ungenialadj.
/(ˌ)ʌnˈdʒiːnɪəl/, U.S. /ˌənˈdʒiniəl/ 1. figurative.1768 W. Donaldson Life Sir Bartholomew Sapskull II. i. 7 The citizen from the ungenial atmosphere of Watling-Street.
a. Not favourable to growth or development. Also const. to.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > [adjective] > not beneficial
unhale1483
unbeneficial1626
unsaving1628
ungenial1726
unblessing1769
unsalutary1770
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > bad weather > [adjective] > unfavourable > having unfavourable weather or climate
ungenial1726
1726 J. Thomson Winter 14 Those sullen Seas, That wash th' ungenial Pole, will rest no more.
1796 W. Marshall Rural Econ. W. Eng. II. 100 The frequency of rain,..renders West Devonshire.., in a wet season, ungenial to Agriculture.
1829 R. Southey Sir Thomas More II. 142 No plants will thrive in a cold and meagre soil, ungenial to their nature.
1856 R. W. Emerson Eng. Traits iii. 40 Art..transforms a rude, ungenial land into a paradise of comfort and plenty.
b. Of weather: Cold or wet: raw.
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
1816 J. Austen Emma III. xiv. 258 I did not quite like your looks on Tuesday, but it was an ungenial morning. View more context for this quotation
1885 Manch. Examiner 14 May 5/1 The ungenial weather has compelled the outdoor part of the programme to be abandoned.
2.
a. Not agreeable or pleasant (to one).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > displeasure > [adjective] > unpleasant
loatha700
unsweetc890
grimlyc893
unquemeOE
un-i-quemeOE
evila1131
sourc1175
illc1220
unhightlyc1275
unwelcomec1325
unblithec1330
unnetc1330
unrekena1350
unagreeablec1374
uncouthc1380
unsavouryc1380
displeasantc1386
unlikinga1398
ungaina1400
crabbedc1400
unlovelyc1400
displeasing1401
eschewc1420
unsoot1420
mislikinga1425
unlikelya1425
unlustya1425
fastidiousc1425
unpleasantc1430
displicable1471
unthankfulc1475
displeasant1481
uneasy1483
unpleasinga1500
unfaring1513
badc1530
malpleasant?1533
noisome1542
thanklessa1547
ungrate1548
untoothsome1548
ungreeable1550
contrary1561
disagreeable1570
offensible1575
offensive1576
naughty1578
delightlessa1586
undelightful1585
unwisheda1586
unpleasurable1587
undelightsomec1595
dislikeful1596
disliking1596
ungrateful1596
unsweet?a1600
distastive1600
impleasing1602
distasting1603
distasteful1607
unsightly1608
undelectable1610
disgustful1611
unrelishing1611
waspisha1616
undeliciousa1618
unwished-for1617
disrelishing1631
unenjoyed1643
unjoyous1645
mirya1652
unwelcomed1651
unpleasivea1656
sweet1656
injucund1657
insuave1657
unpalatable1658
unhandsome1660
undesirable1667
disrelishablea1670
uncouthsome1684
shocking1703
nasty1705
embittering1746
indelectable1751
undelightinga1774
nice and ——1796
unenjoyablea1797
ungenial1796
uncomplacent1805
ungracious1807
bitter1810
rotten1813
uncongenial1813
quarrelsome1825
grimy1833
nice1836
unrelished1863
bloody1867
unbewitching1876
ferocious1877
displeasurable1879
rebarbative1892
charming1893
crook1898
naar1900
peppery1901
negative1902
poisonous1906
off-putting1935
unsympathetic1937
piggy1942
funky1946
umpty1948
pooey1967
minging1970
Scrooge-like1976
sucky1984
stank1991
stanky1991
1796 F. Burney Camilla V. ix. xii. 243 She declined the excursion, as..ungenial to her feelings.
1823 C. Lamb Praise of Chimney-sweepers in Elia 253 The rake..curses the ungenial fume, as he passeth.
1857 Ld. Dufferin Lett. from High Latitudes (ed. 3) 401 Henceforth, the words..can convey no cold or ungenial associations to my ears.
b. Not congenial or suited to the genius of.
ΘΚΠ
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
1871 J. Earle Philol. Eng. Tongue ii. 145 We must regard this..as being a creation of the English speech-genius. To the Danish it is ungenial.
3. Not cheerful, jovial, or kindly.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > dejection > [adjective] > gloomy or depressing
darkOE
unmerryOE
deathlyc1225
dolefulc1275
elengec1275
dreicha1300
coolc1350
cloudyc1374
sada1375
colda1400
deadlya1400
joylessc1400
unjoyful?c1400
disconsolatea1413
mournfula1425
funeralc1425
uncheerfulc1449
dolent1489
dolesome1533
heavy-hearted1555
glum1558
ungladsome1558
black1562
pleasureless1567
dern1570
plaintive?1570
glummish1573
cheerless1575
comfortless1576
wintry1579
glummy1580
funebral1581
discouraging1584
dernful?1591
murk1596
recomfortless1596
sullen1597
amating1600
lugubrious1601
dusky1602
sable1603
funebrial1604
damping1607
mortifying1611
tearful?1611
uncouth1611
dulsome1613
luctual1613
dismal1617
winterous1617
unked1620
mopish1621
godforsaken?1623
uncheerly1627
funebrious1630
lugubrous1632
drearisome1633
unheartsome1637
feral1641
drear1645
darksome1649
sadding1649
saddening1650
disheartening1654
funebrous1654
luctiferous1656
mestifical1656
tristifical1656
sooty1657
dreary1667
tenebrose1677
clouded1682
tragicala1700
funereal1707
gloomy1710
sepulchrala1711
dumpishc1717
bleaka1719
depressive1727
lugubre1727
muzzy1728
dispiriting1733
uncheery1760
unconsolatory1760
unjolly1764
Decemberly1765
sombre1768
uncouthie1768
depressing1772
unmirthful1782
sombrous1789
disanimating1791
Decemberish1793
grey1794
uncheering1796
ungenial1796
uncomforting1798
disencouraginga1806
stern1812
chilling1815
uncheered1817
dejecting1818
mopey1821
desponding1828
wisht1829
leadening1835
unsportful1837
demoralizing1840
Novemberish1840
frigid1844
morne1844
tragic1848
wet-blanketty1848
morgue1850
ungladdeneda1851
adusk1856
smileless1858
soul-sick1858
Novemberya1864
saturnine1863
down1873
lacklustre1883
Heaven-abandoneda1907
downbeat1952
doomy1967
1796 F. Burney Camilla V. ix. i. 38 [I] appeared to you too rigorous, too ungenial.
1867 Ld. Houghton in Brodrick, etc. Ess. Reform 48 An ungenial German, ignorant of our language and offensive to our manners.
1870 J. R. Lowell Among my Bks. 1st Ser. 237 The Puritans had their faults. They were narrow, ungenial.
1889 F. E. Gretton Memory's Harkback 25 He was of somewhat ungenial, crusty temperament.
Derivatives
ungeniˈality n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > anger > irascibility > ill-naturedness > [noun]
cursednessc1386
crabbedness1413
thrawnness1499
currishness1542
doggedness1592
spleen1597
incompliance1689
crustiness1727
dourness1794
grumpiness1835
cussedness1852
nabalism1853
ungeniality1859
disgrace1861
cantankerousness1881
ugliness1889
stroppiness1969
1859 G. Wilson & A. Geikie Mem. E. Forbes (1861) iv. 109 A deep, quiet enthusiasm..which his ungeniality of nature could not prevent being contagious.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1924; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1726