[UN-1 12.]
† 1. The character of not answering or being responsive. Also const. to. Obs.
1625. Bp. Hall, Serm. Thanksgiving (1626), 21. How can we but hate this vnkind, and vnjust, vnanswerablenesse. Ibid. (a. 1656), Rem. Wks. (1660), 26. Being conscious … of my unanswerableness to so great expectation.
1677. Gilpin, Demonol. (1867), 315. The greatness of the disappointment under special service, the unworthy neglect and unanswerableness to special favours, are extraordinary provocations.
2. The condition of not admitting of an answer.
1627. Perrot, Tithes, Ep. Ded. A ij b. That great opinion that most men have of the unanswerablenes of Mr. Seldens History of Tithes.
a. 1631. Donne, Serm., Ps. lxxxix. 47 (1640), 267. We shall first, for our generall humiliation, consider the unanswerablenesse of this question, There is no man that lives, and shall not see death.
1817. Shelley, Rev. Islam, Preface, note. A commentary illustrative of the unanswerableness of ‘Political Justice.’
1879. Minto, Defoe, 33. He proved with provoking unanswerableness that all honest Dissenters were noways concerned in the Bill.
