1. Not equal in amount, size, quality, etc.
a. Of two or more things or persons in conparison with each other.
1565. Cooper, Thes., Calami dispares, vnequall reedes, one smaller then an other.
1570. Billingsley, Euclid, I. Post. v. 7. If to vnequall thinges ye adde equall thinges, the whole shall be vnequall.
1607. J. Davies (Heref.), Summa Totalis, Wks. (Grosart), I. 14/2. Then, if his Will and Prayer vnequall be, How shall we equall make his Properties?
1653. Blithe, Eng. Improver Imp., 197. I … onely advise that if your horses be unequall for height, then place the highest formost.
1693. T. Creech, in Dryden’s Juvenal, XIII. (1697), 328. Ev’ry Age relates That equal Crimes have met unequal Fates.
1743. Francis, trans. Hor., Odes, I. xxxiii. 16. With sportive cruelty she binds Unequal forms, unequal minds.
1784. Astle, Orig. & Progr. Writing, 79. The Rustic capitals were bold, negligent, unequal.
1836. W. C. Taylor, Ant. Hist., xvi. § 1. 372. Tarraconensis was divided into two unequal portions by the river Iberus.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. xiv. 95. Three stakes … would, I think, move with unequal velocities.
1861. J. S. Adams, 5000 Musical Terms, 104. Compositions written for both male and female voices are said to be for unequal voices.
b. With abstract sbs. in the singular.
1593. Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., I. ii. 159. Shee did corrupt frayle Nature … To shape my Legges of an vnequall size.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., I. viii. 34. The Experience of men equall in age, is not much unequall, as to the quantity.
1710. Tatler, No. 235, ¶ 1. That unequal Love by which Parents distinguish their Children from each other.
1780. Cowper, Progr. Error, 560. Halting on crutches of unequal size.
1827. Jarman, Powell’s Devises, II. 265. There seems to be no solid ground for treating with such unequal regard the two objects of the testator’s bounty.
1838. Lytton, Calderon, i. The courtiers one by one approached the marquis, who received them with very unequal courtesy.
1908. Animal Managem., 185. The more unequal the balance of weight carried the greater the risk of injury.
c. Of single persons or things.
a. 1677. Barrow, Math., x. 233. That will be called unequal, which contains in it another and some thing besides.
1829. Scott, Anne of G., xxxv. Surely … a match with one so unequal in birth … was too monstrous to be mentioned?
1897. Bowen, Æneid, I. 475. Ill-starred youth, for Achilles unequal match in the fight.
d. Of numbers: Odd; not even.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Past., VIII. 105. Thrice bind about his thrice devoted Head,… Unequal numbers please the Gods.
1807. Robinson, Archæol. Græca, V. x. (1827), 447. The gods were supposed to be pleased with unequal numbers.
2. † a. Of things: Inadequate, insufficient. Obs.
1582. Bentley, Mon. Matrones, iii. 278. Continue, O God, such goodnesse towards me,… which doo here … appeale … to accept mine vnequall thanks for the same.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., Pref. Authority … which the privacie of our condition, and unequall abilities cannot expect.
1676. Dryden, Aurengz., I. i. 74. Those Rebel-Sons, who dare … To sway his Empire with unequal Skill And mount a throne which none but he can fill.
1736. Gray, Statius, I. 5. From out the gazing host Young Pterelas with strength unequal drew, Labouring, the disc, and to small distance threw.
b. Not equal or adequate to some task, etc. (Occas. with inf. or vbl. sb.)
a. 1694. Tillotson, Serm. (1743), VII. 1991. We are very unequal to our religion, if we make a doubt of these things.
1776. Gibbon, Decl. & F., ii. (1782), I. 60. Four of them were immediately rejected as unequal to the burden.
1802. Marian Moore, Lascelles, II. 99. I was unequal to personally opposing that dear friend.
1816. Scott, Old Mort., xxxiii. Unequal … to arrange his own thoughts into suitable expressions.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xii. III. 229. Avaux had given it as his opinion that Richard Hamilton was unequal to the difficulties of the situation.
1885. ‘F. Anstey,’ Tinted Venus, 111. Imagination was unequal to the task.
3. Exhibiting inequality in some respect; varying, variable: a. In movement or action.
1565. Cooper, Inæquabilis percussus venarum, vnequall pulse.
1655. Culpepper, etc., Riverius, VIII. ii. 181. After an unequal Pulse, he fell into a Palpitation and an Asthma, and so died.
1715. trans. Gregory’s Astron. (1726), I. 463. The Motion of this Body which is in its own Nature unequal, ought to be reduced to an equality.
1799. in Spirit Pub. Jrnls., III. 271. The gratitude of the depredator of Hibernia walked forth with unequal pace by the side of his emoluments.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., xxxiv. Her step was not only slow, but even unequal.
b. In extent, amount, duration, etc.
1591. G. Fletcher, Russe Commw. (Hakl. Soc.), 112. By means of an unequall partition of the people and parishes.
1593. Fale, Dialling, 40. By an unequall houre is meant the 12 part of the day whether it be short or long.
1656. Earl Monm., trans. Boccalini’s Advts. fr. Parnass., I. xxiv. (1674), 26. Is it not … able to make a man die for anger,… in so unequal a thirst, to drink still the same measure?
1684. Earl Roscom., Ess. Transl. Verse, 234. If you will unequal Numbers try, Their Accents on odd Syllables must lie.
1815. Stephens, in Shaw’s Gen. Zool., IX. I. 6. Tail very long, unequal, the outer feathers the shortest: tip black.
1836. Macgillivray, Trav. Humboldt, xxi. 302. The climate … is marked by an unequal distribution of heat at different periods of the year.
spec. 1816. R. Jameson, Char. Min. (ed. 2), 204. Unequal tourmaline … is a nine-sided prism, having seven alternating planes on one extremity, and three on the other.
c. In surface: Uneven, undulating.
1613. Purchas, Pilgrimage, VIII. iii. 624. The unequall Seas, which might amaze the hearer, and amate the beholder.
1686. trans. Chardin’s Trav. Persia, 79. The Country it self is unequal; full of Hills…, Valleys and Plains.
1718. Prior, Solomon, II. 5. The perplexing and unequal Ways, Where Study brings Thee.
1732. Munro, Anat. Bones, 131. This Bone is extremely ragged and unequal.
1796. Mme. D’Arblay, Camilla, I. 4. The parsonage-house…, beautifully situated in the unequal county of Hampshire.
1826. Kirby & Sp., Entomol., xlvi. IV. 270. Unequal, having very slight and indeterminate excavations.
1852. Bailey, Festus (ed. 4), 342. Shining upon it like the quiet moon Illustrating the obscure unequal earth.
d. In character, condition, quality, etc.
1703. Rowe, Fair Penit., IV. i. 1259. With what unequal Tempers are we form’d?
1799. S. & H. Lee, Canterb. T. (1800), III. 147. Her spirits were often unequal from the delicate state of her health.
1811. Scott, Lett., in Lockhart (1837), II. xi. 364. The unknown author of a fine, but unequal poem, called Albania.
1862. Lytton, quoted in Grant Duff, Notes from Diary (1911), 25 March, 81. No man writes above himself; but most men are very unequal.
† 4. a. Not characterized by equal or fair treatment; inequitable, unjust, unfair. Obs.
1535. Coverdale, Ezek. xviii. 25. Are my wayes vnright, o ye house of Israel? Are not youre wayes rather vnequall?
a. 1578. Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 66. His unequall punisching of innocencie.
1606. Shaks., Ant. & Cl., II. v. 101. To punnish me for what you make me do Seemes much vnequall.
1620. E. Blount, Horæ Subs., 531. It is a thing both vnequall and vniust to insnare the people with multitude of Lawes.
1647. J. Taylor, Lib. Proph., Ep. Ded. 12. Yet it will be unequall to say, that he who owns this Doctrine preaches it lawfull.
1761. Hume, Hist. Eng., I. x. 205. To lend [money] at exorbitant and unequal interest.
† b. Of persons: Acting, or disposed to act, unfairly or unjustly. Obs.
1588. Greene, Pandosto (1607), 15. Iealousie is an vnequall Iudge.
1605. B. Jonson, Volpone, III. ii. You are vnequall to me, and how ere Your sentence may be righteous, yet you are not.
1628. Feltham, Resolves, II. xxiii. 75. Few againe are so iust, as that they seeme not to some vnequall.
a. 1721. Prior, Ess. Opinion, Wks. 1907, II. 195. You will find him always uncertain,… an Unequal Parent and a froward Master.
1725. Pope, Odyss., XIV. 73. Far hence is by unequal Gods removed That man of bounties!
transf. 1613. Purchas, Pilgrimage (1614), 629. The sword, the vnequallest arbiter of equity, is now made vmpire.
1630. R. N., trans. Camden’s Hist. Eliz., I. 111. She … admonished her,… saying that the times were vnequall and maligne, and malice blinde.
1743. Francis, trans. Hor., Odes, II. x. 4. And when you hear the tempest roar, Press not too near th’ unequal shore.
5. In which the two sides or parties are not on equal terms, or have not equal advantage.
1552. Elyot, Impar certamen, in contencion, or in gameyng, where is an vnequall matche.
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., V. v. 34. A poore Earles daughter is vnequall oddes, And therefore may be broke without offence.
1604. Bacon, Apol., Wks. 1879, I. 437. I doubted his words would have so unequal a passage above theirs that should charge him.
1671. Milton, Samson, 346. Himself an Army, now unequal match To save himself against a coward arm’d At one spears length.
1748. Anson, Voy., III. x. 416. This was much short of her value, but the impatience of the Commodore … prompted them to insist on so unequal a bargain.
1796. Mme. D’Arblay, Camilla, III. 399. She had entered the world, by a sudden and most unequal marriage.
1833. Ht. Martineau, Cinnamon & Pearls, v. 92. The colony will not long fulfil its part in this unequal bargain.
1856. Kane, Arct. Expl., II. xx. 205. I left my own tired dogs…, and took from them their only team in unequal exchange.
b. esp. Of combats or contests.
1654. Fuller, Two Serm., 4. The next verse presents an unequall combat between armed power … and naked Innocence.
1697. Dryden, Æneis, IX. 542. Or desperate should he rush and lose his life, With odds oppressed, in such unequal strife?
c. 1750. Shenstone, Ruin’d Abbey, 56. My pinnace … shuns Th’ unequal conflict, and declines the deep.
1817. Shelley, Rev. Islam, VI. xiv. Then the combat grew Unequal but most horrible.
1878. Davidson, Inverurie & Garioch, ix. 317. The struggle with England which ensued was necessarily an unequal one.
† c. Disproportionate, excessive. Obs.
1704. Swift, Battle of Bks., ¶ 10. Which, yielding to the unequal Weight, sunk down to the very Foundation.
1717. Pope, Eloisa, 195. Unequal task! a passion to resign, For hearts so touch’d,… so lost as mine.
6. Comb., as unequal-lengthed, -lobed, -sided, -tempered, -valved.
1853. R. S. Surtees, Sponge’s Sp. Tour, lv. The *unequal-lengthed candles of the previous night’s illumination.
1857. G. A. Mantell, Petrifact., v. 2. 433. Two genera … which are characterised by their *unequal-lobed tail.
1725. W. Halfpenny, Sound Building, 19. An *unequal-sided Groin.
1856. Henslow, Dict. Bot. Terms, 208. Unequal-sided, when opposite sides are not symmetrical.
1885. J. E. Taylor, Brit. Fossils, 243. The shells are frequently unequal-sided.
1703. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 169. Heavy *unequal tempered Stuff.
1822. J. Parkinson, Outl. Oryctol., 187. An irregular, adherent, *unequal-valved bivalve.
7. adv. or quasi-adv.
1602. Shaks., Ham., II. ii. 493 (Q 1). Vnequall matcht, Pirrhus at Priam driues.
1663. Gerbier, Counsel, 50. To cause the foundation … to be … laid, without leaving any toutchings, since walls new begun on them will settle more unequal than those [etc.].
1700. S. Wesley, Epist. Poetry, 12.
| Of CHAUCER’s Verse we scarce the Measures know, | |
| So rough the Lines, and so unequal flow. |
1853. Markham, Skoda’s Auscult., 266. Unequal-bubbling dull râles.
