undistinguishingadj.
1. Making no distinction or difference; not discriminating:
a. Of persons, personal attributes, etc.
ΚΠ
1599 E. Sandys Europæ Speculum (1629) 229 The blunt and undistinguishing witts of the vulgar.
1641 S. Marshall et al. Answer Hvmble Remonstr. (1653) §16. 67 If it be a fault in the impetuous, and undistinguishing Vulgar.
1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 291. ¶7 A sower undistinguishing Critick.
1776 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall I. vi. 160 (note) The undistinguishing compiler has buried these interesting anecdotes under a load of trivial and un~meaning circumstances.
1836 J. Gilbert Christian Atonem. iii. 102 There is still addressed to undistinguishing minds another objection.
1871 J. S. Blackie Four Phases Morals i. 129 The superficial undistinguishing eye of the general public of Athens.
b. transferred. Of things.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > misjudgement > indiscriminateness > [adjective]
blinda1400
unchoosinga1586
undiscerning1589
unrespective1609
irrespecting1625
promiscuous1633
incurious1645
indistinct1650
irrespective1650
uncritical1659
indiscerning1664
undistinguishing1665
undistinguishable1702
unrefining1735
indiscriminating1754
undiscriminating1776
indiscriminate1792
unfastidious1816
rough1819
lumping1827
indistinguishing1828
unparticularizing1828
farraginous1837
imperceiverant1844
scattergun1845
undistinctive1851
indiscriminative1854
unselecting1895
scattershot1961
1665 T. Manley tr. H. Grotius De Rebus Belgicis 205 There was none of them so imprudent, as to trust their Lives and Fortunes to the undistinguishing Sword of a Forreign Conquerour.
1792 W. Roberts Looker-on No. 34. 270 These furious advocates..are at issue with all governments..and would involve them all in one undistinguishing ruin.
1821 R. Southey Vision of Judgem. xi. 40 In undistinguishing battle, Or by pestilence stricken, they fell.
1847 G. Harris Life Ld. Hardwicke II. 230 Numbers of people..were sacrificed to the undistinguishing vengeance of the victorious army.
c. Const. of.
ΚΠ
1811 Henry & Isabella I. 259 Our..dog.., haply undistinguishing of crimes and evils, kindly fawned upon me.
2. Of actions, etc.: Marked by want of distinction or discrimination; indiscriminate.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > misjudgement > indiscriminateness > [adjective] > of actions
undistinguishinga1677
a1677 I. Barrow Wks. (1686) III. 403 Benefits would not be scattered among the crowd of men with so promiscuous and undistinguishing a freeness.
1710 R. Steele Tatler No. 204. ⁋7 An undistinguishing Application of Sounds of Honour.
1782 E. Blower George Bateman II. 60 But don't you think the ridicule rather too undistinguishing?
1853 J. Ruskin Stones of Venice III. iv. 104 That opposition was..intemperate, undistinguishing, and incautious.
1892 T. R. Lounsbury Stud. Chaucer III. vii. 201 We need not make it an object of undistinguishing depreciation.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
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adj.1599