ppl. a. [OE. unhálʓod (and unʓehálʓod), f. UN-1 8 + HALLOWED ppl. a.]
1. Not formally hallowed or consecrated; left secular or profane.
c. 1000. Sax. Leechd., I. 380. Nim eall swa fela dropena … unhalʓodes eles.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 7156. Ac vor þe chirche vn-halewed was, þeruore him was wo; He þoȝt lete it halwy.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 8609. Ȝyr þyng vnhalewed were forgete, Þat yn holy cherche were lete, Or halewed þyng yn ouþer stede lay.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 69. Þei wolen suffre an auter vnhalwedid [sic], or a chirche or a chirche ȝerde suspendid.
c. 1440. Jacob’s Well, 16. Þey … þat … beryn awey, or stelyn holy cherche good out of ony oþer place vnhalwyd.
1532. More, Confut. Tindale, Wks. 375/1. Nowe wyll not Tyndal sette a strawe the more by the annoyntyng with holye oyle, then by smeryng with vnhalowed butter.
1587. in T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., IV. xix. 492, margin. Men vnhallowed and vnconsecrated.
1797. S. & Ht. Lee, Canterb. T. (1799), I. 311. Let us beware how we deem that spot unhallowed which receives the ashes of the good!
1805. Southey, Madoc, I. xv. This night, Thy father’s body … shall be … cast aside In some unhallowed pit, with foul disgrace.
2. Not having a hallowed or sacred character; unholy, impious, wicked: a. Of actions.
1591. Troub. Raigne K. John, xii. 88. His quarrell is vnhallowed, false, and wrong.
1626. Jackson, Creed, VIII. xi. § 1. To adventure upon the pretended mysteries of some unhallowed art.
1656. Milton, Lett. State, Wks. 1851, VIII. 361. That unhallow’d villany nefariously attempted upon the Person of our Agent.
1725. Pope, Odyss., XII. 468. Six guilty days my wretched mates employ In impious feasting, and unhallow’d joy.
1813. Scott, Rokeby, VI. xviii.
| If Oswald tear him limb from limb, | |
| What ruth can Denzil claim from him, | |
| Whose thoughtless youth he led astray, | |
| And damned to this unhallowed way? |
1846. Mrs. A. Marsh, Father Darcy, II. xvi. 271. She … felt her heart shudder with unhallowed pleasure, as she thought of the dreadful day of reckoning.
b. Of persons, the hands, tongue, etc.
1588. Shaks., Tit. A., V. iii. 14. Away Inhumaine Dogge, Vnhallowed Slaue.
1603. Drayton, Bar. Wars, V. xxxv. Vile traytors, hold of your vnhallowed hands.
1663. Bp. Patrick, Parab. Pilgr., xvii. He cares not for being extolled by such unhallowed mouths.
1703. Rowe, Ulysses, I. i. The rude unhallow’d Railer’s Tongue.
1765. Goldsm., Hermit, xxiv. Forgive a stranger rude,… Whose feet unhallow’d thus intrude Where Heaven and you reside.
1827. Disraeli, V. Grey, VI. i. 272. Ye most unhallowed rogues.
c. Of places or things.
1588. Shaks., Tit. A., II. iii. 210. Why dost not … helpe me out, From this vnhallow’d and blood-stained Hole?
1634. Milton, Comus, 757. I had not thought to have unlockt my lips In this unhallow’d air.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., IV. xliv. 339. Wherein every thing … (except the unhallowed Spittle of the Priest) hath some set form of Exorcisme.
1703. Lady Chudleigh, Poems Sev. Occas., 62.
| Who live in Shades, where true Contentment’s found | |
| And fly from Courts, as from unhallow’d Ground. |
1853. Kingsley, Hypatia, i. He had entered the unhallowed precincts, where devils still lingered about their ancient shrines.
Hence Unhallowedness.
1825. Industry, a Tale, 195. To avenge the unhallowedness of mortal intrusion on the sacred realms.
1899. Mrs. E. Kennard, Morals Midlands, 399. It has shown me the unhallowedness of love that is not lawful.
