Unthankful

a. [UN-¹ 7. Cf. OE. unþancful, OHG. undancfol.]

  1.  Not earning thanks or gratitude; unacceptable, unappreciated, thankless; disagreeable.

c. 1400.  Apol. Loll., 45. What þing þat þu werkyst is vnþankful to þe Holi Goost.

1533.  Bellenden, Livy, I. x. (S.T.S.), I. 56. Baith þe pepil[s] … beheld þis vnthankful sicht. Ibid., I. 60.

1598.  Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. i. III. Furies, 626. Those that (broken with unthankfull toyl) Seek others’ Health.

1623.  J. Taylor (Water P.), Discov. by Sea, B 7. Which make themselues sicke with drinking such vnthankfull healths.

1759.  Goldsm., Bee, No. 8, ¶ 14. It is, therefore, one of the most unthankful offices in the world.

1815.  Coleridge, Lett. (1895), 642. To be a prophet is … an unthankful office.

1855.  Poultry Chron., III. 363. It must be an unthankful task for judges to award prizes to inferior birds.

  † b.  Inadequate, insufficient. Obs.^–1

1491.  Reg. Aberdon. (Maitl. Cl.), I. 328. Gyf it beis fundin onthankful payment be þe said Jhone to þe said vicar.

  2.  Not rendering thanks; not feeling or exhibiting gratitude.

1499.  Contempl. Sinners, Prol. A v b. Vnthankfull mannes myndes.

1526.  Tindale, 2 Tim. iii. 2. Men shalbe … vnthankfull, vnholy, churlisshe.

1565.  Cooper, Thesaurus, Animus ingratus, an vnthankfull harte.

1602.  2nd Pt. Return fr. Parnass., III. ii. 1199. An vnthankefull Viper that will sting the man that reuiued him.

1647.  N. Bacon, Disc. Govt. Eng., I. lvii. 168. These concurring with unnaturall troubles from most unthankfull sonnes.

1702.  Eng. Theophrastus, 91. He that in silence suppresses a favour received is an unthankful Fellow.

1722.  De Foe, Relig. Courtsh., I. ii. (1840), 77. I do not think you will ever be unthankful.

1768.  Ross, Helenore, 60. I’m seeking after twa unthankfu’ men.

1805.  Wordsw., Prelude, VII. 543. Could a youth … Sit, see, and hear, unthankful, uninspired?

  absol.  1535.  Coverdale, Luke vi. 35. The Hyest … is kynde, euen to the vnthankfull.

1893.  J. Pulsford, Loyalty to Christ, II. 367. The Good Shepherd giveth Himself to the unthankful and the evil.

  transf.  1614.  B. Jonson, Barth. Fair, III. i. The husbandman ought not, for one unthankful year, to forsake the plough.

1615.  Brathwait, Strappado, etc. (1878), 326. But time vnthankfull time, too soone forgot the Gem she had.

1665.  Boyle, Occas. Refl., V. vii. The Thorns and Thistles that are the unthankful Earths wonted productions.

  b.  Const. for or † of (a thing), to (a person).

c. 1500.  Kennedie, Passion of Christ, 373. As seik vnthankfull to þe medicinar.

1542.  Brinklow, Compl., iii. 16. I pray God, that we be not vnthanckful for that delyuerance.

1580.  J. Hay, in Cath. Tract. (S.T.S.), 33. That I swild nocht appear to be onthankfwll of the said benefeit.

1610.  Donne, Pseudo-Martyr, 289. When Otho … became vnthankfull to the Pope.

1711.  Steele, Spect., No. 82, ¶ 5. Your Ingratitude … shall not make me unthankful for the Good you have done me.

1729.  Law, Serious C., xi. 171. Quarrelsome with others, and unthankful to God.

1855.  Singleton, Virgil, II. 394. He looks back, Unconscious of events, and for escape Unthankful.

  3.  Characterized by ingratitude.

1614.  Bp. Hall, Contemp., O. T., V. vi. 107. If yee had said, Choose vs another gouernour, it had been a wicked and vnthankfull motion.

1643.  Secrets Discovered (title-p.), Their perfidious, deceitful, and unthankful proceedings against the welfare of this Kingdom.

1665.  Boyle, Occas. Refl., etc. (1848), 54. It were … unthankful towards the Father of Lights, not to make use of the great Light we receive … by the Moon.

1721.  Kelly, Scot. Prov., 188. When they whom we have supported make unhandsome, and unthankful Returns.