unapprehensiveadj.
1. Not apprehensive or quick to understand; stupid, unintelligent.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > [adjective]
unwittyc1000
heartlessa1382
meana1387
conceitless?c1425
insensuat1508
insensate1528
insensible?1531
miskenning1533
unsensible1560
witless1562
unfraught1587
unconceiving1593
stupid1595
small-knowing1598
surd1601
ununderstanding1611
unapprehensible1613
unperceiving?1623
unapprehensive1624
inapprehending1652
incomprehensive1652
inapprehensive1653
impenetrative1684
blind1692
uncomprehensive1694
unpenetrating1701
unmeaning1704
vacant1712
gilly-gaupus1754
unacute1775
unapprehending1794
unpenetrative1795
unwitted1828
uncomprehending1838
irrecognizant1845
vacuous1848
incomprehending1881
mush-headed1884
wantwit1894
doofus1967
acerebral1968
brain-dead1972
goofus1981
1624 J. Donne Deuotions xiv. 337 Honors, Pleasures, Possessions, presented to vs,..in our decrepit, and distasted, & vnapprehensiue Age, loose their office, & loose their Name.
1670 J. Milton Hist. Brit. iii. 129 Unapprehensive, yet impudent; suttle Prowlers, Pastors in Name, but indeed Wolves.
1770 T. Gray Let. 4 Apr. in Corr. (1971) III. 1115 Pray let the next you send me, be halt & blind, dull, unapprehensive & wrong-headed.
1786 Mrs. Johnson Francis I. 66 The wine was sour, the sheets wet,..and the servants unapprehensive and impertinent.
1825 W. Scott Betrothed v, in Tales Crusaders I. 93 Frame not thyself more unapprehensive than nature hath formed thee.
1840 J. H. Newman Parochial Serm. (1842) V. iii. 41 They look at them as infants gaze at the objects which meet their eyes, in a vague unapprehensive way.
2.
a. Not anticipative or fearful of danger, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > courage > fearlessness > dreadlessness > [adjective]
awelessc1400
dreadlessc1400
undreadfulc1400
dreadnought1592
unredoubting1665
unapprehensive1666
undreading1745
1666 W. Boghurst Loimographia (1894) 86 The patient..being unapprehensive of his danger.
1672 Bp. J. Wilkins Of Princ. Nat. Relig. 267 That stupor and benummedness of spirit, whereby men are made unapprehensive of their afflictions.
1728 E. Haywood tr. M.-A. de Gomez Belle Assemblée (1732) II. 227 Unapprehensive of the Destiny which attended him.
a1807 W. Wordsworth Prelude (1959) ii. 68 And for this cause to Thee I speak, unapprehensive of contempt.
1854 J. S. C. Abbott Napoleon (1885) I. xxvi. 409 For there were thousands of travelers on the Continent, unapprehensive of danger.
b. With clause, or without const.
ΚΠ
a1705 J. Howe Living Temple i. ii. §8 I am not unapprehensive that I might..have proceeded in another method.
1743 R. Blair Grave 26 In gamesome Mood To frolick on Eternity's dread Brink, Unapprehensive.
1753 S. Richardson Hist. Sir Charles Grandison I. xxxix. 283 My heart is a little lighter: Yet not unapprehensive.
1829 W. Scott Anne of Geierstein I. viii. 216 In the hour of unaffected and unapprehensive ease and simplicity.
1853 E. K. Kane U.S. Grinnell Exped. (1856) xxxvii. 340 (note) The animals were entirely unapprehensive.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online September 2020).
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adj.1624