unˈmovable, a. and n.
[un-1 7 b, 5 b.]
1. = immovable a. 1. Now rare.
| 1382 Wyclif Exod. xv. 16 Be thei maad vnmouable as a stoon. c 1400 Mandeville (1919) xiii. 67 It is clept the dede see for it..is euere vnmeuable. c 1440 Alphabet of Tales 447 Hur handis hang vp in þe ayre vnmouable. a 1548 Hall Chron., Edw. IV, 192 b, He was set in the..stable throne, and vnmoueable chaire, of the croune of his realme. 1594 T. B. La Primaud. Fr. Acad. ii. 11 Aristotle also..sheweth that he knew God vnder the name of the first moouer, who was perpetual and vnmoueable. 1626 Gouge Serm. Dignity Chivalry §15 Like the unmoveable mountaines. a 1676 Hale Prim. Orig. Man. i. vi. (1677) 123 If we should suppose the Circle ABC to move about a fixed unmoveable Center at D. 1776 Mickle Camoens' Lusiad p. xxxvii, They remained unmoveable on the shore till the fleet..evanished from their sight. 1870 Lowell Among my Bks. Ser. i. (1873) 129 Some man whose brain rests on a still more unmovable basis. 1874 W. Humphrey in Ess. Relig. & Lit. Ser. iii. 361 The unmoved and unmovable Prime Mover of the ever-moving universe of creatures. |
b. n. Something immovable.
| 1876 Mrs. Whitney Sights & Ins. xx, We groped and peered under unmovables and pulled about everything that could be moved. |
2. = immovable a. 2.
| 1388 Wyclif Heb. vi. 18 God..puttide betwixe an ooth, that bi twey thingis vnmeuable, bi whiche it is impossible that God lie, we han strengeste solace. c 1425 in Anglia X. 380/35 Vnmouabil tranquillite and reste of soule. 1502 Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W. 1506) i. vii. F i b, Sythen that Iustyce vnmeuable requyreth suche payne. 1599 Sandys Europæ Spec. (1632) 111 Having their ground on the unmovable principles of true wisedome and vertue. 1638 Junius Paint. Ancients 28 A sad unmoveable countenance. 1650 Baxter Saints' R. iii. vii. 383 They that are sure to receive the un⁓moveable Kingdom must yet serve God with reverence and godly fear. 1691 Norris Pract. Disc. 248 This was ever..an unmoveable Objection. |
b. = immovable a. 2 b.
| 1382 Wyclif Col. i. 23 Stable, and vnmouable fro the hope of the gospel. 1445 in Anglia XXVIII. 259 Onmevable thou owist not endure, whan benygne preyers be offrid. a 1542 Wyatt in Tottel's Misc. (Arb.) 70 Wilde beastes in them, fierce loue in me is fed. Vnmoueable am I: and they stedfast. 1570 T. Wilson Demosth. Orat., Life 129 Who helde out with a stomacke vpright and vnmooueable, in all the..stormes of fortune. a 1624 Bp. M. Smith Serm. (1632) 34 Fabricius..remained..vndauntable, and vnmoveable. 1683 Temple Mem. Wks. 1720 I. 399 The Prince was un⁓moveable in the Point of not leaving his Allies. 1748 Richardson Clarissa (1811) I. 154 Ungrateful girl, and unmovable as ungrateful! 1856 Miss Warner Hills Shatemuc xl, She begged to be allowed to stay..; but Elizabeth was unmoveable. |
† 3. Of property: = immovable a. 3. (Cf. movable a. 4.)
| c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xliv. (Lucy) 90 Þane sawyt þai..Þare gudis unmowable sone. c 1449 Pecock Repr. i. x. 49 The endewing of preestis bi rentis and bi vnmoueable possessiouns. 1467–8 Rolls of Parlt. V. 593/1 The Londes and Tenementes, Goodes and Catalles, meovable and unmeovable. 1535 Coverdale Judith viii. 7 Hyr husbande also had lefte her..greate vnmoueable possessions and many catell. 1565 Wills & Inv. N.C. (Surtees) 235 Executrix and mynyster of all my goods mewable and vnmewable. c 1618 Moryson Itin. iv. (1903) 155 In..Italy the father dying intestate, the brothers diuide his mouable and vnmouable goods. |
† b. n. pl. Immovable goods. Obs.
| 1536 in Lett. Suppress. Monast. (Camden) 146 We..submytt owr selfes and our monasterye, with all the moveables and unmovables therof, unto your majesties accustomede grace. 1562 J. Heywood Prov. & Epigr. (1867) 148 Mouables, vnmouables, lande or farme, Thou hast not one grotes woorth, of good or goodnes. a 1577 Sir T. Smith Commw. Eng. (1609) 121 Touching marriage and the right in moueables and vnmoueables which commeth thereby. |