a. Obs. [UN-1 7.] Not permissible or allowable; illicit.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., V. pr. iii. (1868), 154. Þe whiche þinge to trowen on god I deme it felonie and vnleueful. Ibid. (c. 1386), Pars. T., ¶ 593. The wounde shal nat departe from his hous whil he vseth swich vnleueful [v.rr. vnlefful, vnlieful] sweryng.
1449. [see next].
c. 1491. Chast. Goddes Chyld., 25. Her rest was full short by cause it was … unlefull.
1529. More, Dyaloge, I. Wks. 157/2. The thinges nowe forbeden vs, and therfore to vs vnleful.
1547. Boorde, Brev. Health, xxvii. 16 b. Desyre to eate rawe and unlefull thynges, as women with chylde doth.
1567. Reg. Privy Council Scot., I. 524. That pretendit and unlefull mariage.
Hence † Unleefulness. Obs.
1382. Wyclif, Wisd. xiv. 8. The maumet … is cursid,… and he that made it, for he forsothe wroȝte vnleefulnesse.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., I. i. 136. Ech such doable thing … is in it silf neither leeful neither vnleeful, in eny of the 1j. now seid maners of propre taking leefulnes and vnleefulnes.
c. 1475. Cath. Angl., 212/1 (A.). To do Vnlefulnesse, illicebrare.
