[UN-1 7. Cf. med. Du. onwillecome (Du. onwelkom), G. unwillkommen, Da. uvel-, Sw. ovälkommen.] Not welcome or acceptable; unpleasing.
Rare before c. 1590. In freq. use from c. 1665.
c. 1325. in Pol. Songs (Camden), 330. His meyne is unwelcome, comen hii erliche or late.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 49. If vnwelcum he were to a worþlych prynce.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, III. xvi. Unwelcome curtesie is a degree of injury.
1591. Shaks., Two Gent., II. iv. 81. I thinke ’tis no vn-welcome newes to you.
1624. Fletcher, Wife for Moneth, II. i. Death is unwelcome never, Unless it be to tortur’d minds … That make their own Hells.
1661. Boyle, Style of Script., To Rdr. A 7 b. There can as little be an unwelcomer as an unjuster Complement plac’d upon me, than [etc.].
1670. R. Montagu, in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.), I. 469. Your Lordship’s letter … was much unwelcomer to me than any I yet received from you.
1728. Eliza Heywood, trans. Mme. de Gomez’s Belle A. (1732), II. 174. The Importunities of his unwelcome Tenderness.
1751. Johnson, Rambler, No. 153, ¶ 1. He that has an unwelcome message to deliver.
1817. Scott, Harold, III. vii. He whose daring lay Hath dared unwelcome truths to say.
1840. Barham, Ingol. Leg., I. H. Harris (1905), 126. The unwelcome news of his grandson’s dangerous state.
1869. Tozer, Highl. Turkey, II. 171. A name of ridicule … unwelcome to their ears.
