† 1. Strange, foreign. Obs.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 2302. Iosep … hem … taȝte wel, And hu he sulden hem best leden, Quene he comen in vnkinde ðeden.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 7247. Vor þre kinges were of engelond of vnkunde [v.r. vnkynde] sede.
a. 1400. Northern Passion, 1554 (Camb. MS.). A vnkynd man sone gan þai mete.
2. a. Of the weather or climate: Not mild or pleasant; ungenial. Now dial. or arch.
a. 1300. Frag. Pop. Sci. (Wright), 168. He ne mai nevere thanne come bote the weder uncunde beo.
c. 1325. Poem temp. Edw. II. (Percy Soc.), lxxvi. Wederyng … Cold & unkynde.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 16541. Al þe folk wyþ tempest vnkynde Were slayn.
1580. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 465. So vnkinde a yeare it hath beene in England, that [etc.].
1733. Tull, Horse-Hoeing Husb., xii. 145. Favourable Years will cure the Smut, as unkind ones will cause it.
1775. Johnson, West. Isl., Wks. X. 488. The climate is unkind and the ground penurious.
1813. C. Marshall, Gardening (ed. 5), xviii. 294. A fourth bed … would be a greater advantage as to size, especially if the weather is unkind.
1876, 1881. in Surrey and Radnor glossaries (s.v. Kind).
† b. Physically unnatural; contrary to the usual course of nature. Obs.
1435. Cov. Leet Bk., 18. Yif he be necligent & mysrule his Iron, that he wirkithe, be onkynd hetes or elles in oder maner.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 365/2. On-kyynd, or nowȝt after cowrs of kynde, innaturalis.
1546. Phaër, Bk. Children (1553), X ij b. A soueraine medycyne for burning and scaldyng, and all vnkynde heates.
1601. Holland, Pliny, II. 167. They doe quench and allay thirst, and coole unkind heat.
1603. J. Davies (Heref.), Microcosmos, 53. That by their service that fire might not vade, Which vnkinde coldnesse else might overlade.
c. Naturally bad or hurtful; unfavorable or unsuitable; untoward. Also const. for or to. Now dial. (esp. of soil).
c. 1425. Lydg., Assembly of Gods, 1023. Sensualyte … sewe the felde with hys vnkynde seede.
c. 1450. Lovelich, Grail, xxxvi. 595. That beste wolde … ony man qwelle that there-offen ete, it is so vnkynde, And þerto so hot.
1541. R. Copland, Galyen’s Terap., 2 A iv b. Whiche is … commune to the curatyons of vnkynde humoures.
1609. C. Butler, Fem. Mon., ii. B 8 b. The East-wind being cold … is verie vnkind for Bees.
1682. W. Hewer, Lett. to Pepys, 13 May. A very unfortunate and unkinde disaster.
1762. Mills, Pract. Husb., I. 19. The blue, white, and red clay, if strong, are all unkind.
1767. A. Young, Farmer’s Lett. to People, 16. The constitutions … of several countries in Europe, which are unkind to the cultivation of the earth.
1877–. in dialect glossaries, etc. (Eng. Dial. Dict.).
1879. Miss Jackson, Shropshire Word-bk., 169. Gall,… a stiff, wet, ‘unkind’ place in plough-land.
d. Of animals: Not thriving or naturally tending to do so. Now dial.
1814. G. Hanger, To all Sportsmen, 13. Whenever a horse looks unkind in his coat.
1834. Southey, Doctor, cxliv. if ever he attempts to fatten an unkind beast.
e. dial. (See quot.)
1866. Brogden, Linc. Gloss., 216. Unkind, rough or crooked. These poles are very unkind.
† 3. a. Lacking in natural gratitude or willingness to acknowledge benefits; ungrateful. Obs.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 204/156. Ȝwane þov hast boþe bodi and soule iȝyuen us bi þine liue, Saunt faille we ne beoth nouȝt so onkuynde þat we it nellez ȝelde þe bliue.
1338. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 62. Malcolme … ȝit on Inglond ran, Þe kyng had him auanced, he was an vnkynd man.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. V. 437. Ȝif any man … helpeth me at nede, I am vnkynde aȝein his curteisye.
1422. Yonge, trans. Secreta Secret., 205. He is an onkynde man that denyeth hym to haue recevid a good dede.
c. 1450. Mirk’s Festial, 26. Þat scho was vnkynde to hym þat suffred so mnoche for hur.
1509. Barclay, Shyp of Folys (1570), 85. These vnkinde caytiues will scantly him honour.
1576. Lambarde, Peramb. Kent, 276. Whiche … inestimable benefites … if any man … acknowledge not, he is to to vnkinde.
1649. J. Taylor (Water P.), Western Voy., 6. The Redeemer of unkinde mankinde.
absol. 1382. Wyclif, Wisd. xvi. 29. The hope of the vnkinde as cold ijs shal flowen.
1526. Tindale, Luke vi. 35. He is kynde vnto the vnkynde.
† b. Lacking in filial affection or respect; undutiful. Obs.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 28270. Vn-kynd i was … Gayn fader & moder.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 1072. Ȝyf þou euer … On fadyr or modyr leydest þyn hand,… swyche a chylde ys kalled vnkynde.
1380. Lay Folks Catech. (Lamb. MS.), 710. Vnkende men … helpe not here eldrys as þey schuld do.
1595. Daniel, Civ. Wars, I. lxxxix. O! whither dost thou tend my vnkind sonne? What mischiefe dost thou go about to bring To … Thy mother countrey?
† c. Devoid of natural goodness; vile, bad, wicked, villainous. Obs.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 2379. Þere he kudde wat he was vnkunde ssrewe & quoynte.
13[?]. Guy Warw. (A.), 4382. Þou me hast bitreyd,… Þou fel treytour, vnkinde blod.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. V. 276. Thow art an vnkynde creature; I can þe nouȝte assoille, Til þow make restitucioun.
1430–40. Lydg., Bochas, VIII. xxv. (1494), E iij b/2. Late men beware euer of vnkynde blode.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., xxiv. 192. Then noy vs nomore of this noyse; you carles vnkynde, who bad you call me?
1529. S. Fish, Supplic. Beggers (1871), 4. Let vs then compare the nombre of this vnkind idell sort, vnto the nombre of the laye people.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., III. ii. 43. For they, how euer shamefull and vnkind, Yet did possesse their horrible intent.
1602. 2nd Pt. Return fr. Parnass., IV. ii. 1705. Thou slimie sprighted vnkinde Saracen.
† d. Of a worse kind; degenerate. Obs.
1340. Ayenb., 188. Þe zone ssel by ylich þe uader oþer he is onkende be zaynte peter.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XII. xxvi. (Tollem. MS.). Þe lenger he lyueþ þe more he scheweþ þat his owen kynde is unkynde.
14[?]. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 577/41. Degener, vnkynde.
1483. Cath. Angl., 203/1. To be vn Kynde, or to go oute of kynde, degenerare.
† e. Uncharitable, ungenerous. Obs.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 6788. For ful comunly shalt þou fynde Ofte ryche men vnkynde.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. X. 29. Þilke þat god moste gyueth, leste good þei deleth, And moste vnkynde to þe comune þat moste catel weldeth. Ibid., XI. 206. Euery man helpe other,… And be we nouȝte vnkynde of owre catel ne of owre kunnynge neyther.
† 4. Of actions: Contrary to nature, unnatural, esp. unnaturally bad or wicked. Obs.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 449. Bigamie is unkinde ðing, On engleis tale, twie-wifing.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 852. Many kundemen of þis lond mid king leir hulde also, Vor þe vnkunde [v.r. vnkynde] suikedom þat is doȝtren adde ido.
c. 1320. Sir Tristr., 2758. Vnkinde were ous to kis As kenne.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XIII. 356. Þorw coueityse and vnkynde desyrynge.
c. 1480. Henryson, Fables, Trial of Fox, 809. Fy! Couetice, vnkynd and venemous.
1592. Greene, Philomela, Wks. (Grosart), XI. 131. If such vnlawlull lust, such vnkinde desires,… procures so great losse.
1606. Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. iv. I. Tropheis, 1232. Cowardly treason,… Un-kinde Rebellion.
1656. Cowley, Davideis, III. 204. Their too much Wealth, vast, and unkind does grow.
† 5. Unnaturally cruel, severe, or hostile. Obs.
1340–70. Alex. & Dind., 540. Vn-kinde kiþe ȝe ȝou to kille ȝour children.
a. 1375. Joseph Arim., 242. He tolde hem … of heore fadres bi-fore þat he fond vn-kuynde.
c. 1400. Brut, 245. Wiþ sir Andrew of Herkela, þat is callede þe vnkynde out-putter.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., lxvii. 306 (Harl. MS.). My fadir is so vnkynde, þat he woll not pay my raunsom for me.
1513. Douglas, Æneid, I. i. 44. Full deip ingravin in hir breist vnkynd [was] The jugement of Paris.
1635. R. Johnson, Hist. Tom a Lincolne (1828), 117. Making thyselfe unkinde and monstrous in murthering of thy mother.
1659. Hammond, On Ps. cxxxvii. 7. When our unkind neighbours the Edumæans were so forward to joyne their hands with our enemies.
6. Lacking in kindness or kindly feeling; acting harshly or ungently to others. Also absol.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. I. 266. Beo no men hardore þen þei,… Vn-kuynde to heore kun and to alle cristene. Ibid. (1393), C. XX. 216. Beo vnkynde to þyn emcrystene, and … The holygost huyreþ þe nat.
1509. Fisher, Funeral Serm. C’tess Richmond, Wks. (1876), 307. Were not she an vnkinde & vngentyl moder?
1523. Fitzherb., Husb., § 11. His neyghbours be vnkynde, if they wyll not lende this yonge housbande parte of this sede.
a. 1500. in Early XVI. Cent. Lyrics, lxv. 71. The turtle doue is not vnkinde to him that loues her so.
1602. Shaks., Ham., III. i. 101. To the Noble minde, Rich gifts wax poore, when giuers proue vnkinde.
1645. in Verney Mem. (1904), I. 422. Censured by the world to be the most unkind and unnatural brother.
1675. Dryden, Aurengz., I. i. 428. That Man … Has been to you unkind, to me unjust.
1738. Wesley, Ps. V. iii. The Hearts unkind, and Hearts untrue, Are both abhor’d by Thee.
1796. Mrs. J. West, Gossip’s Story, II. 169. She tried to recal the dear unkind by tears, and soft complaints.
1820. Shelley, Hymn Mercury, lii. What mean you to do With me, you unkind God?
transf. 1802. Wordsw., ‘Bright Flower,’ 15. Thou wouldst teach him how to find … A hope for times that are unkind.
1875. Morris, Æneid, XII. 144. Thee only … I love of all who e’er have come Into the unkind bed of Jove from out a Latin home.
1895. R. Bridges, Eros & Psyche, April, xxiv. Ascending many a mile Over the long brown slopes and crags unkind.
b. Of actions, speech, etc.: Characterized by want of kindness.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 1452. What myschefe befell, Þere no cause was to ken but vnkynd wordes.
c. 1586. C’tess Pembroke, Ps. (1823), LV. iii. Then I would have borne with patient cheere An unkind part from whom I know unkind.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., VI. xi. 24. In charge of one … who with vnkind disdaine … her did much molest.
1601. Shaks., Jul. C., III. ii. 187. This was the most vnkindest cut of all.
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., I. (1702), I. 6. The abrupt, and unkind breaking off the Two first Parliaments.
1710. Steele, Tatler, No. 246, ¶ 1. The Word Imperfection would not carry an unkinder Idea than the Word Humanity.
1796. Mme. D’Arblay, Camilla, III. 432. If she persisted in such unkind and unnatural conduct.
1810. Lamb, Wks. (1908), I. 78. This was the unkindest blow of all.
1891. Farrar, Darkn. & Dawn, xxx. A mistress who never addressed to them an unkind word.
