a. [f. TAME v.1 + -LESS.] That has never been tamed; that cannot be tamed; untamed, untamable.
1597. R. Johnson, Sev. Champ., I. xv. (1696). Or can that Noble City, the Nurse and Mother of my Life, entertain so vile a Homicide, that will offer Violence to her, whose Chastity, and true Honour hath caused tameless Lions to sleep in her Lap.
1597–8. Bp. Hall, Sat., II. i. 49. The tame-lesse steed could well his wagon wield, Through downes and dales of the vneuen field.
1598. Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. i. iv. Handy-crafts (1641), 109/2.
| Ev’n they (alas!) most shame-lesse | |
| Do follow sin, most beastly-brute and tame-lesse. |
a. 1604. Hanmer, Chron. Irel. (1809), 369. The bones of him they Noble Meler call, Who was the tamelesse tamer of the Irish nation all.
1801. Southey, Thalaba, V. vii. And Tigris bore upon his tameless stream Armenian harvests to her multitudes.
1890. ‘R. Boldrewood,’ Col. Reformer (1891), 129. A playful touch with the spurs … caused that tameless steed to jump on one side.
Hence Tamelessness.
1815. Byron, Parisina, xiii. 288.
| From thee—this tamelessness of heart— | |
| From thee—nay, wherefore dost thou start? |
1883. Jefferies, Story of my Heart, i. 9. The age, tamelessness, and ceaseless motion of the ocean.
