unreverentadj.

a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1965) Ecclus. xxiii. 6 To vnreuerent [L. inreverenti] inwit & vndiscreet ne take þou me.

1489 W. Caxton De Roye's Doctrinal of Sapyence lxxxi. sig. Kviii^v In his herte vnreuerent in thynges that apperteynen to the aulter.

1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. DDvii Se thou be nat vnreuerent or stately of behauour to thy company.

1552 Ordre Hospital S. Bartholomewes sig. E.vi A swearer or an vnreuerent vser of his mouth.

c1590 Sir Thomas More (1911) ii. iv. 134 Your vnreuerent knees, Make them your feet to kneele to be forgyuen!

1612 T. Taylor Αρχὴν Ἁπάντων: Comm. Epist. Paul to Titus ii. 12 They durst not shewe themselues..so vnreuerent and retchles in hearing, as most men doe.

1675 R. Baxter Catholick Theol. i. i. 9 We must be very fearful and not unreverent and rash, in ascribing such a..lusus of notions to God.

1823 J. Galt Entail III. iv. 41 Surely neither you nor that unreverent and misleart tumphy your wife..would refuse to be present at the occasion?

1893 ‘M. Corelli’ Barabbas II. xxix. 184 Weep, rave,..unreverent Jew, thou, who..now through unbelief, art left most desolate!

1922 Texas Rev. Apr. 244 I have tried with no unlaborious hand and no unreverent heart to make the touches of fancy which go to make these verses paraphrases.

1987 News (Frederick, Maryland) 5 Dec. b9/6 Ferlinghetti..adopts the tone of a refreshingly unreverent observer of the Beats.

a1425 (c1395) Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Royal) (1850) Ecclus. xxiii. 17 Thi mouth be not customable to vnreuerent speche [L. indisciplinose non adsuescat os tuum].

1532 T. More Confut. Tyndale in Wks. 622/1 Such euyl fashion of vnreuerent railing vpon great personages.

1583 G. Babington Very Fruitfull Expos. Commaundem. v. 250 If we be parentes, and greeued with vnreuerent regarde in our children of vs.

1608 A. Willet Hexapla in Exodum 62 The Corinthians were chastised..for vnreuerent receiuing of the Lords supper.

a1661 T. Fuller Worthies (1662) Yorks. 206 Greatly guilty in his ill language, which to any Author was uncivil, to a Bishop unreverent.

1733 I. Maddox Vindic. Govt. Church of Eng. App. 343 There are several Particulars in Mr. Johnson's Character, as well as that unreverent Behaviour which..was said to be the Cause of his Commitment.

1841 J. M. Neale Few Words to Churchwardens 12 The Altar ought to be seen from all parts of the church; and to put the pulpit just before it is unreverent and ugly.

1881 ‘M. Twain’ Prince & Pauper xxviii. 221 He was snatched roughly along, by the officers, and got an occasional cuff, besides, for his unreverent [U.K. ed. irreverent] conduct.

1924 Manitoba Free Press 27 Nov. 9/4 Such tawdry, unreverent perpetrations as operatic selections..patched up with sacred texts.

2009 S. Hastings Secret Lives S. Maugham (2012) xi. 354 Such unreverent opinion was considered an outrage.