Unwisdom

[OE. unwísdóm (UN-¹ 12), = OHG. vunwîstuom, -tuam, -tôm.]

  1.  Lack or absence of wisdom; ignorance, folly, stupidity.

  In very frequent use till c. 1390, and (as a new formation) from c. 1843, when its currency was due to, or stimulated by, Carlyle. There is lack of evidence from 1612 to 1832.

c. 825.  Vesp. Psalter, xxi. 3. God min ic cleopiu … on naeht & nales to unwisdome me.

c. 897.  K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past C., xlix. 375. Ða ðe unmedome bioð to ðære lare oððe for ʓioʓuðe oððe for unwisdome.

c. 1205.  Lay., 3383. We habbet idon unwisdom Þat we mine fader habbet vnderfon mid þirtti cnihten.

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 278. Bihold i … þine soule, oðer two [things]—sunne & ignorance, þet is, unwisdom & unwitenesse.

c. 1300.  E. E. Psalter xxxvii. 5. Stanke and roten mine erres er ma, Fra face of mine vnwisdome swa.

1382.  Wyclif, Prov. xv. 14. The mouth of foolis is fed with vnwisdam.

c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., II. iii. 150. Schamed of her folie and of her vnwisdom and pride.

a. 1470.  H. Parker, Dives & Pauper (Pynson, 1493), VI. x. s vi/1. Woman lowede hir and knowlegide hir vnwisedom and hir foly.

1509.  Fisher, Funera! Serm. C’tess Richmond, Wks. (1876), 301. All we … may saye by lamentable complaynt of our vnwysdome vnto him, Ah domine si fuisses hic.

1535.  Stewart, Cron. Scot. (Rolls), II. 117. For and ȝe do, ȝe ar abill to tak Throw sic wnwisdome … greit skayth.

1612.  T. James, Corrupt. Scripture, III. 13. Forsooth vnwisedome is,… which is plenteous in euill.

1832.  Westm. Rev., April, 321. The unwisdom of persecuting the Saint-Simonians.

1839.  Carlyle, Chartism, iv. (1840), 27. The Earth … bountifully sends food and increase; if man’s unwisdom did not intervene and forbid.

1873.  Spencer, Stud. Sociol., 170. The unwisdom of officialism is daily illustrated.

  2.  With a, etc.: a. An instance of folly or ignorance; an unwise act.

1303.  R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 5046. A grete vnwysdom for soþe hyt ys.

1850.  Carlyle, Latter-d. Pamph., vii. 42. Is … the fruit of an unwisdom doubtful?

1855.  Kingsley, Misc. (1859), I. 8. A learned statement of facts in answer to some unwisdom of a Quarterly reviewer.

1869.  F. W. Newman, Misc., 98. It has been pronounced an unwisdom in any one to write in a dramatic form, unless [etc.].

  b.  An unwise Power or Being. nonce-use.

1839.  Carlyle, Chartism, v. (1858), 27. A world understood always to be made and governed by a Providence and Wisdom, not by an Unwisdom.