a. Also 7–8 tastless. [f. TASTE sb.1 + -LESS.]
1. Destitute of the sense of taste; unable to taste. Also fig. Now rare.
1591. Sylvester, Du Bartas, I. iv. 148. When wilfully his taste-less Taste delights In things unsavory to sound appetites.
a. 1631. Donne, Funeral Elegy, Poems (1654), 219. As aged men are glad Being tastlesse grown, to joy in joyes they had.
1704. Cibber, Careless Husb., V. (1705), 60. Won’t you think me tastless to the Joy you’ve given me?
1713. Rowe, Jane Shore, V. i. My tasteless Tongue cleaves to the clammy Roof.
1820. C. R. Maturin, Melmoth (1892), III. xxvii. 104. Every thing that could tempt the tasteless palate of age.
2. Without taste or flavor; exciting no sensation of taste; insipid.
1611. Florio, Insaporito, vnsauorie, tastelesse.
1661–79. Boyle, Scept. Chem., IV. Wks. 1772, I. 533. He never was able to make them [chymical oils] tasteless.
1748. Anson’s Voy., II. xii. 267. Very dry and tasteless food.
1831. J. Davies, Manual Mat. Med., 329. A powder of an orange yellow colour, inodorous, and tasteless.
3. fig. Exciting no interest; dull, insipid, uninteresting.
1603. Florio, Montaigne (1634), 143. Enterludes and commedies rejoyce and make us merry, but to players they are tedious and tastelesse.
1781. Cowper, Conversat., 715. The song of Sion is a tasteless thing, Unless when rising on a joyful wing.
1814. Wordsw., Excurs., I. 612. A while on trivial things we held discourse, To me soon tasteless.
1822. Lamb, Elia, Ser. I. Distant Corr. If it [sentiment] have time to cool, it is the most tasteless of all cold meats.
4. Devoid of good taste; of persons, lacking in discrimination, or in critical discernment and appreciation; of things, showing want of good taste.
1676. Etheredge, Man of Mode, III. ii. Nature … puts sophisticate dulness often on the tasteless multitude for true wit and good-humour.
1709. Swift, in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden), 342. Your Lordship is universally admired by this tastless People.
1791. Gilpin, Forest Scenery, II. 75. It not only shows the hand of art; but of the most tastless art.
1843. Prescott, Mexico, I. ii. (1864), 17. As different from their ancestors as are the modern Egyptians from those who built,—I will not say, the tasteless pyramids.
1853. Kingsley, Hypatia, vii. The tasteless fashion of an artificial and decaying civilization.
Hence Tastelessly adv., in a tasteless manner; without taste.
1854. Tait’s Mag., XXI. 386 Even that comes tastelessly on the ear of the player on the world’s stage, unless it is accompanied with a bouquet.
1880. Daily News, 30 Nov., 3/1. Their houses … are solidly if tastelessly furnished.
