[UN-1 12.]
1. Disinclination to be accommodating or pleasant; perversity, obstinacy.
1481. Cov. Leet Bk., 500. We fynde then therunto in no wyse towardly disposed,… which their vntowardnesse sowneth not to oure pleasure.
1538–9. Henry VIII., in Wyatt’s Wks. (1816), II. 501. Continuing our good mind and affection to join with him (his said untowardness and coldness in that behalf notwithstanding.)
1569. in Bolton, Stat. Irel. (1621), 339. Which is occasioned by the sluggardy, idlenesse and vntowardnes of the Marchants.
1607. Hieron, Wks., I. 129. Gods first work in them is … to remooue their naturall vntowardnesse, and to make their hearts more … pliable vnto good.
1658. Whole Duty Man, 120. Complain not of the hardness of the duty, but of the untowardness of thy own heart.
1723. Pres. St. Russia, I. 16. The Untowardness of these people made me astonished.
1765. Mrs. Macauley, Hist. Eng., II. 232. Finding him not at so entire leisure to discipline their untowardness as in time of peace.
1873. Hamerton, Intell. Life, II. ii. 54. Our untowardness was a hopeful sign.
b. Const. to (esp. with inf.).
c. 1547. Latimer, in Foxe, A. & M. (1563), 1352/1. So should I haue bene without this inwarde sorrow of my harte, to see suche vntowardnes of you bothe to godlines.
1557. Earl Westmorld., in Lodge, Illustr. Brit. Hist. (1791), I. 287. I ame sory to see suche an untowardnes to serve in the Bushopriche men as ys now.
1579. J. Stubbes, Gaping Gulf, E j b. If ther be … a generall vntowardnes to desire that state of lyfe.
† 2. Lack of good progress or promise, esp. in respect of physical condition. Obs.
1538. Audley, in St. Papers Henry VIII., I. 588. Besechyng you to travayle therin [sc. the suit] and to advertise me … of the towardnes or ontowardnes therof.
1555. Watreman, Fardle Facions, II. viii. 184. Yf thei spie vntowardnes in the infante, deformitie, or lacke of lymmes, [they] commaunde it to be slayne.
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 359. Even in trees as well as in other living creatures, there is a certaine infelicitie, which may be well tearmed, A dwarfish untowardnesse.
† 3. Lack of aptitude; awkwardness. Obs.
1598. Florio, Inettudine, vnaptnesse, vntowardnesse, grossenes.
1604. T. Wright, Passions, V. iii. 176. Some … eloquent [men],… for lack of action or rather vntowardnesse,… were accounted infants.
1622. F. Markham, Bk. War, V. ii. 168. There will be such disparity and untowardnesse in his actions, that all his labour will be to little or no purpose.
4. Unpropitiousness; adverseness.
1778. [W. H. Marshall], Minutes Agric., Observ., 101. The untowardness of circumstances prevented any Experiment … from being made.
1803–5. Wordsw., Rob Roy’s Grave, 62. Through untowardness of fate … He came an age too late.
1847. Helps, Friends in C., I. iii. 44. The untowardness of things present, the miseries of the past.
1871. Morley, Vauvenargues, in Crit. Misc., 7. His nature had such … quality that the perpetual untowardness of circumstances left no evil print upon him.
