unnaturallyadv.
/(ˌ)ʌnˈnatʃ(ə)rəli/, /(ˌ)ʌnˈnatʃ(ə)rl̩i/, U.S. /ˌənˈnætʃ(ə)rəli/ 1. In a manner contrary to, or at variance with, normal human nature; with unnatural depravity, wickedness, or lack of feeling. Now chiefly archaic or historical.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > [adverb] > unnaturally
unnaturally1470
society > morality > moral evil > [adverb] > immorally or unethically > in a manner departing from moral order > and unnaturally
against (also contrary to) naturec1390
unnaturally1470
1470 in Rotuli Parl. (1767–77) VI. 233/1 The said Duke and Erle, unnaturelly, unkyndly, and truly entendyng his destruccion, and the subversion of this Reaume..dissimuled with his said Highnes.
?a1525 (c1450) Christ's Burial & Resurrection i. l. 537 in F. J. Furnivall Digby Plays (1896) 189 Was his..gudnese owt of thy mynd So vn-naturallye?
1540 Act 32 Hen. VIII c. 24 §1 Knightis of Sainct Johnes..have unnaturally..maynteynid the usurped powre..of the Bishop of Rome.
1550 J. Heywood Hundred Epigrammes xxii. sig. B Alas mother, what is the why? That ye draw from vs vnnaturally.
1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 465 The yong man..most unnaturally waged war against his owne father.
1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 30 He..had most vnnaturally..caused his elder Brother..[to] be murdred.
1719 D. Defoe Farther Adventures Robinson Crusoe 59 They had acted..unnaturally by their Countrymen.
1755 A. M. Let. containing Acct. Watch-plot 8 Most impiously and unnaturally labouring to raise themselves upon the Ruins of our Alma Mater.
1827 J. B. White Let. Protestants 4 Could such a tender and affectionate Son command us to behave unnaturally to our parents!
1860 Southern Literary Messenger Oct. 254/2 We are charged with acting unnaturally.
1951 G. I. Duthie Shakespeare iii. 61 A younger brother has behaved unnaturally towards an elder brother.
2008 Press & Jrnl. (Aberdeen) (Nexis) 20 June 6 One charge alleges that she ‘cruelly and unnaturally’ treated one resident.
2. In a manner differing from what is natural or normal; to an unnatural degree; abnormally, unusually.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > customary or habitual mode of behaviour > unaccustomedness or state of disuse > [adverb] > unusually or unnaturally
unnaturally1528
the world > relative properties > order > disorder > irregularity > unconformity > abnormality > [adverb] > abnormally or unnaturally
unkindly?1387
accidently?a1425
monstrouslyc1487
innaturallya1513
unnaturally1528
monstruously?1548
supernaturally1578
preternaturally1588
1528 R. Copland tr. Secrete of Secretes of Arystotle sig. F.ivv Whan aege surmounteth ye body it behoueth for to dye. Other wyse vnnaturally by aduenture, as by wepen, or stones, or by sykenesse.
1591 in R. Pitcairn Criminal Trials Scotl. (1833) I. ii. 253 And in the birth of your last sone..your naturall and kindlie payne vnnaturallie cassin of yow, vpoun the wantoune catt in the hous.
1611 J. Florio Queen Anna's New World of Words Distortione, a turning awry vnnaturally.
1614 S. Latham Falconry i. viii. 31 The fire..pierceth into the bodie, and heateth it most vnnaturallie.
1668 J. Dryden Of Dramatick Poesie 61 Both the clauses are plac'd unnaturally; that is, contrary to the common way of speaking.
1700 T. Southerne Fate of Capua iv. ii. 52 It was a Task unnaturally impos'd.
1790 Monthly Rev. June 261 Justice is not done to his manner..if what flows from his pen naturally and easily, be rendered ruggedly and unnaturally.
1848 W. K. Kelly tr. L. Blanc Hist. Ten Years II. 283 Words of malediction not unnaturally marked his parting adieus.
1878 J. S. Bristowe Treat. Theory & Pract. Med. (ed. 2) 850 The former may attain the bulk of a bullock's kidney, and the latter is usually unnaturally small.
1939 H. Miller Tropic of Capricorn (1961) 68 This joy of living, because it is unnaturally acquired, is a poison which eventually vitiates the whole world.
1955 A. MacLean H.M.S. Ulysses ix. 155 The crash of breaking ebonite sounded unnaturally loud.
2010 S. Fry Fry Chrons. 276 He had always regarded me as almost unnaturally calm, sorted and in control.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2014; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adv.1470