[Later form of UNREDY a., after prec. Cf. UNREDE b.] = REDELESS a. (but usually regarded as = prec. 1 or 4).
Only as an epithet of Ethelred II. (died 1016): cf. Polydore Vergil, Angl. Hist. (1534), VII. 124, ‘qui pigritia omnia faciebat.’
1580. Stow, Chron., 134. Etheldrede, commonly called Unready.
1643. Baker, Chron. (1653), 18. Ethelred,… by reason of his backwardnesse in Action, was commonly called the Unready.
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., II. 136. These Danes were also advantaged by the Unactivenesse of King Ethelred, therefore surnamed the Vnready in our Chronicles.
1867. Freeman, Norm. Conq., I. 286. A prince, who … has received no nobler historical surname than that of the Unready. Ibid., 327. The Unready King showed occasional glimpses of vigour.
