undue, a.
(ʌnˈdjuː)
[un-1 7 + due a., after OF. indeu, L. indēbitus.]
1. Not properly owing or payable.
| 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) VIII. 241 For þe pope greved þe chirches of Engelond wiþtaxes and wiþ paiementis undewe and uncustemable. 1818 Colebrooke Obligations 98 It was not undue, though payment might have been postponed. 1843 Carlyle Past & Pr. ii. xii, My Lord of Clare, coming to claim his undue ‘debt’ in the Court at Witham. |
2. Not appropriate or suitable; improper. Also of times, etc.: Unseasonable.
| 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. ii. xix. (1495) 45 Also in an undewe manere the deuyll coueyted highnes that fell not for hym. 1436 Pol. Poems (Rolls) II. 176 Thow this proverbe be homly and undew, Yet be liklynesse it is for soth fulle trew. c 1440 Jacob's Well 165 Whan playes arn hantyd in vndewe places & in vndewe tyme. 1541 Act 33 Hen. VIII, c. 21 §1 Culpeper and she met..at an vndue houre of a leuen a clocke in the night. 1585 T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. i. xvii. 19 Wee woulde not at an vndue houre enter amongest the Turkes armie. 1641 Sir E. Dering Sp. on Relig. (1642) 77 Throwing that overboard which is adventitious, borrowed, and undue. 1680 W. Allen Peace & Unity Pref. p. lx, Our undue separations, and unchristian Contentions. a 1716 Bp. O. Blackall Wks. (1723) I. 250 It is a Sin to omit the holy Duty, and it is likewise a Sin to perform it in an undue manner. 1774 J. Bryant Mythol. I. 344 They seem to have been aware, that they were guilty of an undue representation. 1865 Kingsley Herew. xxi, Men-at-arms.., who would, on due or undue cause shown, hunt men while he hunted game. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) V. 58 The undue awarding of honours is the ruin of states. |
3. Not in accordance with what is just and right; unjustifiable; illegal.
| c 1400 Apol. Loll. 11 If þe pope..graunt or behiȝt ani swilk þingis..for vndeu seruise, or oþer vndeu cause and vnpertinent. c 1440 Jacob's Well 99 Ȝif þou do it..wyth exces of vndewe mesure, wyth a strong wyll to sle,..it is dedly synne. 1456 Coventry Leet Bk. 293 Diuers subbaillifs of this Cite afore this han made many vndue returnes of preceptes directed..vnto theym. 1598 Florio, Iritto, vnlawfull, vndue, vnfit, vnright. 1622 Bacon Hen. VII, 14 Which proceeding being even at that time taxed for vigorous and undue [etc.]. 1660 R. Coke Justice Vind. Ep. Ded. 7 Such miscreants..had by undue ways devoured the patrimony of the Church. 1692 Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) II. 601 Irish letters say, divers persons were committed for undue practices. 1783 Burke Rep. Aff. India Wks. XI. 149 Complaints against the inferiour collectors of the Landed Revenue, stating their undue and vexatious exactions. |
b. In special contexts.
| (a) 1477 Earl Rivers (Caxton) Dictes iij b, To gadre money..by subtyl extorcion or other undewe meanes. 1534 Act 26 Hen. VIII, c. 2 Without gile, fraude, or other vndew meane. 1621 H. Elsing Debates Ho. Lords (Camden) App. 136 Those innes..that have benne lately erected by his undue meanes. 1676 Hale Contempl. ii. 132 Frauds, and Plots, and Underminings, and Undue Means. |
| (b) 1687 Bp. Cartwright in Magd. Coll. & Jas. II (O.H.S.) 134 The Election was undue. 1736 Gentl. Mag. VI. 440/1 The Petition..complaining of an undue Election and Return for the City of Coventry. 1764 T. Hutchinson Hist. Mass. I. (1765) 62 This election was immediately determined..to be undue..[and] a warrant issued for a new. |
| (c) 1735 Bolingbroke On Parties 122 Thus He acquired an undue Influence over the Elections. 1772 Junius' Lett. Ded. p. viii, Long parliaments are the foundation of the undue influence of the crown. 1854 Act 17 & 18 Vict. c. 102 (title), An Act to..amend the Laws relating to Bribery, Treating, and undue Influence at Elections. |
† c. Of persons: Acting unjustly.
Obs.—1| a 1400 Pistill of Susan 236 Hir domus men vnduwe do hir be withdrawen. |
4. Going beyond what is appropriate, warranted, or natural; excessive.
| a 1684 Leighton Comm. 1 Pet. iv. 8 (1849) II. 350 [Love] delights not in the undue disclosing of brethren's failings. 1739 Hist. Works of Learned I. 137 He seems to own they are both chargeable with some Instances of undue Warmth and Zeal. 1780 Cowper Progr. Error 269 Pleasure admitted in undue degree, Enslaves the will. 1814 Chalmers Evid. i. 21 An undue advantage has been given to that argument. 1865 Tylor Early Hist. Man. i. 2 An undue confidence in the statements of ancient writers. 1893 Traill Soc. Eng. Introd. p. xiv, The undue prominence formerly given..to these matters has produced a reaction. |
Hence
unˈdueness.
rare.
| 1653 W. A[llen] (title), An Answer..in which..the Undueness of mixt Communion is declared. 1680 ― Peace & Unity Pref. p. xxxv, I shall..argue the undueness of their practise that withdraw..upon the foresaid ground. |