unbecomingn.
/ˌʌnbᵻˈkʌmɪŋ/, U.S. /ˌənbəˈkəmɪŋ/ (un- prefix2 2.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > existence > non-existence > [noun] > ceasing to exist
deathOE
out-burninga1382
fading1578
desition1612
desistency1615
expiration1649
quietus1744
nothingness1813
defunctness1883
unbecoming1883
dead-and-goneness1891
1883 H. Maudsley Body & Will iii. vii. 317 Are we to look forward to a continued becoming or to an ultimate unbecoming of things? Will evolution on earth go on for ever?
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
unbecomingadj.
/ˌʌnbᵻˈkʌmɪŋ/, U.S. /ˌənbəˈkəmɪŋ/ Not becoming or befitting; unsuitable; improper.
a. Without const.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > bad taste > unseemliness or unbecomingness > [adjective]
unthewfulc1050
unhend?c1225
uncomelyc1230
unseemlya1300
unseeminga1340
unseemc1425
untowardly1483
indecent1570
unbeseeming1583
uncivil1586
unbecoming1598
unbefitting1598
unhandsome1645
untoward1658
incorrect1672
indecorous1682
outré1722
improper1739
indelicate1741
unproper1797
pah1835
it is not (frequently isn't) done1879
the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > unfittingness > [adjective]
unbecomelyc1200
uncomelyc1230
unsetec1325
unconablea1340
unhonestc1380
unsitting1390
undue1398
ungainanda1400
disconvenienta1425
unjustc1443
unconvenient1450
unsoundablec1450
inconvenientc1460
unorderly1471
mis-seeminga1522
unconvenable1542
undecent1546
ungreeing1560
graceless1562
unsetting1567
unhovable1570
ill1586
uncouth1589
unfittinga1592
unbeseeming1593
seemless1596
unbecoming1598
unbefitting1598
ill-seta1627
unbeseemly1648
ungainlya1660
indecorous1681
paw-paw1723
ungain-like1796
jive1971
society > morality > dueness or propriety > moral impropriety > [adjective]
unbecomelyc1200
uncomelyc1230
unseemlya1300
unsetec1325
unseemly1338
unconablea1340
unseeminga1340
uncovenablec1374
unsitting1390
undue1398
ungainanda1400
unseemc1425
unjustc1443
unconvenient1450
unsoundablec1450
unhonestc1503
inconvenienta1513
mis-seeminga1522
unconvenable1542
undecent1546
graceless1562
unsetting1567
indecent1570
misbecoming1589
misbeseeming1589
uncouth1589
unbeseeming1593
seemless1596
unbecoming1598
unbefitting1598
wry1601
disbecominga1639
unbeseemly1648
improper1739
ugly1879
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > [adjective] > unseemly
unthewfulc1050
unbecomelyc1200
unhend?c1225
uncomelyc1230
unseemlya1300
unsetec1325
unconablea1340
uncovenablec1374
unsitting1390
undue1398
ungainanda1400
unlikelya1425
unconvenient1450
unsoundablec1450
unorderly1471
unhonestc1503
inconvenienta1513
mis-seeminga1522
unconvenable1542
undecent1546
unsetting1567
indecent1570
uncouth1589
unfittinga1592
unbeseeming1593
seemless1596
unbecoming1598
unbefitting1598
unbeseemly1648
untoward1658
indecorous1682
ungain-like1796
1598 J. Florio Worlde of Wordes Inconueneuole,..vnbeseeming, vnbecomming.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) iii. i. 13 If he had beene forgotten, It had bene as a gap in our great Feast, And all-thing vnbecomming. View more context for this quotation
1659 W. Chamberlayne Pharonnida iii. i. sig. N5 Some this bold Act of hers Term un-becoming Passion.
1688 in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1827) 2nd Ser. IV. 155 One of his own officers..had provoked Mr. Howard to give him some unbecoming language.
1727 J. Swift Let. to very Young Lady in Misc. II. 335 Those of our Sex, who presume to take unbecoming liberty before you.
1775 R. B. Sheridan St. Patrick's Day i. ii It is very unbecoming in you to want to have the last word with your Mamma.
1816 J. Wilson City of Plague ii. i. 209 With frantic outcry and with violent steps Most unbecoming mid the hush of death.
1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. IV. xxi. 541 They pointed out..with a grave irony which is not unbecoming, the absurdities..of the statute.
1885 Law Rep.: Queen's Bench Div. 15 143 It would be highly unbecoming that the justices should be present when the medical man made his examination.
b. Governing a noun. (Cf. become v. 8b.)
ΚΠ
1658 R. Allestree Pract. Christian Graces; or, Whole Duty of Man x. §23. 224 This savageness..is so unbecoming the nature of a man, that [etc.].
1670 C. Cotton tr. G. Girard Hist. Life Duke of Espernon i. 12 An assiduity and diligence unbecoming his Spirit, and Blood.
1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones II. v. viii. 182 Behaviour so unbecoming a Christian. View more context for this quotation
1774 O. Goldsmith Grecian Hist. I. ii. 21 They..had a power of arresting..their kings, if they acted unbecoming their station.
1831 W. Scott Pirate (new ed.) I. vii. 136 (note) The woman's dwelling and appearance were not unbecoming her pretensions.
1842 Ld. Tennyson Ulysses in Poems (new ed.) II. 90 Some work of noble note, may yet be done, Not unbecoming men that strove with Gods.
1882 Daily News 22 Aug. 6/4 Temper unbecoming of all places the Judgment seat.
c. Const. of.
ΚΠ
1741 Ld. Chesterfield Lett. May What was not unbecoming of a child would be disgraceful to a youth.
1803 Censor 1 Nov. 124 He never offered any thing unbecoming of a man who has serious intentions of wedding a woman.
1809 R. Cumberland John de Lancaster II. 254 You must not do what is unbecoming of your situation.
1862 J. F. Stephen Def. Rowland Williams 180 It would be unbecoming, I think, of the character of any man [etc.].
d. Const. to.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > lack of beauty > disfigurement > [adjective] > unbecoming
unbecoming1893
the world > relative properties > order > disorder > disharmony or incongruity > unsuitability or inappropriateness > [adjective]
unkinOE
un-i-feieOE
unbecomelyc1200
amissc1325
wrongousa1350
uncovenablec1374
unsitting1390
undue1398
ungainanda1400
unquemea1400
inconvenientc1400
unlikelyc1405
disconvenienta1425
impertinenta1425
discovenablec1436
unmeetc1440
wrongc1440
unjustc1443
unbehovablec1450
inconvenientc1460
uncordial1488
unmeetly1534
unapt1539
unfit1548
incommodious1553
ungreeing1560
impertinent1565
stravagant1565
unproper1566
improper1570
unhovable1570
unapt1579
unbeseeming1583
unsuitablea1586
unappliable1588
unapt1588
unlikely1590
unfittinga1592
unfitted1592
unsuiting1596
unbefitting1598
unsorted1598
unsuited1598
contrary1600
impair1609
unfitty1613
incompetible1621
incongruous1623
infita1626
uncompetiblea1628
inaccommodatea1657
inapplicable1656
inconcinnate1657
inconcinnous1662
inept1675
unaccommodatea1676
incommode1678
indecorous1681
untoward1682
unapplicable1690
insuitable1692
unsuit1704
malapropos1709
inapt1744
out of place1748
uncongenial1788
unfit-like1796
ungain-like1796
inappropriate1804
unadapted1805
dissuitable1807
dissuited1819
ineligible1828
infelicitous1835
unapropos1840
butt-ended1850
malappropriate1851
ungenial1871
misappropriate1878
unbecoming1893
unappropriate1898
unadjusted1899
offside1910
off-key1943
improbable1958
1893 O. Wilde Lady Windermere's Fan iii. 90 There is nothing in the whole world so unbecoming to a woman as a Nonconformist conscience.
1901 G. B. Shaw Capt. Brassbound's Conversion ii, in Three Plays for Puritans 245 Brandyfaced Jack: I name you for conduct and language unbecoming to a gentleman.
1980 Washington Post 1 June a17 But to set out to fix blame is..unbecoming to America.
1982 Financial Times 21 Aug. 4 Rumours flew about in a manner most unbecoming to the month.
e. elliptical after a noun in conduct unbecoming (sc. of a military officer); also transferred.
ΚΠ
1971 B. England (title) Conduct unbecoming.
1976 Time 5 July 46/3 The Merchant Marine Academy, which classifies copulation in the barracks as conduct unbecoming and worthy of dismissal.
1976 Times Lit. Suppl. 6 Aug. 988/4 Conduct unbecoming in a man of letters must be reprimanded.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1883
adj.1598