unlustrousadj.
/(ˌ)ʌnˈlʌstrəs/, U.S. /ˌənˈləstrəs/ Not lustrous.In quot. 1733 as an editorial emendation of illustrious, for the sake of clarity; see illustrious adj. 4. Cf. quot. 1709 at unlustrious adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > darkness or absence of light > dimness or absence of brightness > [adjective] > not lustrous
lacklustrea1616
dead1640
sourd1659
matta1665
unlustrious1709
unlustrous1733
glossless1849
glistenless1854
sheenless1883
1733 Shakespeare's Cymbeline i, in L. Theobald Wks. Shakespeare VI. 364 An eye, Base and unlustrous [1623 illustrious] as the smoaky light That's fed with stinking tallow.
1790 A. Seward Lett. (1811) II. 378 How dim and unlustrous is Mr. Merry's muse!
1847 C. G. F. Gore Castles in Air xxii. 261 Its [sc. her dress] unlustrous surface served to enhance the bloom of her youthful complexion.
1863 ‘W. Lancaster’ Praeterita 70 Sweet unlustrous eyes.
1915 Times 10 July 9/4 Sombre unlustrous leaves relieved from dullness by a mass of yellow flowers.
1958 Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc. 48 32/2 Quite often, outer surfaces are marked..but otherwise surfaces are unlustrous and smooth.
2013 Independent on Sunday (Nexis) 27 Jan. 50 A limp, unlustrous pony tail.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2017; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1733