unˈlucky, a.
[un-1 7. Cf. WFris. on-, ûnlokkich, MLG. unluckich.]
1. Having an unfortunate character or issue; marked by misfortune or failure.
| 1530 Palsgr. 328/2 Unluckye, meschant. a 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VI, 138 b, Accomptyng to hym their euil chaunce & vnluckey fortune. 1563 Mirr. Mag., Somerset xxxi, My life I lost in that vnlucky place. 1588 Shakes. Tit. A. ii. iii. 251 Brought hither in a most vnluckie houre. 1609 Rowlands Dr. Merrie-man (1627) C 1 b, One..brake his Arme, And did complaine vnto a Friend Of his vnlucky harme. 1676 Hobbes Iliad i. 200 To put an end to this un⁓lucky strife. 1712 Addison Spect. No. 271 ¶4 This unlucky Accident happened to me in a Company of Ladies. 1829 Lytton Disowned 79 It was the unluckiest step we ever made to admit him into the bosom of our family. 1855 Macaulay Hist. Eng. xvi. III. 721 The year which was closing had certainly been unlucky. |
2. Boding or involving misfortune; ill-omened, inauspicious.
| a 1547 Surrey æneid ii. 1026 Th' unlucky figure of Creusaes ghost. 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 382 The Scottes..thought John an unluckie name for a King. 1617 Moryson Itin. i. 61 The King and the Queen,..while sometimes they thought Munday, sometimes Friday, to be vnlucky daies, had lost many faire winds. 1686 tr. Chardin's Trav. Persia 19 Nor do I know what unlucky star brought him to Constantinople. 1700 Rowe Amb. Step-Moth. iii. i, Why do you urge my Father's fatal Power to curse you with a sad unlucky Bride. 1843 Prescott Mexico (1850) I. 105 On the arrival of the five ‘unlucky’ days..they abandoned themselves to despair. |
3. Having ill-luck; meeting with misfortune or mishap.
| 1552 Huloet, Vnluckye, to be, or haue yll lucke, exauspicor. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 29 b, You muste haue respecte also that this newe Empire..be not made vn⁓lucky and vnfortunate. 1627 J. Taylor (Water P.) Navy of Land Ships Wks. (1630) 79/1 Some Ships..are so vnlucky, that they neuer make a good voyage. 1673 S'too him Bayes 4 Thou are the unluckyest disputant in the world. 1807 Crabbe Par. Reg. i. 705 The unlucky peasant heard the stranger's cry. 1896 Howells Impressions & Exp. 239 A pair of grim old ladies, who..lived..aloof from their unluckier sisters. |
4. Bringing ill-luck; causing mishap or harm; mischievous, malicious.
| a 1586 Sidney Arcadia i. xi, By an unluckye blow the poore Philoxenus fell dead at his feete. 1598 R. Bernard tr. Terence, Phormio ii. ii, Are you vnluckie varlot so ready to doe euerie thing against me? 1712 Addison Spect. No. 343 ¶9 An unlucky Cock-Sparrow that..had before made great depredations upon our Commonwealth. 1727 [Dorrington] Philip Quarll (1816) 72 These unlucky instruments, which were intended for destruction, shall be employed for..preservation. 1768–74 Tucker Lt. Nat. (1834) I. 571 Schoolmasters may not be displeased at unlucky tricks played by their lads. 1875– in many dialect glossaries (Eng. Dial. Dict.). |
b. Of a horse: Bad-tempered, vicious.
| 1707 Mortimer Husb. 151 If he [sc. the stallion] be unlucky and mad. |
5. Of an unfortunate or regrettable nature; not entitled to commendation.
| 1628 Feltham Resolves ii. l. 146 In some vnlucky dispositions, there is such an enuious kinde of Pride. 1671 tr. Charente's Let. Customs Mauritania 18 There would be much greater [plenty], if it was not for the unlucky custom of those people to bury their Gold. 1746 Francis tr. Horace, Epist. i. i. 137 If some unlucky Barber notch my Hair. 1815 Scott Guy M. i, Mannering resolved..to halt for the night..unless he could procure a guide to this unlucky village of Kippletringan. |