ppl. a. [UN-1 8. Cf. NFris. unhiard, ON. and Icel. û-, óheyrðr (Sw. ohörd, Da. uhørt); also OE. unʓehéred (in sense 2), MDu. ongehoort (Du. -hoord), MLG. ungehôrt, OHG. ungehôret (MHG. -hôrt, -hœrt, G. -hört).]
1. Not caught or apprehended by the sense of hearing; not heard.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 25182. Or ai vm-quil vr bon es right, Bot vnherd thoru vr aun plight.
c. 1450. Myrr. our Ladye, 51. He that wyttyngly leuyth oughte of these holy houres vnsayde & vnharde … he synneth deadly. Ibid., 294. The prayer … may not be vnherde.
1595. Shaks., John, IV. ii. 137. But if you be a-feard to heare the worst, Then let the worst vn-heard, fall on your head.
1616. W. Browne, Brit. Past., II. i. 789. Clamour grew dumb, unheard was shepheard’s song, And silence girt the woods.
1667. Milton, P. L., I. 395. Their childrens cries unheard, that past through fire. Ibid., III. 645. He drew not nigh unheard.
1743. Young, Nt. Th., III. 337. To see what we have seen? Hear, till unheard, the same old slabber’d tale?
1796. Mme. D’Arblay, Camilla, V. 66. The energy of Melmond made her approach unheard.
1842. J. Wilson, Chr. North, I. 89. Not unheard, although scarcely noticed, was the cry of the curlew.
1894. Mrs. Dyan, Man’s Keeping (1899), 143. Craving … for the sound of the long-unheard familiar tones.
b. Of persons: Not heard in self-defence or entreaty; not listened to.
1595. Daniel, Civ. Wars, III. xxii. Neuer shall this poore breath of mine consent That he … Should here be iudgd vnheard, and vnaraignd.
1606. Shaks., Ant. & Cl., III. xii. 24. This if shee performe, She shall not sue vnheard. Ibid. (1607), Cor., V. i. 43. Mene. Well, and say that Martius returne mee, As Cominius is return’d, unheard: what then?
1655. in Verney Mem. (1907), I. 538. I will not condemn you unheard.
1718. Prior, Solomon, II. 720. Unheard the injur’d Orphans now complain.
1760. [see UNCONVICTED].
1805. Scott, Last Minstrel, V. xxiii. Unheard he prays;—the death-pang’s o’er! Richard of Musgrave breathes no more.
2. Not before heard of; unknown, new, strange.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, I. (Catherine), 845. With wnhard pane Sa fellounly scho sall be slaane.
1382. Wyclif, Esther xvi. 13. For Mardoche … with newe maner and vnherd engynes ful out askide [Haman] in to deth.
1459. Rolls of Parlt., V. 346/1. His fals and traiterous ymaginations,… compassed by the most unherd meanes.
1535. Coverdale, 2 Macc. iv. 13. The Heithenish & straunge conuersacion, brought in thorow the vngracious and vnherde wickednesse of Iason.
1586. A. Day, Eng. Secretary, I. (1625), 23. A huge wonder, of the vnheard secrets neuer before reported of.
1658. Cokaine, Trappolin, IV. ii. Some unheard malady Vnknown unto the world before.
1677. Yarranton, Eng. Improv., 7. Notwithstanding all these strange, and unheard Inconveniences, yet they will not quit their Station.
1746. Francis, trans. Horace, Art of Poetry, 68. A new-discover’d Theme…, unheard in ancient Times.
1813. Shelley, Q. Mab, VII. 165. Humbly He came,… His name unheard, Save by the rabble of His native town.
b. More usually with of. (Common from c. 1600.) Hence, in recent use, unheard-of-ness.
1592. Greene, Groat’s W. Wit (1617), 35. If wofull experience may mooue you (Gentlemen) to beware, or vnheard of wretchednes intreat you to take heed.
1615. G. Sandys, Trav., 145. Inflicting vnheard-of tortures on the patient Christians.
1699. Bentley, Phalaris, 170. The Phrase was then so new and unheard of, that it puzzled a whole City.
1752. in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. I. 308. An Arminian who governed with unheard of Despotism.
1790. Burke, Fr. Rev., 20. This new, and hitherto unheard-of bill of rights.
1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair, lxvii. She tended him through a series of unheard-of illnesses.
1861. All Year Round, No. 123. 545/1. If you listened to the stories which the soldier invents to amuse the child, you would be highly delighted. They overflow with unheard-of-ness.
1891. Farrar, Darkn. & Dawn, xv. From the first he broke out into unheard-of extravagance.
