unˈsolid, a.
[un-1 7, 5 b. Cf. G. unsolid.]
1. Not materially solid.
| 1611 Cotgr., Insolide, vnsolide, vnsound. 1615 Chapman Odyss. xi. 60, I..would not suffer any one to dip Within our offring, his vnsolide lip, Before Tiresias. 1646 Mayne Serm. Unity 38 A thin, unsolid, brittle, painted blast of wind. 1690 Locke Hum. Und. ii. iv. §5 The continuity of unsolid, inseparable, and immoveable Parts. 1733 Watts Philos. Ess. v. i. (1734) 116 'Tis not solid Extension, for that is Body or Matter... 'Tis not empty or unsolid Extension, for that is pure Space. 1768–74 Tucker Lt. Nat. (1834) I. 298 Nor is it conceivable that any assortment of unsolid..parts should form a solid.. body. 1829 J. Phillips Geol. Yorks. 73 These unsolid materials fall and waste away into slopes. 1896 Daily News 22 Jan. 5 German manufacturers are advised..to forsake the making of unsolid or ugly furniture. |
| fig. 1845 Mill Diss. & Disc. (1859) II. 256 The breaking up of the great unsolid structure which Charlemagne had raised. |
2. fig. Having no substance or sound basis.
| 1593 in Maitl. Club Misc. (1840) I. 58 The presbiterie debarris Connald Strutheris for his vnsolid speichis..fra the communioune at this present seasoun. 1639 W. Sclater Worthy Commun. 37 Its cleare, that this Consubstantiation of the Lutherans is unsolid. 1642 Milton Apol. Smect. 45 Unsolid and corrupted judgements both in doctrine and life. 1730 Thomson Winter 753 Whither now are fled..those unsolid hopes Of happiness? 1792 G. Wakefield Mem. (1804) I. 115 The generality of them [sc. criticisms] are triviall or unsolid. 1854 H. Miller Sch. & Schm. 204 To separate the solid from the unsolid thinking contained in my abstract. 1873 M. Arnold Lit. & Dogma p. xxiv, To what is unsolid in the New Testament he applies a negative criticism ably enough. |
3. Lacking solid worth or merit.
| 1731 A. Hill Advice to Poets 193 But ah! far short the unsolid tinklers rise, Nor soar, but flutter, in the muse's skies. |
Hence
unˈsolidly adv.;
unˈsolidness.
| 1611 Cotgr., Insolidement, vnsoundly, vnsolidely. a 1684 Leighton Comm. 1 Peter ii. (1693) 261 Consider this as our happiness, and the unsolidness of other comforts, and priviledges. 1755 Johnson, Loosely,..unsolidly; meanly; without dignity. |