unclementadj.
/(ˌ)ʌnˈklɛm(ə)nt/, /(ˌ)ʌŋˈklɛm(ə)nt/, U.S. /ˌənˈklɛm(ə)nt/ Not clement; not merciful; cruel; (of the weather, a night, etc.) unpleasantly cold or wet.inclement adj. is the commoner term.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > bad weather > [adjective]
starkOE
unkindc1330
foulc1390
distemperate1398
distempered1490
untemperate1525
intemperate1526
naughty1541
intempered1556
unkindly1579
sour1582
unclement1598
filthy1600
nasty1634
dirty1660
inclement1667
inclemental1709
wretched1711
foul-weather1750
ungenial1816
wersh1830
shabby1853
1598 J. Florio Worlde of Wordes Incleménte,..mercilesse, sterne, fell, vnclement.
1695 Answer to Let. Votes Against Speaker 34 The Aged, and some Women, whom the Enemies Swords had spared, begged the unclement Conqueror..to spare at least their innocent Walls.
1751 E. Young Complaint (new ed.) iii. 46 In this unclement [1742 inclement] clime of human life.
1789 County Mag. Feb. 59/2 Now, pinch'd with an unclement sky, The herds to some kind shelter fly.
1849 Times 26 Feb. 8/2 Mr. J. W. Kaye, surgeon,..attributed her death to..lying on the ground in an unclement night.
1961 J. M. Beach tr. R. Gary Promise at Dawn xvi. 106 I do hope that life showed itself unclement to him.
2011 Wicklow (Ireland) People (Nexis) 25 May The Hollywood Hills Tractor & Classic Run..was a great success despite rather unclement weather.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2017; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
adj.1598