ppl. a. [UN-1 10.]
1. Making no distinction or difference; not discriminating: a. Of persons, personal attributes, etc.
1599. Sandys, Europæ Spec. (1629), 229. The blunt and undistinguishing witts of the vulgar.
1641. ‘Smectymnuus,’ Answ., § 16 (1653), 67. If it be a fault in the impetuous, and undistinguishing Vulgar.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 291, ¶ 7. A sower undistinguishing Critick.
1776. Gibbon, Decl. & F., vi. I. 160, note. The undistinguishing compiler has buried these interesting anecdotes under a load of trivial and unmeaning circumstances.
1836. J. Gilbert, Chr. Atonem., iii. 102. There is still addressed to undistinguishing minds another objection.
1871. Blackie, Four Phases, I. 129. The superficial undistinguishing eye of the general public of Athens.
b. transf. Of things.
1665. Manley, Grotius’ Low C. Wars, 205. There was none of them so imprudent, as to trust their Lives and Fortunes to the undistinguishing Sword of a Forreign Conquerour.
1753. W. Roberts, Looker-On, No. 36. These furious advocates … are at issue with all governments … and would involve them all in one undistinguishing ruin.
1821. Southey, Vis. Judgem., XI. 19. In undistinguishing battle, Or by pestilence stricken, they fell.
1847. G. Harris, Life Ld. Hardwicke, II. 230. Numbers of people who had come out of mere motives of curiosity to see the battle, were sacrificed to the undistinguishing vengeance of the victorious army.
c. Const. of.
1811. Henry & Isabella, I. 259. Our … dog…, haply undistinguishing of crimes and evils, kindly fawned upon me.
2. Of actions, etc.: Marked by want of distinction or discrimination; indiscriminate.
a. 1677. Barrow, Serm., xxxvi. Wks. 1686, III. 403. Benefits would not be scattered among the crowd of men with so promiscuous and undistinguishing a freeness.
1710. Steele, Tatler, No. 204, ¶ 7. An undistinguishing Application of Sounds of Honour.
1782. Eliz. Blower, Geo. Bateman, II. 60. But don’t you think the ridicule rather too undistinguishing?
1853. Ruskin, Stones Ven., III. 104. That opposition was … intemperate, undistinguishing and incautious.
1892. Lounsbury, Stud. Chaucer, III. vii. 201. We need not make it an object of undistinguishing depreciation.
