ppl. a. [UN-1 8.] Not observed; unperceived, unnoticed.
1612. Cotta (title), The Unobserved Dangers … of ignorant and unconsiderate Practisers of Physicke in Englande.
1624. Massinger, Renegado, V. ii. You shall find, If any look of mine be unobserved, I am not ignorant of a mistress’ power.
1673. Temple, Obs. United Prov., Wks. 1720, I. 46. Most National Customs are the Effect of some unseen, or unobserved natural Causes, or Necessities.
1741. Chesterf., Lett., 25 July. This quick and unobserved observation is of infinite advantage in life.
1796. Mme. D’Arblay, Camilla, III. 322. This was not unobserved by Edgar.
1836. Marryat, Midsh. Easy, xxxix. Finding themselves unobserved,… they dropped gently alongside one of the double-masted latteen vessels.
1864. Bowen, Logic, x. 343. By detecting hitherto unobserved similarities and conjunctions in time.
b. In complementary (quasi-adverbial) const.: Without being observed.
a. 1616. Beaum. & Fl., Cust. Country, II. i. He had liv’d unobserv’d By any man of mark.
1671. Milton, P. R., IV. 638. Hee unobserv’d Home to his Mothers house private return’d.
1709. Steele, Tatler, No. 57. Many … live in the constant Practice of baser Methods unobserved.
1796. Mme. D’Arblay, Camilla, V. 4. He was now waiting but to speak to her unobserved.
1827. Faraday, Chem. Manip., xiii. 285. The crucible furnace … where the heat is not so liable to rise unobserved as in a close furnace.
1891. Marie A. Brown, trans. Runeberg’s Nadeschda, 35. The gentle maiden had … stolen unobserved among the group.
