▪ I. unˈgodly, a.
[un-1 7. Cf. MDu. ongodelijc (Du. ongoddelijk), MHG. ungötlich (G. ungöttlich), (M)Da. ugudelig. MSw. ogudhlik (Sw. ogudlig).]
1. Of persons: Not fearing or reverencing God; irreligious, impious, wicked.
| 1526 Tindale Rom. v. 6 Christ dyed for vs which were vngodly. 1587 Golding De Mornay xx. 358 There is also a certeine Religion,..and the vngodlyest man that is cannot scape from it. a 1613 Overbury A Wife, etc. (1614) H 4 b, The charitable man dreames of building Churches, but starts to thinke the vngodly Courtier will pull them down again. 1653 Holcroft Procopius, Pers. Wars ii. 48 His son succeeding him, being the ungodlyest man living. 1698 Norris Pract. Disc. IV. 180 Which justifies a certain English Phrase..wherein we use to call a Man of a Wicked Life, an Vngodly Man. 1731 Waterland Script. Vind. ii. 100 Shimei was an ungodly wretch. 1849 James Woodman ii, The admission into her own private chamber of such very ungodly personages as Mars and Venus. |
| absol. 1526 Tindale 1 Pet. iv. 18 Yf the righteous scasly be saved: where shall the vngodly and the sinner appere? 1535 Coverdale Zeph. iii. 5 But the vngodly will not lerne to be aszshamed. 1631 Gouge God's Arrows i. §12. 17 Of the godlies exemption from the ungodlies destruction. 1738 Wesley Ps. i. iv, But no Success th' Ungodly find. 1825 J. Neal Bro. Jonathan I. 24 While he was rebuking the ungodly. 1847 S. Austin Ranke's Hist. Ref. III. 385 He did not doubt that the ungodly, as well as the pious, partook of the body and blood of Christ. |
| transf. 1595 Shakes. John iii. i. 109 Let not the howres of this vngodly day Weare out the daies in Peace. |
b. Of the stomach: Gluttonous, greedy.
| c 1746 J. Collier (Tim Bobbin) Goose 78 You must not Pamper your ungodly Belly. 1746 Ainsworth (ed. 2) i, An ungodly gut, venter improbus. 1828 [Carr] Craven Gloss., Ungodly, insatiable, or squeamish and nice; used of the stomach or guts. |
2. Of actions, etc.: Not in accordance with the will or law of God.
| 1526 [see ungodly adv.]. 1555 Eden Decades (Arb.) 109 They sayde it was vngodly to feyght ageynst any, not beinge prouoked. 1577 Googe Heresbach's Husb. 15 Let hym in no wyse suffer them..to vse filthy or vngodly speache. 1617 Woodall Surg. Mate Pref., Wks. (1639) 6 Wherefore it were a very ungodly thing..to forbid a Surgeon to learne all, or any thing that concerneth his calling. 1671 Milton Samson 898 Gods unable To acquit themselves and prosecute their foes But by ungodly deeds. 1851 Longfellow Gold. Leg. iv. Refectory, Were Peter Damian still upon earth, To be shocked by such ungodly mirth. 1864 Pusey Lect. Daniel i. (1876) 3 The moral law..strongly condemned forgery even when not ungodly. |
3. colloq. Outrageous, dreadful.
| 1887 Stevenson Merry Men, Olalla, The wind['s]..ungodly and unintermittent uproar, would not suffer me to sleep. |
▪ II. unˈgodly, adv. Obs. exc. arch.
[un-1 11. Cf. MDu. ongod(e)like (Du. ongoddelijk), MHG. ungöttlich, MSw. ogud(e)like (Sw. ogudligt).]
= ungodlily adv. (Common in 16th c.)
| 1526 Tindale Jude 15 To rebuke..all their vngodly dedes, which they have vngodly committed. [Also in later versions.] 1533 Frith Judgm. Tracy Pref., But this I dare boldly professe, that his godly sayinges are vngodly handled. 1564 Brief Exam. A iij, All true Godly men, may Godly vse those rites, which wicked men haue abused, howesoeuer vngodly. 1606 G. Woodcock Hist. Ivstine Ii 2, Leontius..being made Emperor, ruled most vngodly eleuen years. |