a. [UN-1 7.]
1. Not exercising care; careless, not cautious or watchful.
c. 1533. Latimer, in Foxe, A. & M. (1563), 1317/1. We be secure & vncarefull, as though false Prophetes could not haue meddled with vs.
1592. Breton, C’tess Pembrooke’s Loue, Wks. (Grosart), I. 25/1. Vnhappy hart, that euer thee offended,… Vncarefull eare, that euer tale attended!
1604. T. Wright, Passions, II. ii. 58. An vncarefull Magistrate neglecteth the good of the common-weale.
1647. Bp. Reynolds, Passions, iii. 15. An eagernesse to take in, makes uncareful to retain.
1861. Flor. Nightingale, Nursing (ed. 2), 83. Careful nursing has done in a few weeks what uncareful medical observation has declared it impossible to do in less than two years.
1857. Howells, Ital. Journ., xi. (1883), I. 165. I had noticed (in an uncareful fashion enough, no doubt) the great changes which had taken place in Italy.
2. Not taking any care or consideration of or for (a thing or person).
1559–60. MS. Cott. Caligula, B ix. Our eyes are opened, we espy how uncareful they have been of our weile at all tymes.
1572. H. Middelmore, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. II. III. 7. So ame I not uncarefull of hir in any thinge that I maye knowe to be for hir preservation and good.
1662. J. Chandler, Van Helmont’s Oriat., 263. Such [Gods] as are uncareful of us, and despisers of small matters, and therefore also ignorant of us.
1664. Chas. II., Sp. Both Ho. Parlt., 6. That Bill … passed in a Time very uncareful for the Dignity of the Crown, or the Security of the People.
1882. Mrs. Oliphant, Lit. Hist. Eng., I. 90. A delusion … which … he suddenly adopts and sanctions, uncareful of the misery which it might produce.
1897. Ch. Times, 6 Aug., 135/2. The exclusiveness of official Anglicanism, un-careful of the masses, and caring only for the big purses.
3. Free from care; not anxious or troubled.
1643. Quarles, Emblems, IV. xiii. 40. There shall thy soul possesse uncarefull treasure. Ibid. (1646), Judgem. & Mercy, Wks. (Grosart), I. 97/1. How hast thou liv’d O my uncarefull soule to see these prophesies fulfill’d?
1838. Hawthorne, Fr. & It. Note-bks., II. 291. This journey from Rome has been one of the brightest and most uncareful interludes of my life.
1874. Ruskin, Val D’Arno (1886), 117. The uncareful happiness of men clothed without labour, and fed without fear.
Hence Uncarefully adv., Uncarefulness.
1557. Paynell, Treas. Amadis of Gaule, 255. [We] shall soone breake them, being thus open, and it may be through uncarefulnesse and negligence chauncing unto them.
1654–66. Earl Orrery, Parthen. (1676), 548. He began so uncarefully to thrust at my Prince.
