[UN-1 8.]
1. Not made better; not raised in quality.
1665. Boyle, Occas. Refl., I. ii. 163. Flowers (which, unimprov’d by Art, delight but whilst they are … fresh).
c. 1695. J. Miller, Descr. New York (1843), 41. The whole country, improved or unimproved, to belong to the King.
1764. Goldsm., Trav., 230. From sire to son Unalter’d, unimprov’d the manners run.
1794. S. Williams, Vermont, 134. Man in the most simple, rude and unimproved state.
1858. Greener, Gunnery, 4. This range being quite equal … to that of the late unimproved rifles.
1890. ‘R. Boldrewood,’ Col. Reformer (1891), 247. A cheap unimproved property.
2. Not turned to use; not taken advantage of.
1781. Cowper, Truth, 524. He that scorns the noon-day beam, perverse, Shall find the blessing, unimprov’d, a curse.
1820. W. Jay, Prayers, 100. Those privileges, which, unimproved, will only augment our guilt.
1850. Grote, Greece, lxi. VII. 533. They preferred leaving their victory unimproved, to the hazard of a general battle.
3. Not medically bettered.
1879. St. George’s Hosp. Rep., IX. 466. One case was discharged ‘unimproved,’… but the others were all benefited.
