a. [UN-1 7.]
1. Having no knowledge or understanding of something. rare.
1609. B. Jonson, Sil. Wom., IV. iii. 572. My mistris is not altogether vn-intelligent of these things.
1611. Shaks., Wint. T., I. i. 16. That your Sences (vn-intelligent of our insufficience) may … as little accuse vs.
1850. Carlyle, Latter-d. Pamph., iv. 23. With China, or some distant country, too unintelligent of us and too unintelligible to us.
2. Devoid of intelligence.
1664. H. More, Myst. Iniq., xiii. 45. The Sun is … an Inanimate and unintelligent masse of flammeous matter.
1701. Norris, Ideal World, I. vi. 342. So we must suppose God … as an unintelligent being, and also in the production of truth acting as an unintelligent agent.
1788. Reid, Active Powers, IV. ix. 627. If this be so, what is unintelligent may be the cause of what is intelligent.
1802. Paley, Nat. Theol., ii. § 2. By the application of an unintelligent impulse to a mechanism previously arranged … the corn is ground.
1864. Pusey, Lect. Daniel, viii. 554. Time … the most spiritual of the unintelligent creatures of God.
3. Deficient in intelligence or intellect; dull, stupid. Also absol.
a. 1676. Hale, Ep. to Son (1684), 13. A sort of brain-sick, melancholy, unintelligent persons.
1703. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 95. Its use is … well known (even to the most unintelligent).
1791. Cowper, Odyss., VI. 234. Neither base by birth thou seem’st, Nor unintelligent.
1815. [see UNINFORMED ppl. a. 1 absol.].
1861. Olmsted, Journ. & Expl. Cotton Kingd., I. 44. Most of the company were of a very poor appearance, rude and unintelligent.
b. Marked by lack of intelligence.
1860. W. Collins, Wom. White, II. 267. My servant … is really attached to me, in his unintelligent way.
1869. Tozer, Highl. Turkey, I. 303. A … man with … an unintelligent expression of countenance.
† 4. Unintelligible. Obs.
1683. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., Printing, xxii. ¶ 5. That I may be the less unintelligent to the Reader.
1756. Mrs. Calderwood, in Coltness Collect. (Maitl. Club), 190. He was obliged then to have recourse to ‘calling grace,’ and severall other unintelligent things.
