unˈheard, ppl. a.
[un-1 8. Cf. NFris. unhiard, ON. and Icel. {uacu}-, óheyrðr (Sw. ohörd, Da. uh{obar}rt); also OE. unᵹehéred (in sense 2), MDu. ongehoort (Du. -hoord), MLG. ungehôrt, OHG. ungehôret (MHG. -hôrt, -hœrt, G. -hört).]
1. Not caught or apprehended by the sense of hearing; not heard.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 25182 Or ai vm-quil vr bon es right, Bot vnherd thoru vr aun plight. c 1450 Myrr. our Ladye 51 He that wyttyngly leuyth oughte of these holy houres vnsayde & vnharde..he synneth deadly. Ibid. 294 The prayer..may not be vnherde. 1595 Shakes. John iv. ii. 137 But if you be a-feard to heare the worst, Then let the worst vn-heard, fall on your head. 1616 W. Browne Brit. Past. ii. i. 789 Clamour grew dumb, unheard was shepheard's song, And silence girt the woods. 1667 Milton P.L. i. 395 Their childrens cries unheard, that past through fire. Ibid. iii. 645 He drew not nigh unheard. 1742 Young Nt. Th. iii. 337 To see what we have seen? Hear, till unheard, the same old slabber'd tale? 1796 F. Burney Camilla V. 66 The energy of Melmond made her approach unheard. 1842 J. Wilson Chr. North I. 89 Not unheard, although scarcely noticed, was the cry of the curlew. 1894 M. Dyan Man's Keeping (1899) 143 Craving..for the sound of the long-unheard familiar tones. |
b. Of persons: Not heard in self-defence or entreaty; not listened to.
| 1595 Daniel Civ. Wars iii. xxii, Neuer shall this poore breath of mine consent That he..Should here be iudgd vnheard, and vnaraignd. 1606 Shakes. Ant. & Cl. iii. xii. 24 This if shee performe, She shall not sue vnheard. 1607 ― Cor. v. i. 43. 1655 in Verney Mem. (1907) I. 538, I will not condemn you unheard. 1718 Prior Solomon ii. 720 Un⁓hear'd the injur'd Orphans now complain. 1760 [see unconvicted]. 1805 Scott Last Minstr. v. xxiii, Unheard he prays;—the death-pang's o'er! Richard of Musgrave breathes no more. |
2. Not before heard of; unknown, new, strange.
| c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints l. (Catherine) 845 With wnhard pane Sa fellounly scho sall be slaane. 1382 Wyclif Esther xvi. 13 For Mardoche..with newe maner and vnherd engynes ful out askide [Haman] in to deth. 1459 Rolls of Parlt. V. 346/1 His fals and traiterous ymaginations,..compassed by the most unherd meanes. 1535 Coverdale 2 Macc. iv. 13 The Heithenish & straunge conuersacion, brought in thorow the vngracious and vnherde wickednesse of Iason. 1586 A. Day Eng. Secretary i. (1625) 23 A huge wonder, of the vn⁓heard secrets neuer before reported of. 1658 Cokaine Trappolin iv. ii, Some unheard malady Vnknown unto the world before. 1677 A. Yarranton Eng. Improv. 7 Notwithstanding all these strange, and unheard Inconveniences, yet they will not quit their Station. 1746 Francis tr. Horace, Art of Poetry 68 A new-discover'd Theme.., unheard in ancient Times. 1813 Shelley Q. Mab vii. 165 Humbly He came,..His name unheard, Save by the rabble of His native town. |
b. More usually with of. (Common from c 1600.)
Hence, in recent use, unheard-of-ness.
| 1592 Greene Groat's W. Wit (1617) 35 If wofull experience may mooue you (Gentlemen) to beware, or vnheard of wretchednes intreat you to take heed. 1615 G. Sandys Trav. 145 Inflicting vnheard-of tortures on the patient Christians. 1699 Bentley Phalaris 170 The Phrase was then so new and unheard of, that it puzzled a whole City. 1752 in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. I. 308 An Arminian who governed with unheard of Despotism. 1790 Burke Fr. Rev. 20 This new, and hitherto unheard-of bill of rights. 1848 Thackeray Van. Fair lxvii, She tended him through a series of unheard-of illnesses. 1891 Farrar Darkn. & Dawn xv, From the first he broke out into unheard-of extravagance. |