a. Obs. [OE. unsǽliʓ (un- UN-1 7 + sǽliʓ SEELY a.), = WFris. on-, ûnsillich, NFris. unsaleg, MDu. onsâlich (Du. onzalig), MLG. unsalich, OHG. unsâlig (MHG. unsâlich, unsælic, -ec, G. unselig).]
1. Of persons: a. Unfortunate, unhappy, miserable, wretched; deserving pity.
a. 900. Juliana, 450. Ic þec halsiʓe … þæt þu miltsiʓe me … þæt [ic] unsæliʓ eall ne forweorþe.
a. 1023. Wulfstan, Hom. (1883), 52. Deofol … ʓedeð swa þurh þæt, þæt unsæliʓ man wisdomes ne ʓymeð.
c. 1200. Ormin, 4812. Unnseliȝ mann Amm icc onn eorþe wurrþenn.
c. 1275. XI Pains Hell, 7, in O. E. Misc., 147. Vnsely gost hwat dostu here?
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., IV. pr. iv. (1868), 124. Ȝit mot it nedes be þat shrewes ben more wrecches and vnsely.
1388. Wyclif, Rom. vii. 24. Y am an vnceli man; who schal deyuer me fro the bodi of this synne?
14[?]. Seven Points Wisd., iii. (MS. Douce 114), fol. 108. Loo I vnselye … sowht abowte to gete me a wyfe.
1513. Douglas, Æneid, I. xi. 36. The fey wnsely Dido, For the mischeif to cum predestinate, Mycht not refrene. Ibid., V. viii. 86. Vnsilly wycht! quhow did thi mynd invaid Sic gret wodnes?
a. 1555. Philpot, trans. Curio, Exam. & Writ. (Parker Soc.), 418. Barbarous words by the which unto unsely [L. incautis] and foolish folk they avaunt themselves to be marvelled at.
b. Bringing misfortune on oneself or others; unlucky; evil-doing, wicked.
a. 900. Andreas, 561. Þæt … Iudea cynn wið Godes bearne ahof hearmcwide, hæleð unsæliʓe.
a. 1200. St. Marher., 16. Sathanas the unseli, the … of parais lihte so lahe.
c. 1205. Lay., 2531. Bi hire he hæfde twein sunen ah beine heo weoren unseli.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 1223. Vnseli caym … Wit god and man þan was … hated.
1340–70. Alex. & Dind., 987. We ben of-set wiþ no sinne for vnsely godus.
c. 1400. Love, Bonavent. Mirr. (1908), 225. How paciently … he resceyuede that false feyned clippynge and traitoures cusse of that vnsely disciple.
1412–20. Lydg., Chron. Troy, II. 4233. Vnhappy woman, causere of oure peyne, Hard & vnsely.
c. Of animals: Mischievous, harmful.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 1562. Þe lorde … Swez his vncely swyn, þat swyngez bi þe bonkkez, & bote þe best of his brachez þe bakkez in sunder.
1804. R. Couper, Poetry, II. 84. My bacon ham … Th’ unseely tyke has ta’en.
2. Of things, conditions, etc.: Causing or involving, accompanied by, misfortune or unhappiness.
a. 900. Genesis, 637. Sum hire æt heortan læʓ æppel unsælʓa.
13[?]. Metr. Hom. (MS. Ashm. 42), fol. 148 b. To þat ilk vnceli lande Þare he bees bonden fote and hand Full hard wiþ þe deuils band.
13[?]. Cursor M., 15842 (Gött.). ‘Ha men,’ he said, ‘quat ȝe er of ane vnseli toght.’
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., II. pr. iv. (1868), 39. Þe most vnsely kynde of contrariouse fortune.
1412–20. Lydg., Chron. Troy, II. 3249. A! Priam kyng! vncely is þi chance!
a. 1450. Northern Passion (D.), 2024. We han pleyd vnseli plawis.
1513. Douglas, Æneid, IV. Prol. 230. Lo! with quhat thocht, quhat bitternes and pane Luif vnseilly breidis in euery wycht!
a. 1828. Young Allan, i., in Buchan’s Ball. (1875), II. 11. There fell a-rousing them amang, On an unseally time.
