a. [UN-1 11.]
1. In a manner at variance with reason; without due observance of reason or good judgment.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 12. Ȝif þei coueiten vnresonabiliche þe housis … of here neiȝeboris.
c. 1450. Myrr. our Ladye, 109. By whyche … thow shuldest hate no creature vnreasonabely.
1535. Coverdale, 2 Macc. xiv. 23. Nicanor, whyle he abode at Ierusalem, ordred himself not vnreasonably.
1561. T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., I. 10. To passe ouer all the rest, which are much more vnreasonably foolish, Plato himself … vainly erreth in his round globe.
1645. R. Brooke, Eng. Episc., I. v. 27. Else Reason doth unreasonably determine me not to Marry.
1670. Clarendon, Contempl. Ps., Tracts (1727), 757. They only consider … how unreasonably men deal with them.
1729. Law, Serious C., x. 143. Do but suppose a man acting unreasonably.
1823. Scott, Quentin D., xxiii. Said Quentin, not unreasonably offended at the turn thus given to his gallantry.
1881. Benham, in Macm. Mag., XLV. 115/1. The Essay … was, not unreasonably, regarded as the most objectionable in tone.
2. To an unreasonable extent; excessively, immoderately.
a. 1450. Knt. de la Tour (1906), 53. There be … other that be lykerous of moche mete and drinke, takyng unresonably therof.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, VII. i. 213. I am come hyder to praye you … to gyue me thre yeftes and they shalle not be vnresonably asked.
1512. Act 4 Hen. VIII., c. 68 § 2. If … the same Collectours … unresonably delay or tary the said Marchauntes.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 402. When they … would ryde, they found horses vnreasonably deare.
1607. Shaks., Cor., I. iii. 84. Fye, you confine your selfe most vnreasonably.
1697. Walsh, Life V., ¶ 20, in Dryden, Virgil. Venus grows … unreasonably confident.
1723. Atterbury, Serm. (1726), I. ix. 314. To grant that to others, which we our selves perhaps … might be willing enough, unreasonably willing, to obtain from them.
1782. Phil. Trans., LXX. 352. Under all these disadvantages in the machine (if not unreasonably ill made) the rod e f will ascend to d.
1840. Alison, Hist. Eur., lii. VII. 109. A nation … unreasonably jealous of its military expenditure.
1884. Law Rep., 25 Ch. Div. 492. To discourage unreasonably early marriages.
