a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, I. v. In such an unexpected mischiefe.
1597. A. M., trans. Guillemeau’s Fr. Chirurg., 50/1. Because of vnexpected accidentes, he is blamed, disdayned and diffamed.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 5. An vnexpected violent gust.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., II. xxviii. 162. The unexpected addition is no part of the Punishment.
1733. Berkeley, Lett., Wks. 1871, IV. 204. This circumstance, not foreseen, occasions an unexpected delay.
1781. Gibbon, Decl. & F., xxx. (1787), III. 147. Stilicho … suddenly repressed, by his unexpected presence, the enemy.
1825. Scott, Talisman, iii. His attention was suddenly caught by an unexpected apparition.
1860. Maury, Phys. Geog., xviii. § 750. The most unexpected discovery of all.
absol. 1884. in Littell’s Living Age, April, 125/2. He is very great in the art of the unexpected.
1891. Bartlett, Fam. Quots. (ed. 9), 701. The unexpected always happens.—A common proverb.
1892. [see UNEXPECTABLE].
