ppl. a. (UN-1 8.)
In frequent use from c. 1760.
α. 1623. in Rushw., Hist. Coll. (1659), I. 101. To forbid the Judges against their Oathes … is a thing unpresidented in this Kingdom.
1650. Weldon, Crt. Jas. I., 37. Which was a strange Judgement, and unpresidented.
1707. Hearne, Collect., II. 24. Ye Delegates … declar’d the Dr’s sentence pronounc’d against him by himself, as Assessor, to be unjust and unpresidented.
β. 1716. Addison, Freeholder, No. 16, ¶ 5. Nor did the Legislature do any thing in this that was unprecedented.
1743. Bulkeley & Cummins, Voy. S. Seas, p. xiv. An audacious and unprecedented Action.
1837. Ht. Martineau, Soc. Amer., II. 147. Some startling circumstance … which I was assured was unprecedented.
1874. Green, Short Hist., viii. § 3. 487. A speech of unprecedented boldness.
Hence Unprecedentedly adv., -ness.
1678. Marvell, Growth Popery, 46. There was but one Reason given herein for declining the granting Money, and that is the Unpresidentedness.
1826. T. Tooke, Currency, 56. The late disastrous, and unprecedentedly numerous failures.
1884. Manch. Exam., 27 Nov., 3/4. The number of students attending was no doubt unprecedentedly great.
