▪ I. disorderly, a. and n.
(dɪsˈɔːdəlɪ)
[f. disorder n. + -ly1; after orderly.]
A. adj.
1. Characterized by disorder, or absence of order or regular arrangement; in a state of disorder; not orderly; confused, irregular, untidy.
| 1632 J. Hayward tr. Biondi's Eromena 59 The winds so outrageously unstable..they were constrained to rome up and downe, with an order so disorderly, that [etc.]. 1655 Stanley Hist. Philos. iii. (1701) 112/2 æschylus, saith he, is of all Poets..the harshest, most disorderly. 1712 Berkeley Passive Obed. §28 A disorderly and confused chaos. 1725 N. Robinson Th. Physick viii. 175 A disorderly, weak, low Pulse. 1850 Prescott Peru I. 302 The disorderly state of Peru was such as to demand the immediate interposition of government. 1855 Macaulay Hist. Eng. IV. 79 A mob of people as naked, as dirty, and as disorderly as the beggars..on the Continent. |
2. a. Opposed to or violating moral order, constituted authority, or recognized rule or method; not submissive to rule, lawless; unruly; tumultuous, riotous. (Of persons, or their actions, etc.)
| 1585 Abp. Sandys Serm. (1841) 383 To behold the disorderly dealings of the wicked. 1658 A. Fox Wurtz' Surg. iii. iii. 224 A patient causeth pains to himself with disorderly eating and drinking. c 1680 Beveridge Serm. (1729) I. 24 Whatsoever disorderly or unworthy persons are admitted to holy orders. 1681–6 J. Scott Chr. Life (1747) III. 310 To confirm the Weak, and admonish the Disorderly. 1700 S. L. tr Fryke's Voy. E. Ind. 217 They [Seamen] ever grow more disorderly and ungovernable as they come nearer home. 1817 Parl. Deb. 346 The Speaker submitted..that..if it was a personal charge against an individual member of the House, it was certainly disorderly. 1845 Stephen Comm. Laws Eng. vi. vii. §14 (1895) IV. 221 If the drunkenness be accompanied with riotous or disorderly behavior..imprisonment for any term not exceeding one month, with or without hard labour, may be imposed. 1879 Cassell's Techn. Educ. iii. 163 Disorderly conduct is always severely punished. 1891 Law Times XC. 412/1 [He] appeared to be under the influence of drink, and was behaving in a most disorderly manner. Mod. He was charged with being drunk and disorderly. |
b. spec. in Law. Violating public order or morality; constituting a nuisance; esp. in disorderly house (see quot. 1877); disorderly person, one guilty of one of a number of offences against public order as defined by various Acts of Parliament, esp. 5 Geo. IV, c. 83. §3.
| 1744 Act 17 Geo. II, c. 5. §1 They who threaten to run away and leave their wives or children to the parish; or unlawfully return to a parish from whence they have been legally removed; or, not having wherewith to maintain themselves, live idle, and refuse to work for the usual wages; and all persons going from door to door, or placing themselves in streets, etc., to beg in the parishes where they dwell, shall be deemed Idle and Disorderly Persons. 1809 Tomlins Law Dict., Disorderly houses, see Bawdy Houses; Riots; Theatres. 1817 Parl. Deb. 435 Be it enacted, that every house, room or place, which shall be opened or used as a place of meeting for the purpose of reading books, pamphlets, newspapers, or other publications..shall be deemed a disorderly house or place, unless the same shall have been previously licensed. 1824 Act 5 Geo. IV, c. 83. §3. ....every petty chapman or pedlar wandering abroad and trading, without being duly licensed or authorized by law....[etc. etc.] shall be deemed an idle and disorderly person within the true intent and meaning of this act. 1877 J. F. Stephen Digest Crim. Law (1883) 122 The following houses are disorderly houses, that is to say: common bawdy houses, common gaming houses, common betting houses, disorderly places of entertainment. 1887 Times 30 Sept. 8/3 The charge of keeping..a disorderly house. |
† 3. Affected with disorder or disturbance of the bodily functions; diseased, morbid. Obs.
| 1655 Culpepper Riverius iv. vii. 121 A thin watery Humor or Choller which abounds in the blood, and makes it more disorderly. |
4. Attended with mental agitation or discomposure. rare.
| 1871 R. Ellis Catullus lxv. 24 She in tell-tale cheeks glows a disorderly shame. |
B. n. A disorderly person.
| 1852 G. C. Mundy Our Antipodes III. ii. 80 A brace of disorderlies in handcuffs. 1855 Illustr. Lond. News 21 July 74/1 One of the drunk and disorderlies. 1905 Daily Chron. 9 Oct. 5/3 The Pope was obliged to threaten the disorderlies with expulsion from the Vatican. |
▪ II. disˈorderly, adv.
[f. as prec. + -ly2.]
In a disorderly manner.
1. Without order or regular arrangement; confusedly, irregularly; in disorder or confusion.
| a 1577 Gascoigne Devise of a Masque, etc. (R.) On other side the Turkes..Disorderly did spread their force. 1586 Exam. H. Barrow, etc. in Harl. Misc. (Malh.) II. 17 Suggestions against me, disorderly framed according to the malitious humour of mine accuser. 1632 J. Hayward tr. Biondi's Eromena 37 With their heire hanging disorderly about their eares. 1745 P. Thomas Jrnl. Anson's Voy. 182 The Husbandmen at first sow it [rice] disorderly, like other Corn. 1847 Tennyson Princess iv. 152 ‘To horse’ Said Ida; ‘home! to horse!’ and fled..Disorderly the women. |
2. Not according to order or rule; in a lawless or unruly way; tumultuously, riotously.
| 1564 Brief Exam. *iij, Their amendement who haue disorderlye behaued them selues. 1581 Lambarde Eiren. ii. v. (1588) 185 An unlawfull Assemblie, is the companie of three or mo persons, disorderly comming together..to commit an vnlawfull acte. 1611 Bible 2 Thess. iii. 6 That ye withdraw your selues from euery brother that walketh disorderdly. 1689 Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) I. 528 The Polish letters bring, that the dyet..was lately broken up very disorderly. 1843 J. H. Newman Miracles 58 They could use them disorderly. |
3. With mental agitation or discomposure. rare.
| 1811 W. R Spencer Poems 211 Disorderly she own'd her glorious passion. |