† unsoftadj.
Obsolete.
Not soft; hard, severe.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > constitution of matter > softness > [adjective] > not soft or softened
unsoftc1275
unmollified1587
unsoftened1855
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > harshness or severity > [adjective]
heavyc825
retheeOE
stithc897
hardeOE
starkOE
sternOE
dangerous?c1225
sharp?c1225
unsoftc1275
sturdy1297
asperc1374
austerec1384
shrewda1387
snella1400
sternful?a1400
dour?a1425
thrallc1430
piquant1521
tetrical1528
tetric1533
sorea1535
rugged?1548
severe1548
iron1574
harsh1579
strict1600
angry1650
Catonian1676
Draconic1708
tetricous1727
alkaline1789
acerbic1853
stiff1856
acerbate1869
acerbitous1870
Draconian1876
Catonic1883
the mind > emotion > suffering > mental anguish or torment > [adjective] > severe
heavya1000
tartc1000
unridec1175
unsoftc1275
uglya1300
smartc1300
sternc1300
cruelc1384
sharpc1386
shrewda1387
snella1400
painousa1450
painlyc1460
sensible1502
terrible1509
heinous?1541
severe1747
c1275 Serving Christ 25 in Old Eng. Misc. 91 Þer is þe sunfulle vnsofte to beon.
c1386 G. Chaucer Merchant's Tale 1824 He kisseth hire ful ofte With thilke brustles of his berd vnsofte.
1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 283 Mi wofull herte is so tobete, That all my wittes ben unsofte And I am wroth.
1430–40 J. Lydgate tr. Bochas Fall of Princes (1494) v. vii. r j b/2 And Affricans felt full vnsoft Whan she to theym list be contrarye.
1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) xi. l. 332 Quham euir he hyt thar sawchnyng was wnsoft.
1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid ii. ii. 96 The north wynd onsoft Held thaim abak.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1926; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
† unsoftadv.
Obsolete.
Not softly; severely.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > violent action or operation > [adverb]
strongeOE
hotOE
unsoftOE
snellya1000
stitha1000
stronglyOE
woodlyc1000
hatelyOE
unridelyc1175
wood1297
mainlyc1300
dreec1330
spackly?c1335
brothelyc1340
bremelya1375
fiercelya1375
violentlya1387
throlyc1390
roughlya1400
snarplya1400
unrekenlya1400
dreichlyc1400
ranklyc1400
witherlyc1400
maliciouslya1450
fervently1480
roidlyc1480
thrafully1535
vehement?1541
toughly1589
sickerly1596
vengeously1599
virulently1599
rageously1600
ragefullya1631
churlishly1657
improbously1657
rampantly1698
fierce1771
savagerous1832
fulgurantly1873
franticly1883
the mind > emotion > suffering > mental anguish or torment > cause of mental anguish or torment > [adverb]
unsoftOE
sharplya1023
derfly?c1225
derfc1325
pinefullyc1390
anguishouslyc1440
heinouslya1555
tormentingly1575
keenlya1593
cuttingly1611
torturingly?a1625
stingingly1667
severelya1682
piercingly1781
harrowingly1799
excruciatingly1808
martyrly1819
pinchingly1825
crucifyingly1826
torturously1857
woundingly1887
scarifyingly1921
OE Guthlac B 886 He monge oft þurh meaht godes gehælde hygegeomre hefigra wita, þe hine unsofte, adle gebundne, sarge gesohtun.
c1000 Sax. Leechd. II. 260 Hwær mon unsofte getilað on forewearde þa adle.
?a1400 J. Lydgate Chorle & Bird (Roxb.) 10 And who desireth to clymbe hygh a lofte Be sodeyn turne falleth ofte unsofte.
1430–40 J. Lydgate tr. Bochas Fall of Princes (1494) vi. t ii b/1 Another honde griped full vnsofte Which cast another in greate aduersite.
1509 S. Hawes Pastime of Pleasure (1845) xxxii. 159 In holly bushes they did hange aloft, Theyr hedes downeward for to fall unsofte.
1579 E. Spenser Shepheardes Cal. July 12 This reede is ryfe, that oftentime Great clymbers fall vnsoft.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1926; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
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adj.c1275adv.OE