a. [f. VIEW sb.]
1. Of persons: Given to adopting speculative views on particular subjects; inclined to be unpractical or visionary.
1848. J. H. Newman, Loss & Gain, I. iii. 20. Sheffield … was … fonder of hunting for views, and more in danger of taking up false ones. That is, he was ‘viewy,’ in a bad sense.
1865. Pall Mall G., I. 805/2. He there tempts viewy and inexperienced witnesses into a frank confession of their weaknesses.
1885. Spectator, 3 Oct., 1281/2. Lord Shaftesbury … was no viewy or screaming philanthropist;… he was a man of hard sense.
b. Similarly of writings, theories, etc.
1883. Black, Shandon Bells, ix. I doubt whether the public care much about viewy books.
1885. Pater, Marius the Epicurean, II. 145. Some fine speech you were pondering, some knotty question or viewy doctrine.
1889. Spectator, 9 Nov., 642/1. [Her] explanation of the French elections is viewy, perhaps, but there is a thought in it which deserves attention.
2. slang. Attractive in appearance; showy.
1851. Mayhew, Lond. Labour, I. 178/2. Then there’s a sort of meal, now and then, off the odds and ends of the ham, such as isn’t quite viewy enough for the public. Ibid. (1851–61), III. 230/2. The slaughterers cared only to have them [sc. chests of drawers] viewy and cheap.
