ppl. a. Also 5–6 Sc. -attechit. [UN-1 8.]
† 1. Not arrested or seized. Obs.
1498. Reg. Privy Seal Scotl., I. 34/2. All his men … to be une-sumond, une-attechit, une-arrestit, in his or thairis persoun or gudis. Ibid. (1531), II. 134/2. The saidis personis … to be unattechit, unarrestit,… and untrublit.
1639. R. Junius, Sin Stigm., 368. He that is pursued, will cry, Stop Theife, that by this meanes he may escape unattached.
2. Not attached or united (to something).
In the first set of quots. used with reference to physical attachment or connection.
(a) 1822. J. Parkinson, Outl. Oryctol., 96. Mr. Mantell … ascertained it to have been an unattached animal, and without a column.
1861. H. Macmillan, Footn. fr. Page Nat., 46. It [the bog-moss] has no roots whatever, but floats unattached in an upright position in the water.
1878. Abney, Photogr., 100. Bromide of silver with unattached atoms of metallic silver, is formed.
(b) a. 1821. V. Knox, Spir. Despotism, § 34. True patriotism and true philosophy, unattached to names of particular men, or even to parties.
1844. Disraeli, Coningsby, VIII. vi. Her eye soon glanced over the page, unattached by its contents.
1885. ‘Mrs. Alexander,’ At Bay, iii. ‘Pray do not trouble yourself,’ returned Deering hastily, ‘I can exist for half an hour in an unattached condition.’
3. Of persons: Not attached to, or definitely associated with, a particular body, institution, sphere of work, etc.: a. Of military officers: Not attached to a particular regiment or company.
1796. List Officers Army, 13. Thomas Nesbitt,… Capt. of Foot, unattached. Ibid. (1806), 17. Late Unattached Officers.
1826. Gentl. Mag., I. 638. Promotions … J. Haverfield, from unattached full pay.
1835. Marryat, Olla Podr., vii. He was put on full pay unattached.
1852. Burn, Naval & Milit. Dict., s.v. Disponibilité, To place on the unattached list.
1859. J. Lang, Wand. India, 363. As a General of Division, he had been unattached, and had never done a single day’s duty.
1876. Voyle & Stevenson, Milit. Dict., 445/1. Unattached list, in the British army, officers not attached to regiments.
b. Of clergy: Not attached to a particular diocese or church.
1865. Pusey, Truth Eng. Ch., 283, note. Lord Westbury has declared him in fact an unattached Bishop.
1902. R. Bagot, Donna Diana, v. 43. One of the unattached priests to be met with by hundreds in the streets of Rome.
c. Of students: Not attached to any college; non-collegiate. Also transf. and as sb.
1870–1. Ann. Rep. Deleg. Stud. not attached, 16. A Grocers’ Company’s Exhibitioner and Unattached Student in the University of Oxford. Ibid., 4. The amount of intellectual life and industry developed by the Unattached system.
1897. Escott, Soc. Transform. Vict. Age, xiv. 184. The Davis scholarship in Chinese was for the fifth time won a few years ago by an unattached.
d. In miscellaneous uses.
1888. ‘R. Boldrewood,’ Robbery under Arms, xl. We must get you in the police force … or make you an inspector, unattached.
1893. Joyce, Short Hist. Irel., 70. The oldest … passed out of the organization altogether, and became an ordinary unattached member of the tribe.
1899. Daily News, 26 June, 8/4. Reporters attached to no particular journal have dashed up with news…, though the importance of the unattached men has waned.
4. Not engaged or married. Also absol.
1874. Lisle Carr, Jud. Gwynne, II. vii. 184. You lovers have such a provoking way of showing your immense superiority to us unattached creatures.
1897. Westm. Gaz., 9 Dec., 10/1. We are absolutely out of single young ladies just now, and … they specially invited some charming ‘unattached’ from Johannesburg.
b. Not belonging to any family, owner, etc.
1888. Pall Mall G., 11 Oct., 11/2. That would bring to decent places the unattached children.
1898. Tit-Bits, 26 Feb., 420/2. 40000 cats,… of which half are ‘unattached,’ and live largely on refuse.
c. Not assigned to any special group.
1899. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VIII. 855. The Microsporon Audouini is as yet ‘unattached.’
