[UN-1 11.]
1. Unskilfully, awkwardly, clumsily, badly.
1550. Bale, Apol., 146 b. That rawe and ragged clause whych ye haue vntowardly torne out of hys xxi. homely.
1561. T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., III. 159. No man shal go so vntowardly, but he shal euery day get some ground, though it be but litle.
1576. R. Peterson, G. della Casa’s Galateo, 105. Their cloathes doe sit vppon them so vntowardly.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., IV. ix. 281. Generally the most dexterous in spiritual matters are left-handed in temporall businesse, and go but untowardly about them.
1667. Dryden, Sir Martin Mar-all, V. i. He played well, and yet methinks he held his lute not untowardly.
1697. Dampier, Voy., I. 190. They rig their Ships but untowardly,… and are as meanly furnished with Warlike Provisions.
1762. Sterne, Tr. Shandy, VI. xxxiii. A large uneven thread … running along the whole length of the web, and so untowardly, you cannot so much as cut out … a fillet.
1764. Harmer, Observ., IX. 23. There is no scripture from whence he attempts to deduce it, as he doth the time of the latter rain, though very untowardly.
b. Unsuitably (for use).
1686. Plot, Staffordsh., 352. If there be any such land that lyes so untowardly.
2. Unluckily; unpropitiously; with likelihood or suggestion of misfortune or mishap.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 262. As he lept out of his ship,… he fell so vntowardly, that the blood brast out of his nose.
1571. Golding, Calvin on Ps. ii. 8. Least this Prophecie should bee spoken in vayne, yea and untowardly concerning the largenesse of dominion.
1599. Shaks., Much Ado, III. ii. 134. O day vntowardly turned!
1603. Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 108. Which as many as use, worke their own … destruction, dauncing … a daunce untowardly about a pits brinke.
1699. Bentley, Phal., Introd. 2. Mr. B. here seems to enter upon his work a little untowardly and ominously.
b. Unsuccessfully; unfortunately.
1649. J. H., Motion to Parl. Adv. Learn., 35. There were some propensions and aversions,… which if disobeyed succeeded untowardly and unsuccessfully.
1679. Hist. Jetzer, 26. The Prior swore things went very untowardly against them.
a. 1722. Lisle, Husb. (1752), 180. Such barley … will come away very untowardly in the malting.
1815. Jane Austen, Emma, xxxvi. If things are going untowardly one month, they are sure to mend the next.
1889. Gretton, Memory’s Harkb., 269. On his death-bed he … sent urgently for the clergyman, who untowardly happened to be from home.
3. Rudely, roughly; frowardly.
1682. Bunyan, Holy War, 223. I charge you, therefore,… that you carry it not ruggedly, or untowardly to my Captains, or their men.
1693. Southerne, Maid’s last Prayer, II. ii. Give me thy Hand dear Bully; Faith, I’m sorry you provok’d me to use you so untowardly.
1868–9. Browning, Ring & Bk., IX. 259. Let the heifer bear the yoke!… What if … all untowardly she pursue her way With groan and grunt?
