unequaln.
1. plural. Persons who are not on an equality with each other in respect of rank or social standing.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > inequality > [noun] > of rank or circumstances > unequal persons
unequals1508
1508 J. Fisher Treat. Penyt. Psalmes sig. kk.iv Is not my waye good & equall, & youres shrewed nought & more vnequall [L. prava].
1602 W. Watson Decacordon Ten Quodlibeticall Questions 51 It is an act of great humility..neither to striue for the last or first word, or place taking amongst not much vnequals.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost viii. 383 Among unequals what societie Can sort, what harmonie or true delight? View more context for this quotation
1768 Woman of Honor II. 56 Such is generally the end of that society among unequals.
1875 E. Poste tr. Gaius Institutionum Iuris Civilis (ed. 2) i. 40 The law of Persons considers men as unequals.
2. plural. Things that are not equal to each other in kind, magnitude, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > inequality > [noun] > an inequality > unequal things
unequals1611
1611 W. Sclater Key (1629) 149 An Antithesis of things diuers;..secondly, a comparison of vnequals.
1655 W. Gouge & T. Gouge Learned Comm. Hebrewes (iii. 2) i. 286 Unequals may be compared in quality and likeness, though not in equality.
1719 W. Whiston Elem. Euclid 6 If to Unequals you add Equals, the Wholes will be unequal.
1789 T. Taylor tr. Proclus Philos. & Math. Comm. II. 17 Let a be equal to b, and add to each the unequals c, d.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
unequaladj.adv.
1. Not equal in amount, size, quality, etc.
a. Of two or more things or persons in comparison with each other.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > variety > [adjective] > varying or unequal in extent, duration, etc.
unequal1565
1565 T. Cooper Thesaurus Calami dispares, vnequall reedes, one smaller then an other.
1570 H. Billingsley tr. Euclid Elements Geom. i. f. 7 If to vnequall thinges ye adde equall thinges: the whole shall be vnequall.
1607 J. Davies Summa Totalis sig. E3v Then, if his Will and Pow'r vnequall be How shall we equall make his Properties?
1652 W. Blith Eng. Improver Improved xxviii. 197 I..onely advise that if your horses be unequall for height, then place the highest formost.
1693 T. Creech in Dryden tr. Juvenal Satires xiii. 262 Every Age relates That equal Crimes have met unequal Fates.
1743 P. Francis & W. Dunkin tr. Horace Odes (new ed.) I. i. xxxiii. 16 With sportive cruelty she binds Unequal forms, unequal minds.
1784 T. Astle Origin & Progress Writing 79 The Rustic capitals were bold, negligent, unequal.
1836 W. C. Taylor Student's Man. Anc. Hist. xvi. § i. 372 Tarraconensis was divided into two unequal portions by the river Iberus.
1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps i. xiv. 95 Three stakes..would, I think, move with unequal velocities.
1861 J. S. Adams 5000 Mus. Terms 104 Compositions written for both male and female voices are said to be for unequal voices.
b. With abstract nouns in the singular.
ΚΠ
1595 Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 3 iii. ii. 159 Shee did corrupt fraile nature..To make my legges of an vnequall size.
1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan i. viii. 34 The Experience of men equall in age, is not much unequall, as to the quantity.
1710 Tatler No. 235. ⁋1 That unequal Love by which Parents distinguish their Children from each other.
1780 W. Cowper Progress of Error 560 Halting on crutches of unequal size.
1827 T. Jarman Powell's Ess. Learning of Devises (ed. 3) II. 265 There seems to be no solid ground for treating with such unequal regard the two objects of the testator's bounty.
1838 E. Bulwer-Lytton Calderon i The courtiers one by one approached the marquis, who received them with very unequal courtesy.
1908 Animal Managem. (War Office) 185 The more unequal the balance of weight carried the greater the risk of injury.
c. Of single persons or things.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > inequality > [adjective] > thing or person
unequal1734
1734 J. Kirkby tr. I. Barrow Usefulness Math. Learning xiii. 233 That will be called Unequal, which contains in it another..and something besides.
1829 Scott Anne of Geierstein III. xii. 345 Surely..a match with one so unequal in birth..was too monstrous to be mentioned.
1887 C. Bowen tr. Virgil Æneid i. 475 Ill-starred youth, for Achilles unequal match in the fight.
d. Of numbers: Odd; not even.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > number > mathematical number or quantity > [adjective] > describing particular qualities > odd
odda1398
imparc1430
uneven1577
unequal1697
odd-numbered1850
1697 Dryden tr. Virgil Pastorals viii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 38 Thrice bind about his thrice devoted head,..Unequal Numbers please the Gods.
1807 J. Robinson Archæol. Græca (1827) v. x. 447 The gods were supposed to be pleased with unequal numbers.
2. † a. Of things: Inadequate, insufficient. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > insufficiency > [adjective] > for the needs of the case or inadequate
unegual1542
unequal1582
unegall1589
unparegal1605
unsatisfactory1637
unadequate1644
inadequate1675
under-proportioned1689
1582 T. Bentley et al. Monument of Matrones iii. 278 Continue, O God, such goodnesse towards me,..which doo here..appeale..to accept mine vnequall thanks for the same.
1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica Pref. Authority..which the privacie of our condition, and unequall abilities cannot expect. View more context for this quotation
1676 Dryden Aureng-Zebe i. 3 Those Rebel-Sons, who dare..To sway his Empire with unequal skill, And mount a Throne, which none but he can fill.
1736 T. Gray Let. 8 May in Corr. T. Gray & W. Mason (1853) 2 From out the gazing host, Young Pterelas with strength unequal drew, Labouring, the disc, and to small distance threw.
b. Not equal or adequate to some task, etc. (Occasionally with infinitive or verbal noun.)
ΚΠ
a1694 J. Tillotson Serm. (1743) VII. 1991 We are very unequal to our religion, if we make a doubt of these things.
1776 Gibbon Decline & Fall I. ii. 50 Four of them were immediately rejected as unequal to the burthen.
1802 M. Moore Lascelles II. 99 I was unequal to personally opposing that dear friend.
1816 Scott Old Mortality iv, in Tales of my Landlord 1st Ser. IV. 83 Unequal..to arrange his own thoughts into suitable expressions.
1855 Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. xii. 229 Avaux had given it as his opinion that Richard Hamilton was unequal to the difficulties of the situation.
1885 ‘F. Anstey’ Tinted Venus 111 Imagination was unequal to the task.
3. Exhibiting inequality in some respect; varying, variable:spec.1816 R. Jameson Treat. External Characters Minerals (ed. 2) 204 Unequal tourmaline..is a nine-sided prism, having seven alternating planes on one extremity, and three on the other.
a. In movement or action.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > inequality > [adjective]
unevenOE
unlikea1387
odda1393
unmeeta1393
inequalc1400
inegal1484
impar1535
unegual1542
unequal1565
inequivalent1568
unmatch1570
unegall1589
disequal1622
disparate1764
1565 T. Cooper Thesaurus Inæquabilis percussus venarum, vnequall pulse.
1655 N. Culpeper et al. tr. L. Rivière Pract. Physick viii. ii. 181 After an unequal Pulse, he fell into a Palpitation and an Asthma, and so died.
1715 tr. D. Gregory Elements Astron. I. iii. §39. 463 The motion of this Body which is in its own nature unequal, ought to be reduced to an equality.
1799 in Spirit of Public Jrnls. (1800) III. 271 The gratitude of the depredator of Hibernia walked forth with unequal pace by the side of his emoluments.
1821 Scott Kenilworth III. ix. 152 Her step was not only slow, but even unequal.
b. In extent, amount, duration, etc.
ΚΠ
1591 G. Fletcher Of Russe Common Wealth xxi. f. 86 By means of an vnequall partition of the people, and parishes.
1593 T. Fale Horologiographia f. 40 By an unequall houre is meant the 12 part of the day whether it be short or long.
1656 Earl of Monmouth tr. T. Boccalini Ragguagli di Parnasso (1674) i. xxiv. 26 Is it not..able to make a man die for anger,..in so unequal a thirst, to drink still the same measure?
1685 Earl of Roscommon Ess. Translated Verse (ed. 2) 16 If you will unequal numbers try, There accents on odd Syllables must lie.
1815 J. F. Stephens Shaw's Gen. Zool. IX. i. 6 Tail very long, unequal, the outer feathers the shortest: tip black.
1832 W. Macgillivray Trav. & Researches A. von Humboldt xxi. 302 The climate..is marked by an unequal distribution of heat at different periods of the year.
c. In surface: Uneven, undulating.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > unevenness > [adjective]
unevenc1275
rudea1393
craggeda1400
knaggedc1430
raggedc1450
raggy1483
cocklya1529
rugged1528
knaggy1552
unlevel?a1560
craggy1568
scraggy1574
balkish1577
cockling1582
cockled1600
unequal1613
salebrous1633
scragged1641
inequal1661
unevenly1683
hummocky1767
snaggly1794
snaggy1806
hobblya1825
shreddy1835
scraggly1869
bobbly1909
pebbly1923
snaggled1938
1613 S. Purchas Pilgrimage viii. iii. 624 The unequall Seas, which might amaze the hearer, and amate the beholder.
1686 tr. J. Chardin Trav. Persia 79 The Country it self is unequal; full of Hills.., Valleys and Plains.
1718 M. Prior Solomon on Vanity ii, in Poems Several Occasions (new ed.) 431 The perplexing and unequal Ways, Where Study brings Thee.
1732 A. Monro Anat. Humane Bones (ed. 2) 131 This Bone is extremely ragged and unequal.
1796 F. Burney Camilla I. i. i. 4 The parsonage-house.., beautifully situated in the unequal county of Hampshire.
1826 W. Kirby & W. Spence Introd. Entomol. IV. xlvi. 270 Unequal, having very slight and indeterminate excavations.
1852 P. J. Bailey Festus (ed. 5) 342 Shining upon it like the quiet moon Illustrating the obscure unequal earth.
d. In character, condition, quality, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > variety > [adjective] > varying or unequal in extent, duration, etc. > varying or uneven in character, quality, etc.
unequal1703
splashy1880
streaky1898
1703 N. Rowe Fair Penitent iv. i. 1259 With what unequal Tempers are we form'd?
1799 H. Lee Canterbury Tales III. 142 Her spirits were often unequal from the delicate state of her health.
1811 Scott Let. 4 Aug. (1932) II. 525 The unknown author of a fine but unequal poem called Caledonia.
1897 M. E. Grant Duff Notes from Diary 1851–1872 I. 185 No man writes above himself; but most men are very unequal.
a. Not characterized by equal or fair treatment; inequitable, unjust, unfair. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > unjustness > [adjective]
unrighteOE
unrightfulOE
wrongousa1200
wrongfulc1311
unevenc1380
unjustc1384
untrue1393
injustc1430
unreasonablec1440
unduec1450
inique1521
unequal1535
wry1561
undeserved?c1570
justless1578
unrighted1608
unequitable1643
inequitable1667
unfair1724
iniquitablea1734
unsportsmanlike1754
unsportsmanly1776
unsporting1859
below the belt1892
red-hot1896
society > morality > rightness or justice > wrong or injustice > [adjective] > unfair
unmethea1300
unevenc1380
inique1521
unequal1535
unegall1589
unequitable1643
inequitable1667
unfair1713
iniquitablea1734
unsportsmanlike1754
unsportsmanly1776
rough1801
unsporting1859
below the belt1892
red-hot1896
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Ezek. xviii. 25 Are my wayes vnright, o ye house of Israel? Are not youre wayes rather vnequall?
a1578 R. Lindsay Hist. & Cron. Scotl. (1899) I. 66 His unequall punisching of innocencie.
a1616 Shakespeare Antony & Cleopatra (1623) ii. v. 102 To punnish me for what you make me do Seemes much vnequall. View more context for this quotation
1620 Horæ Subseciuæ 531 It is a thing both vnequall and vniust to insnare the people with multitude of Lawes.
1647 Bp. J. Taylor Θεολογία Ἐκλεκτική Ep. Ded. 12 Yet it will be unequall to say, that he who owns this Doctrine preaches it lawfull.
1761 D. Hume Hist. Eng. I. x. 205 To lend [money] at exorbitant and unequal interest.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > unjustness > [adjective] > of person
wrongousa1200
unjustc1384
unevenc1475
unequal1588
society > morality > rightness or justice > wrong or injustice > [adjective] > unfair > specifically of persons
unevenc1475
unequal1588
unfair1724
1588 R. Greene Pandosto sig. C2 Iealousie is an vnequall Iudge.
1607 B. Jonson Volpone iii. ii. sig. F3v You are vnequall to me, and how ere Your sentence may be righteous yet you are not. View more context for this quotation
1628 O. Felltham Resolves: 2nd Cent. xxiii. sig. M6 Few againe are so iust, as that they seeme not to some vnequall.
a1721 M. Prior Ess. Opinion in Wks. (1907) II. 195 You will find him always uncertain,..an Unequal Parent and a froward Master.
1725 Pope tr. Homer Odyssey III. xiv. 73 Far hence is by unequal Gods remov'd That man of bounties!
5. † c. Disproportionate, excessive. Obsolete.
a. In which the two sides or parties are not on equal terms, or have not equal advantage.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > inequality > [adjective] > of two sides
unequal1552
unpaired1598
1552 T. Cooper Bibliotheca Eliotæ (rev. ed.) Impar certamen, in contencion, or in gameyng, where is an vnequall matche.
1604 Bacon Apol. in Wks. (1879) I. 437 I doubted his words would have so unequal a passage above theirs that should charge him.
a1616 Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 1 (1623) v. vii. 34 A poore Earles daughter is vnequall oddes, And therefore may be broke without offence. View more context for this quotation
1671 Milton Samson Agonistes 346 Himself an Army, now unequal match To save himself against a coward arm'd At one spears length. View more context for this quotation
1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson iii. x. 416 This was much short of her value, but the impatience of the Commodore..prompted them to insist on so unequal a bargain.
1796 F. Burney Camilla III. vi. xii. 390 She had entered the world, by a sudden and most unequal marriage.
1833 H. Martineau Cinnamon & Pearls v. 92 The colony will not long fulfil its part in this unequal bargain.
1856 E. K. Kane Arctic Explor. II. xx. 205 I left my own tired dogs.., and took from them their only team in unequal exchange.
b. esp.
(a) Of combats or contests.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > match or competition > [adjective] > types of
maiden1598
well-run1601
unequal1654
well contested1722
returned1758
friendly1780
close-run1813
foursome1814
lightweight1823
tight1828
side1829
one-sided1839
scratch1851
international1859
all-comers1860
scrub1867
pointless1876
scoreless1885
replayed1886
peg-down1887
all-star1889
stiff1890
varsity1891
postseason1893
knock-out1896
best-of-(a specified odd number)1897
seeded1901
junior varsity1902
Simon Pure1905
pegged-down1908
JV1923
zero-sum1944
tie-breaking1970
1654 T. Fuller 2 Serm. 4 The next verse presents an unequall Combat betwixt armed Power..and naked Innocence.
1697 Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis ix, in tr. Virgil Wks. 480 Or desperate shou'd he rush and lose his Life, With odds oppress'd, in such unequal strife?
c1750 W. Shenstone Ruin'd Abbey 56 My pinnace..shuns Th' unequal conflict, and declines the deep.
1817 Shelley Laon & Cythna vi. xiv. 135 Then the combat grew Unequal but most horrible.
1878 J. Davidson Inverurie ix. 317 The struggle with England which ensued was necessarily an unequal one.
(b) Of treaties, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > inequality > [adjective] > of treaties, etc.
unequal1682
1682 W. Evats tr. H. Grotius Rights War & Peace ii. xv. 184 Unequal leagues are often made, not only between the Conquerors and the Conquered..but also between people of unequal power.
1799 T. Rutherforth Inst. Nat. Law (ed. 3) II. ix. 595 Unequal compacts, which lay the greater burden on the inferior party, are either such as diminish the sovereign power..or such as do not diminish this power.
1814 A. C. Campbell tr. Grotius Rights of War & Peace II. xv. 127 Unequal treaties may be made not only between the conquerors and the conquered, but also between mighty and impotent states, between whom no hostilities have ever existed.
1925 China Yearbk. 891 The ‘most favoured nation clause’..is the basis of the intercourse between China and most foreign countries. The ‘most favoured nation clause’ is unilateral and is the ground for the recent agitation against ‘unequal treaties’.
1962 E. Snow Other Side of River (1963) iv. 38 Under the unequal treaties foreign nationals had extraterritoriality rights which enabled them to reside and do business in China while remaining accountable only to their own courts.
1973 I. M. Sinclair Vienna Convention on Law of Treaties iv. 108 The Afro-Asian majority were extremely reluctant to countenance any material departure from the texts proposed by the Commission, particularly if it could be represented that the change was designed to keep in being so-called ‘unequal’ treaties.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > sufficient quantity, amount, or degree > excessive amount or degree > [adjective] > excessive or too great in amount or degree
overmeteeOE
unmeeteOE
unimeteOE
unmethelyOE
over-mickleOE
hoflesc1175
overmucha1300
unskilwisea1340
unskilfulc1370
luxuriousc1374
overseemingc1384
superfluec1384
unreasonablea1387
outrageousc1390
over-greatc1390
overlargec1390
overgrowna1398
unmeasurablea1398
unmoderatea1398
unordinatea1398
immoderate1398
rankc1400
overabundantc1410
excessivea1420
superabundant?a1425
unmeasureda1425
superfluousc1475
nimious?c1500
surfeitc1500
overliberala1535
torc1540
exceeding1548
distemperate1557
over-ranka1568
overswelling1582
accessive1583
overaboundinga1600
overteeming1603
excessful1633
overproportionated1647
superproportioned1652
over-proportioned1662
overproportionate1672
unduea1684
unequal1704
unmerciful1707
hypermetric1854
hypertrophied1879
over the top1980
1704 Swift Full Acct. Battel between Bks. in Tale of Tub 243 Which yielding to the unequal Weight, sunk down to the very Foundation.
1717 Pope Eloisa to Abelard in Wks. 427 Unequal task! a passion to resign, For hearts so touch'd,..so lost as mine.
6. adv. or quasi-adv.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > inequality > [adverb]
unlike?c1335
unevenly1398
unegally?1541
unegual1542
unequally1548
unmeet?c1600
unequal1604
inadequatively1862
1604 Shakespeare Hamlet ii. ii. 474 Vnequall matcht, Pirrhus at Priam driues. View more context for this quotation
1663 B. Gerbier Counsel to Builders 50 To cause the foundation..to be..laid, without leaving any toutchings, since walls new begun on them will settle more unequal then those [etc.].
1700 S. Wesley Epist. Poetry 12 Of Chaucer's Verse we scarce the Measures know, So rough the Lines, and so unequal flow.
1853 W. O. Markham tr. J. Skoda Treat. Auscultation 266 Unequal-bubbling dull râles.
Compounds
General attributive.
unequal-lengthed adj.
ΚΠ
1850 R. S. Surtees Soapey Sponge's Sporting Tour lix, in New Monthly Mag. Dec. 459 The unequal-lengthed candles of the previous night's illumination.
unequal-lobed adj.
ΚΠ
1851 G. A. Mantell Petrifactions v. §2. 433 Two genera..which are characterised by their unequal-lobed tail.
unequal-sided adj.
ΚΠ
1725 W. Halfpenny Art of Sound Building 19 An unequal-sided Groin.
1856 J. S. Henslow Dict. Bot. 208 Unequal-sided, when opposite sides are not symmetrical.
1885 J. E. Taylor Our Common Brit. Fossils 243 The shells are frequently unequal-sided.
unequal-tempered adj.
ΚΠ
1680 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. x. 178 Heavy unequal tempered Stuff.
unequal-valved adj.
ΚΠ
1822 J. Parkinson Outl. Oryctol. 187 An irregular, adherent, unequal-valved bivalve.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
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n.1508
adj.adv.1535- rubbing plate
- rubbing pole
- rubbing post
- rubbing rail
- rubbing sheet
- rubbing shift
- rubbing stone
- rubbing strake
- rubbing strip
- rubbing stroke
- rubbing surface
- rubbing table
- rubbing up
- rubbingly
- rubbings
- rubbish
- rubbish bag
- rubbish ballast
- rubbish bin
- rubbish cartage
- rubbish carter
- rubbish chute
- rubbish clearer
- rubbish collection
- rubbish collector