unwholesomeadj.n.
/(ˌ)ʌnˈhəʊls(ə)m/, U.S. /ˌənˈhoʊlsəm/ A. adj.† 4. Scottish. Ugly; repulsive. Obsolete. rare.
1.
a. Not beneficial, salutary, or conducive to morals, etc.; detrimental or prejudicial to health of mind.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > [adjective] > immoral or unethical > not conducive to moral improvement
unwholesomec1175
unedifying1641
unimproving1747
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 7177 & tatt iss eȝȝþerr himm & hemm. Vnnhalsumm to þe sawle.
1554 T. Sampson Let. to Trew Professors sig. Aviv Where haue ye your ground in the scripture for this your vnholsome housell.
1657 T. Hobbes Στιγμαι 16 You..can not expect to publish any unholesome doctrine without some Antidotes from me.
1888 H. M. Stanley in Standard (1889) 6 Apr. All unwholesome and evil conjectures.
1889 Times 8 Apr. 9/1 A mischievous demagogue who has acquired an unwholesome popularity by discreditable methods.
1900 L. B. Walford One of Ourselves xiv They are keen on doing anything they shouldn't, anything improper and unwholesome.
b. Not promoting or conducive to, harmful or prejudicial to, well-being, good condition, soundness, etc.; hurtful, noxious.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > harmfulness > [adjective]
litherc893
scathefulc900
balefulOE
orneOE
teenfulOE
evilc1175
venomousc1290
scathela1300
prejudiciala1325
fell?c1335
harmfula1340
grievous1340
ill1340
wicked1340
noisomea1382
venomed1382
noyfulc1384
damageousc1386
mischievousc1390
unwholesomea1400
undisposingc1400
damnablec1420
prejudiciable1429
contagiousc1440
damagefulc1449
pestiferous1458
damageable1474
pestilent?a1475
nuisable1483
nocible1490
nuisible1490
nuisant1494
noxiousa1500
nocent?c1500
pestilential1531
tortious1532
pestilentious1533
nocive1538
offensivea1548
vitiating1547
dangerous1548
offending1552
dispendious1557
injurious1559
offensible1575
offensant1578
baneful1579
incommodious1579
prejudicious1579
prejudical1595
inimicous1598
damnifiable1604
taking1608
obnoxious1612
nocivousc1616
mischieving1621
nocuous1627
nocumentous1644
disserviceable1645
inimical1645
detrimentous1648
injuring1651
detrimental1656
inimicitial1656
nocumental1657
incommodous1677
fatal1681
inimic1696
nociferous1706
damnific1727
inimicable1805
violational1821
insalutary1836
detrimentary1841
wronging1845
unsalvatory1850
damaging1856
damnous1870
wack1986
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > [adjective] > harmful or injurious
litherc893
scathefulc900
orneOE
teenfulOE
atterlichc1050
evilc1175
wicka1250
scathela1300
deringa1325
unkindc1330
harmfula1340
ill1340
wicked1340
shrewdc1380
noisomea1382
venomed1382
noyfulc1384
damageousc1386
infectivea1398
unwholesomea1400
annoying?c1400
mischievous1414
damnablec1420
contagiousc1430
mischievable?a1439
damagefulc1449
damageable1474
unhappy1474
nuisable1483
nocible1490
nuisible1490
nuisant1494
noxiousa1500
nocent?c1500
hurtful1526
sinistral1534
nocive1538
offendent1547
offensivea1548
dangerous1548
naughtya1555
dispendious1557
offensible1575
wrackful1578
baneful1579
hindersome1580
scandalizing1593
damnifiable1604
taking1608
toadish1611
illful1613
nocivousc1616
mischieving1621
nocuous1627
obnoxious1638
nocumentous1644
vicious1656
nocumental1657
abnoxious1680
dungeonable1691
offending1694
hurtsomea1699
nociferous1706
sinister1726
damnific1727
hazardous1748
slaughtering1811
damaging1856
damnous1870
lethal1942
a1400–50 Alexander 4387 Þe kind of þire customs we kepe euire-mare, Þe quilk, I hope, ser, þe to hald vnhalesom it ware.
1628 T. May tr. Virgil Georgicks i. 6 Nor is't unwholesome to subdue the Land By often exercise.
1664 S. Butler Hudibras: Second Pt. ii. i. 57 I'de be loath..To free your heels by any Course That might b' unwholesom to your Spurs.
1787 G. Winter New Syst. Husbandry 84 When waters remain..on the ground which..produce rank unwholesome weeds.
1812 Ld. Byron Childe Harold: Cantos I & II i. liii. 34 And must they fall?..To swell one bloated Chief's unwholesome reign?
1828 W. Scott Fair Maid of Perth i, in Chron. Canongate 2nd Ser. II. 13 Perhaps farther stay were unwholesome for my safety.
2. Not favourable to or promoting good health; not salubrious, wholesome, or healthful; injurious to health:in extended use.1855 D. T. Ansted in Orr's Circle Sci.: Inorg. Nature 202 The water cannot be in any other than an unwholesome state, and unfit for general use.
a. Of food, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > qualities of food > [adjective] > unwholesome
unwhole?c1225
unwholesome1297
queasyc1450
contagious?a1500
naughty1535
spilled1574
naught1588
spilt1595
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 9115 He willede of an lampreye to ete, Ac is leches him vorbode vor it was vnholsom mete.
c1380 J. Wyclif Wks. (1880) 475 Þe mynging of þes þingis is vnholsum to man to take.
c1440 Pallad. on Husb. ix. 187 The water that gooth thorgh the leden penne Is rust corrupt, vnholsum.
c1455 R. Pecock Folewer to Donet 22 To men is ȝouun þe witt of smellyng, bi which þei schulen knowe sumwhat afer what bodies ben vnholsom to be take vnto her nurischyng.
1482 W. Caxton Higden's Polychron. iii. xxxi. 152 b That vnholsomme mete that he hadde eten at soper.
1528 T. Paynell tr. Arnaldus de Villa Nova in Joannes de Mediolano Regimen Sanitatis Salerni sig. E ij b Salte meate..is vnholsome for sicke folkes.
1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry iii. f. 146v A grosse vnholsome kinde of milke.
1622 H. Peacham Compl. Gentleman xv. 193 Hauing your..reputation abased, while you sit taking your vnwholesome healthes.
1665 T. Manley tr. H. Grotius De Rebus Belgicis 473 Their flesh they found to be unwholsom for food.
1726 G. Leoni tr. L. B. Alberti Architecture I. 65 Its water is unwholsom to drink.
1774 T. Pennant Tour Scotl. 1772 305 Fever..originating from unwholesome food.
1852 G. Bancroft Hist. Amer. Revol. I. viii. 212 Sick at heart, and enfeebled by toil and unwholesome diet.
1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. xii. 233 Leprosies, such as strange and unwholesome diet engenders.
b. Of places, conditions, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > insalubrity > [adjective]
evilc1000
unsete1387
pestilenta1398
pestilentiala1398
unhealfulc1400
unthendec1425
unsetyc1440
unwholesomec1455
ill1488
pestifere1490
contagious1495
infectious1534
pestiferous1538
unhealthsome1544
unkindlyc1570
deletery1576
deleterious1587
bad1589
unhealthful1598
unsound1598
unhealthy1600
sickly1604
deleterial1621
tetrous1637
insalubrious1638
unseasoned1638
cankered1645
healthless1650
insalutary1694
maliferous1727
insanous1742
unsalubrious1781
unsanitary1872
insanitary1874
devitalizing1875
antihygienic1876
unhygienic1883
unhealthy-looking1890
c1455 R. Pecock Folewer to Donet 22 Þe witt of smellyng, bi which þei schulen knowe..what bodies ben vnholsom if with hem þei maken her nyȝ dwellyng.
a1533 Ld. Berners tr. A. de Guevara Golden Bk. M. Aurelius (1546) sig. Q.jv For meate corrupteth in an vnholsome potte.
1579 T. Stevens Let. 10 Nov. in R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations (1589) i. 160 Raine so vnwholesome, that if the water stand a little while, all is full of wormes.
1613 S. Purchas Pilgrimage 486 Alexandria is very vnholesome, as the graue of that Alexandria we before mentioned.
1653 in F. P. Verney & M. M. Verney Mem. Verney Family 17th Cent. (1904) I. 551 Unwholesome smells..and most noysome stinks.
1718 G. Berkeley Jrnls. Trav. Italy 11 Apr. in Wks. (1955) VII. 331 Without the town a small river seem'd to render it marshy & unwholesome.
1779 Mirror No. 41. ⁋5 The vicinity of..the lake..she was sure must be extremely unwholesome.
1847 G. Harris Life Ld. Hardwicke I. 207 The walls were not dry, but very damp and unwholesome.
1859 C. Dickens Tale of Two Cities i. ii. 3 As the waves of an unwholesome sea might do.
1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. 707 Unwholesome ship,..a sugar ship diverted from her former trade, and not properly cleansed.
c. Of climate, air, etc.
ΚΠ
1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde i. vi. f. 29 The great heate and vnholsome ayer.
1592 N. Breton Pilgrimage to Paradise in Wks. (1879) I. 14/1 Shee bit her taile, with such vnholsome breath, As..stung her selfe to death.
1653 W. Ramesey Astrologia Restaurata 267 It shews..unwholsom infectious Mists.
c1690 in 10th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1885) App. i. 139 The air is most unwholesome, and agrees very ill with him.
1726 G. Leoni tr. L. B. Alberti Architecture I. 64 Any very deep Valley reaking with unwholsome Steams.
1796 J. Morse Amer. Universal Geogr. (new ed.) I. 750 The atmosphere is very hot, moist and unwholesome.
1825 W. Scott Talisman vi, in Tales Crusaders III. 135 The alternations of the unwholesome climate.
1859 W. S. Landor Hellenics 26 Why should we stand beneath This hollow tree's unwholesome breath?
3. in extended use.1847 C. Brontë Jane Eyre I. i. 6 Large and stout..with a dingy and unwholesome skin.1889 M. Oliphant Poor Gentleman xliv Those white, unwholesome, greasy hands.in combination.1858 Househ. Words XVIII. 519/2 A middling-sized man, with a sharp, unwholesome-looking face.† c. Nautical. (See quot.) Obsolete.
a. Of persons: Not sound in respect of morals, character, etc.; morally tainted or corrupted.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > corruption > [adjective]
sickc960
foulOE
unwholec1000
thewlessa1327
corrupt1340
viciousc1340
unwholesomec1374
infecta1387
rustyc1390
unsound?a1400
rottenc1400
rotten-heartedc1405
cankereda1450
infectedc1449
wasted1483
depravate?1520
poisoned1529
deformed1555
poisonous1555
reprobate1557
corrupted1563
prave1564
base-minded1573
tainted1577
Gomorrhean1581
vice-like1589
depraved1593
debauched1598
deboshedc1598
tarish1601
sunk1602
speckled1603
deboist1604
diseased1608
ulcerous1611
vitial1614
debauchc1616
deboise1632
pravous1653
depravea1711
unhealthy1821
scrofulous1842
septic1914
society > morality > moral evil > moral or spiritual degeneration > [adjective] > corrupted or corrupt
foul-stinkingOE
unwholesomec1374
corruptc1380
rotten1395
infecta1398
unsound?a1400
rotten-heartedc1405
infectedc1449
fly-blown1528
reprobate1531
corrupped1533
corrupted1563
poisoned1567
abusive?1585
debauched1598
deboshedc1598
deboist1604
debauchc1616
deboise1632
scrofulous1842
c1374 G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde iv. 330 O olde, vnholsom and mysbyleued man.
1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet iv. v. 80 The people muddied Thick and vnwholsome in thoughts, and whispers. View more context for this quotation
b. Not sound in health; diseased, infirm, sick.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > [adjective] > in state of ill health or diseased
untrumc825
sickc888
unwholec888
slackc897
unstronga900
sicklea1000
sam-halea1023
worseOE
attaint1303
languishinga1325
heallessc1374
sicklyc1374
sicklewa1387
bada1393
mishalea1400
languoring?c1425
distempered1440
unwell?c1450
detent?a1475
poora1475
languorousc1475
maladif1481
illa1500
maladiousc1500
wanthriven1508
attainted1509
unsound1513
acrazed1521
cracked1527
unsoundya1529
visited1537
infirmed1552
crazed1555
healthless1568
ill-liking1572
afflicted1574
crazy1576
unhealthful1580
sickish1581
valetudinary1581
not well1587
fainty1590
ill-disposed1596
unhealthsome1598
tainted1600
ill-affected1604
peaking1611
unhealthy1611
infirmited1616
disaffected1626
physical1633
illish1637
pimping1640
invalid1642
misaffected1645
valetudinarious1648
unhale1653
badly1654
unwholesome1655
valetudinous1655
morbulent1656
off the hooksa1658
mawkish1668
morbid1668
unthriven1680
unsane1690
ailing1716
not wellish1737
underlya1742
poorly1750
indifferent1753
comical1755
maladized1790
sober1808
sickened1815
broken-down1816
peaky1821
poorlyish1827
souffrante1827
run-down1831
sicklied1835
addle1844
shaky1844
mean1845
dauncy1846
stricken1846
peakyish1853
po'ly1860
pindling1861
rough1882
rocky1883
suffering1885
wabbit1895
icky-boo1920
like death warmed up1924
icky1938
ropy1945
crappy1956
hanging1971
sick as a parrot1982
shite1987
1655 F. Osborne Advice to Son i. 33 Fly, with Joseph, the Embraces of great Ladyes; lest you..see your leggs rot in the stocks of the Physitian: they being often unwholsome.
1732 J. Arbuthnot Pract. Rules of Diet iv. 409 Children born healthy, often contract the Disease from an unwholsome Nurse.
1848 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair lxi. 555 An unwholesome little Miss of seven years of age.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > vessel with reference to qualities or attributes > [adjective] > easily managed > not
unwholesome1627
unnavigable1755
unworkable1853
unguidable1896
1627 J. Smith Sea Gram. xi. 52 If she draw little water and be long, she may try and ride well, but neuer hull well, which is called an vnwholsome ship.
1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. 707. ]
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > lack of beauty > ugliness > [adjective]
foulOE
uglyc1386
malgraciousa1393
unsightlya1400
loathc1400
ouglec1415
shrewdc1430
unsightyc1440
unwholesome?a1500
evil-favoured1530
ill-favoured1530
uglisome1530
huggeda1533
hard-favoureda1535
evil-liking1535
ill-favorited1579
stigmatical1589
stigmatic1597
sightlessa1616
hard-featured1638
grislya1681
bad-looking1757
unmackly1765
unfavourable1776
dissightly1777
eyesore1798
wavelled1886
spiderly1891
Plain Jane1912
hackit1985
a1500 R. Henryson tr. Æsop Fables: Paddock & Mouse l. 2840 in Poems (1981) 105 Thocht I vnhailsum be to luke vpon.
5. Impaired; defective. rare.
ΚΠ
a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) iv. i. 119 I prethee beare some charity to my wit, Doe not thinke it so vnwholesome . View more context for this quotation
B. n.
An unwholesome thing.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > corruption > [noun] > thing
jakes1536
unwholesome1858
1858 Brit. Q. Rev. 56 358 We find him [Lilly]..leaving..Neve and Wodehouse to provide, as usual, tables of the wholesomes and unwholesomes.
Derivatives
unˈwholesomely adv.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > insalubrity > [adverb]
uncleanlyc1438
unwholesomelyc1455
pestilentially1643
unhealthily1644
deleteriously1657
unhealthfully1677
unphysically1751
unhygienically1861
c1455 R. Pecock Folewer to Donet 51 It is science to knowe..what metis..wole nurische vs vnholsomli.
1563 J. Foxe Actes & Monuments 1713/2 Madam, you were best to come out of the raine. For you sit vnwholesomlye.
1628 G. Wither Britain's Remembrancer viii. 199 Thy Children oft unwholsomly are fed.
1859 F. Nightingale Notes on Nursing i. 10 The air..unwholesomely close and foul.
1875 A. Helps Social Pressure xiii. 174 The eyes of an unwholesomely curious world.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1926; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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adj.n.c1175