† unˈcurable, a. Obs.
[un-1 7 b and 5 b. Cf. MDu. oncurable.]
1. = incurable a. 1. (Common c 1400–1650.) a. Of wounds, diseases, etc.
| 1382 Wyclif Deut. xxxii. 33 Venym of eddres vncurable. 1388 ― Isaiah xiv. 6 The ȝerde of lordis, that beet puplis..with vncurable wounde. a 1425 tr. Arderne's Treat. Fistula, etc. 4, I afferme noȝt that I miȝt hele al ffistulae in ano, ffor som ben vncurable. c 1450 Lydg. Secrees 1425 The tyme dyuerse..sodeynly men schent, be seknessys which be unkurable. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 82 Lepry, fransy, & suche other, whiche be in maner vncurable. 1562 Turner Baths Pref., Many sore and otherwyse uncurable syknesses. 1593 Shakes. 2 Hen. VI, iii. i. 286 Send Succours (Lords) and stop the Rage betime, Before the Wound doe grow vncurable. 1622 Gataker Spirituall Watch 86 Decay of nature, old age, and some vncureable diseases. 1650 Trapp Comm. Exod. xv. 26 To an Almightie Physician no diseas is uncurable. |
| fig. 1652 Heylyn Cosmogr. iv. 22 Of all Surfeits this of Forraign supplies is most uncurable. |
b. Of persons. Also
fig.| a 1425 tr. Arderne's Treat. Fistula, etc. 1 Sir Adam..made for to aske counsel at all the lechez and cirurgienz that he myȝt fynde... And all forsoke hym for vncurable. c 1440 Gesta Rom. xxxvii. 152 (Add. MS.), Yit he dothe many synnes ayenst god, and so he is vncurable. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 36 b, As al those Romish be utterly uncurable. 1609 Bible (Douay) Deut. xxviii. 35 Be thou uncurable from the sole of thy foote unto the toppe of thy head. 1657 Sparrow Bk. Com. Prayer 138 Malice or revenge which makes us unpardonable and uncurable. 1775 Ash. |
2. transf. and
fig. = incurable a. 2.
| a 1340 Hampole Psalter cxxxix. 3 Thai hafe..malice vncurabil in þaire hert. c 1545 H. Rhodes Bk. Nurture B iiij, An olde man & a yonge woman, to satysfye is vncurable. 1626 in Foster Eng. Factories India (1909) III. 136 Her leake prooved uncureable. 1650 Baxter Saints' R. iii. iii. (1662) 325 An eternal, absolute, tormenting, uncurable despair. a 1676 Hale Prim. Orig. Man. i. iv. (1677) 103 The absurdities and incongruities..are infinite and uncurable. |
Hence
† unˈcurableness;
† unˈcurably adv.| a 1425 tr. Arderne's Treat. Fistula, etc. 38 Whiche.. makeþ euermore pronosticacion..als wele of deþ as of vncurablenes. 1548 Udall Erasm. Par. Luke v. 59 b, Wheras theim selfes wer euen for this verai poynte vncurably wicked enemies of God. 1643 Milton Divorce vii. heading, A matrimony found to be uncurably unfit. 1651 Biggs New Disp. ¶61 The uncurablenesse of diseases. |