1. Unfitting, unbecoming, improper; = INDECENT a. 1. Now arch.
1546. Supplic. Poore Commons (1871), 72. That it were farre vndesent to musell the oxe that trauaylleth all the daye.
1576. Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 177. I thincke it undecent, that I writing of mine owne matters, should, in yours, shewe mee selfe negligent.
1608. D. T[uvill], Ess. Pol. & Mor., 51 b. As beeing a thing altogether vndecent, that one of her composition should any way intermeddle with Armes.
1658. T. Wall, Charact. Enemies Ch., Ded. 1. To entitle a Book to the name of a Brother, is neither unusual or undecent.
1703. R. Neve, City & C. Purch., 86. It would be undecent to see a great Fabrick, consist of little Apartments.
a. 1721. Sheffield (Dk. Buckhm.), Wks. (1723), II. 208. ’Tis surely not undecent to mention one’s self when ’tis rather with censure than approbation.
1823. Lamb, To Southey, Wks. 1908, I. 290. I have endeavoured there to rescue a voluntary duty … from the charge of an undecent formality.
b. Const. for (a person).
1559. Morwyng, Evonym., 196. All the use of Cosmetical … thinges oughte to be taken for unhonest and undecent for a man that is … godly minded.
1581. Pettie, Guazzo’s Civ. Conv., III. (1586), 159. It is an undecent thinge for a woman to resemble a man.
1604. T. Wright, Passions, IV. ii. § 1. 127. Such passions are … vndecent for graue persons.
1660. N. Ingelo, Bentiv. & Ur., II. (1632), 113. [No more] than it is undecent for a man to stand upon two Feet.
1685. South, Serm. (1727), V. i. 28. It is very undecent for a Master to jest or play with his Scholars.
† 2. Uncomely, unhandsome, unbecomingly mean; = INDECENT a. 2. Obs.
1622. Wither, Philarete (1633), F 5 b. ’Twixt the Eyes, no hollow place, Wrinkle nor undecent space, Disproportions her in ought.
1637–8. in Willis & Clark, Cambridge (1886), I. 118. Fairer accesse to their Chappell, wch is now most undecent.
1670. Dryden, 2nd Pt. Conq. Granada, I. Ozym. I cast it from me, like a Garment torn, Ragged, and too undecent to be worn.
3. Offensive to propriety or moral feeling; = INDECENT a. 3. Now dial.
1563. Homilies, II. Excess of Apparel, ¶ 10. Thou … makest of thy vndecent apparell of thy body, the deuilles nette.
1573–80. G. Harvey, Letter-bk., Wks. (Grosart), I. 135. What Stoick or Eremite will bar them of any merriments and iestes that are not ether merely undecent or simple unhonest?
1654. Gataker, Disc. Apol., 77. Away with all undecent, unwashed and defiled langage.
1693. Dryden’s Juvenal, XIV. (1697), 342. Much more is it their Duty to their Children, that nothing appear corrupt or undecent in their Family.
1711. E. Ward, Quix., 111. He spy’d her stretch’d out in an undecent Manner on the Ground.
1717. Entertainer, No. 8. 48. Shocking Sentences and Undecent Dialogues.
1810. S. Green, Reformist, I. 86. Aren’t you ashamed, you undecent fellow, to be appearing on the staircase in that there manner?
1861. J. Barr, Poems, 108 (E.D.D.). ’Twas a shamefu’ undecent remark.
