Prodigality.
1781 W. Cowper Retirem. 21 Cities, humming with a restless crowd.
1836 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece III. 335 Alcibiades,..restless and sanguine, had much more to hope than to fear from war.
1888 F. Hume Madame Midas i. i. 19 She was of too restless and ambitious a nature to be content with an idle life.
1903 H. Keller Story of my Life ix. 38 I was no longer a restless, excitable little creature, requiring the attention of everybody on the train to keep me amused.
1965 Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Gaz. 4 Feb. 9/3 This restless, stirring and striving nation would never live as the captive of a comfortable consensus.
1990 Here's Health Dec. 53/2 Hyperactive babies..are restless, fidgety and cannot be calmed.
b. Of the thoughts, mind, etc.: constantly active or in search of new stimulation; averse to settledness.
ΚΠ
1557 Earl of Surrey et al. Songes & Sonettes sig. B.iiii A thousand fansies in that mood Assayle my restlesse mind.
1603 R. Knolles Gen. Hist. Turkes 184 Continually incited with the vnsatiable and restlesse desire of soueraignetie.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ii. 526 Where he may likeliest find Truce to his restless thoughts. View more context for this quotation
1759 W. H. Dilworth Life of Pope 71 Mr. Pope is much indebted to the restless spirit of correction Swift was possessed of.
1778 F. Burney Evelina III. xxi. 232 Great joy is as restless as sorrow.
1807 G. Crabbe Parish Reg. iii, in Poems 115 All the Reason, by himself assign'd For so much Rambling, was, a restless Mind.
1839 C. Dickens Nicholas Nickleby vi. 49 The same policy, and the restless ambition of proud and fiery men, have sent ye back.
1868 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest II. x. 490 Both of them parts of one scheme devised in the restless brain of the Mercian Earl.
1925 Woman's World (Chicago) Apr. 9/1 Left to themselves, her feet seemed always to want to dance. It was the same with her eyes, her long white fingers, her restless thoughts.
1989 D. H. Fischer Albion's Seed 334 Its ideal of quietism and practical piety contrasted sharply with the restless striving of the new England Puritans.
c. Impatient to do something. Also with of (now rare).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > wish or inclination > desire > uneasy or restless desire > [adjective]
itching?c1225
restless1557
tittling1560
prurient1592
impatient1598
1557 Earl of Surrey et al. Songes & Sonettes sig. D.iiii Where I am now, as restlesse to remayn, Against my will, full pleased with my payn.
1578 T. Blenerhasset 2nd Pt. Mirrour for Magistrates Uter Pendragon xv For her disport my Ladye coulde procure The wretched winges of this my muting minde, Restlesse to seeke her emptie fiste to finde.
a1625 J. Norden Pathway to Patience (1626) sig. ¶8 Preserue me from the secret and hidden snares of Satan, who is restles to allure me to sinne.
1639 J. Saltmarsh Pract. Policie 279 These that affect you will continue after this inquisitive and restlesse to enjoy you.
1719 D. Defoe Farther Adventures Robinson Crusoe 250 When I was at Home, I was restless to go abroad; and now I was abroad, I was restless to be at Home.
1725 W. Broome in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer Odyssey I. ii. 9 By his Heralds, restless of delay, To council [he] calls the Peers.
1849 H. Melville Redburn xliv. 273 As he approached his majority he grew restless of the retirement of a country place.
1896 C. D. G. Roberts Forge in Forest xx. 265 The Acadians were restless to throw off the English yoke.
1913 D. H. Lawrence Sons & Lovers ix. 248 He was restless to follow.
1972 Times 22 Aug. 6/5 Mr. Ashley..was restless to embark in business on his own.
2008 B. Olsen Sacred Places N. Amer. (ed. 2) vi. 245 American newcomers soon grew restless of Mexican rule.
= restlessly adv. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > continuing > [adverb] > in a continuous manner or without stopping
fastlyOE
anonOE
everOE
everylikec1225
continuallyc1305
atreet1340
unceasinglyc1340
perpetuallyc1385
incessably1398
desselya1400
ithandlya1400
dreichlyc1400
restlessc1400
contunely1447
all alongc1450
dessantlyc1460
incessantly1481
still opece1488
uncessantlya1500
continuinglya1513
in ane1513
away1526
incessant1558
restlessly1567
square1570
stintless1598
ceaselessly?1606
residently1609
unrestingly1621
indesinently1651
jugially1654
unintermissively1656
constantly1682
hand to fist1706
forever1753
unintermittingly1784
round the clock1816
continuously1826
unpausingly1831
sustainedly1842
pauselessly1845
remorselessly1845
around the clock1872
play-by-play1889
ball-by-ball1906
non-stop1920
solidly1937
the world > time > change > absence of change, changelessness > lasting quality, permanence > [adverb] > without cessation
fastlyOE
without ceasec1330
without ceasinga1340
unceasinglyc1340
incessably1398
dreichlyc1400
restlessc1400
perpetuallyc1475
incessantly1481
uncessantlya1500
incessant1558
ceaselessly?1606
indesinently1651
jugially1654
unintermissively1656
upon or on a stretch1689
at one or a stretch1774
unabatingly1793
at the stretch1867
never-ceasingly1869
the mind > emotion > suffering > state of being upset or perturbed > [adverb]
unquietly?1518
troubledly1599
disquietly?1608
incomposedly1615
discomposedly1662
disturbedly1731
agitatedly1803
restless1810
disorderly1811
restlessly1847
disquietedly1857
discomfortably1873
inquietly1893
troublously1897
disconcertedly1909
c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness (1920) 527 (MED) Sesounez schal yow never sese of sede ne of hervest..Bot ever renne restlez.
1508 Golagros & Gawane (Chepman & Myllar) sig. aii*v The renk restles he raid to arthour the king.
1532 (?a1400) Romaunt Rose 370 (MED) The tyme, that passeth nyght and day..resteles [Fr. sans repos] travayleth ay.
1810 Splendid Follies II. 119 Emily Camelion slept very restless.
1891 Homeopathic Recorder Jan. 44 Patient often feels chilly, sleeps restless, is constipated.
Compounds
C1. † restless-rolling adj. Obsolete
restless-footed adj.
ΚΠ
1842 F. W. Faber Sights & Thoughts in Foreign Churches 370 It is the restless-footed rack of the cloudy, wind-swept sky.
1889 W. B. Yeats Wanderings of Oisin ii. 24 Where goes to gaze the restless-footed star Of twilight when he's weary.
1902 Atlantic Monthly Apr. 545/2 Mere restless-footed adventurers.
1996 Las Vegas (Nevada) Rev.-Jrnl. (Nexis) 1 Nov. 2 j Restless-footed youths can get a double dose of it [sc. Ska] this weekend.
ΚΠ
1560 J. Heywood tr. Seneca Thyestes i. sig. A Shall Sisyphus his stone, That slypper restles rollyng payse vpon my backe be borne?
1615 P. Gordon Penardo & Laissa I. sig. A. ij Eache creture bles'd with equall light, Saluts the princelye spring with pleasant noys The restles roling heaun, with shyning bright Smyls on the earthe.
1777 R. Potter tr. Æschylus Seven Chiefs against Thebes in tr. Æschylus Tragedies 161 The rude plunderers' restless-rolling tide.
restless-souled adj.
ΚΠ
1845 R. Howitt Impressions Austral. Felix 232 The bee is no restless-souled emigrant.
1914 ‘Saki’ When William Came vi. 101 You must remember that thousands and thousands of the more virile and restless-souled men have emigrated.
restless-spirited adj.
ΚΠ
1646 J. Bastwick Utter Routing of Army of Independents sig. b2v This place of Scripture with this their reason to speake the truth, is all the ground, and warrant for substance, that all those restlesse spirited Rabbies have for this great warre and contention betweene us.
c1712 Dangerous Present 1 The malicious and dangerous Designs of the restless Spirited Whigs.
1837 J. Williams Narr. Missionary Enterprises (1840) 98 A few restless-spirited old warriors..rallied around this young chieftain.
2006 Guardian (Nexis) 12 Jan. 38 New album ‘My Beast’ showcases both sides of the restless-spirited band.
C2. In the names of birds and other animals.† restless thrush n. Obsolete = restless flycatcher n.
restless cavy n. now rare the domesticated guinea pig, Cavia porcellus, or the Brazilian guinea pig, C. aperea, often supposed to be its wild ancestor.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > order Rodentia or rodent > superfamily Hystricomorpha (porcupine or guinea-pig) > [noun] > family Caviidae (cavy) > genus Cavia (guinea-pig)
pig-cony1607
guinea pig1664
restless cavy1771
rock cavy1771
moco1831
1771 T. Pennant Synopsis Quadrupeds 243 Cavy... Restless [Cavy]... Inhabits Brazil:..domesticated in Europe: a restless, grunting, little animal; perpetually running from corner to corner.
1831 List Animals Gardens Zool. Soc. 1 July 31 These animals are commonly known by the name of Guinea Pigs; but the species is properly denominated the Restless Cavy.
1876 Encycl. Brit. V. 277 The Restless Cavy (Cavia aperea), found throughout Uruguay and Brazil, is supposed to be the wild form of the Guinea-pig of Europe.
1959 Proc. Internat. Conf. Sci. Information I. 580 We suggest that the domestic guineapig, possibly a descendant of the South American Restless Cavy,..which produces one, or at most two, at a birth, occupies its strange position as the result of selection for superovulation.
restless flycatcher n. a large Australian flycatcher, Myiagra inquieta (family Monarchidae), with blackish upperparts and white underparts.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > order Passeriformes (singing) > family Muscicapidae (thrushes, etc.) > [noun] > miscellaneous types of > sisura inquieta (restless flycatcher)
restless thrush1801
razor-grinder1822
grinder1848
restless flycatcher1848
scissors-grinder1875
1848 J. Gould Birds Austral. II. Pl. 87 Seisura Inquieta, Restless Flycatcher; The Grinder, of the Colonists of Swan River and New South Wales.
1945 C. Barrett Austral. Bird Life 172 There is no mistaking the notes of the restless flycatcher..uttered while the bird is hovering.
2005 P. Olsen et al. Wedge-tailed Eagle vi. 25 Even when the eagle perches, Willy-Wagtails, Restless Flycatchers and other bolder passerines continue the kerfuffle.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > order Passeriformes (singing) > family Muscicapidae (thrushes, etc.) > [noun] > miscellaneous types of > sisura inquieta (restless flycatcher)
restless thrush1801
razor-grinder1822
grinder1848
restless flycatcher1848
scissors-grinder1875
1801 J. Latham Gen. Synopsis Birds Suppl. II. 181 Restless Thrush.
1817 J. F. Stephens Shaw's Gen. Zool. X. i. 263 The Restless Thrush inhabits New Holland.
1848 J. Gould Birds Austral. VI. Pl. 40 Seisura inquieta. Restless Flycatcher..Restless Thrush.
C3.
restless legs n. Medicine (with singular agreement) = restless legs syndrome n.
ΚΠ
1945 K.-A. Ekbom in Acta Medica Scandinavica Suppl. 158 11 For both groups I use the common term ‘restless legs’.
1990 Elle (U.S. ed.) Aug. 219/2 It is only because of sleep disorder centers and sleep research that sleep apnea was found and ‘restless legs’ became a diagnosable and treatable disorder.
2001 J. Le Fanu They don't know what's Wrong xii. 193 For some reason restless legs is exacerbated by anaemia due to lack of iron and will be ameliorated by its replacement.
restless legs syndrome n. (also restless leg syndrome) Medicine a disorder characterized by an urge to move the legs (and sometimes the arms), which is engendered by rest and is worse in the evening or at night, and may be accompanied by unpleasant sensations in the limbs.Restless legs syndrome is now usually considered to be a sleep disorder, and is treated with dopaminergic drugs.
ΚΠ
1954 Brit. Jrnl. Physical Med. 17 160/2 The restless legs syndrome developed in parallel with the anaemia.
1987 Independent 3 Feb. 11/7 Restless leg syndrome..is one of the miseries of life and it affects about 5 per cent of the population, mainly elderly people.
2003 N.Y. Times Mag. 2 Feb. 40/2 The sleep disorder known as restless legs syndrome, which is characterized by extremely painful crawling sensations in the legs.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2010; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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adj.adv.OE