untowardness
(ʌntəˈwɔːdnɪs, -ˈtəʊəd-)
[un-1 12.]
1. Disinclination to be accommodating or pleasant; perversity, obstinacy.
| 1481 Cov. Leet Bk. 500 We fynde them therunto in no wyse towardly disposed,..which their vntowardnesse sowneth not to oure pleasure. 1538–9 Henry VIII in Wyatt's Wks. (1816) II. 501 Continuing our good mind and affection to join with him (his said untowardness and coldness in that behalf notwithstanding.) 1569 in Bolton Stat. Irel. (1621) 339 Which is occasioned by the sluggardy, idlenesse and vntowardnes of the Marchants. 1607 Hieron Wks. I. 129 Gods first work in them is..to remooue their naturall vntowardnesse, and to make their hearts more..pliable vnto good. 1658 Whole Duty Man 120 Complain not of the hardness of the duty, but of the untowardness of thy own heart. 1723 Pres. St. Russia I. 16 The Untowardness of these People made me astonished. 1765 C. Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. 232 Finding him not at so entire leisure to discipline their untowardness as in time of peace. 1873 Hamerton Intell. Life ii. ii. 54 Our untowardness was a hopeful sign. |
b. Const. to (esp. with inf.).
| c 1547 Latimer in Foxe A. & M. (1563) 1352/1 So should I haue bene without this inwarde sorrow of my harte, to see suche vntowardnes of you bothe to godlines. 1557 Earl Westmorld. in Lodge Illustr. Brit. Hist. (1791) I. 287, I ame sory to see suche an untowardnes to serve in the Bushopriche men as ys now. 1579 J. Stubbes Gaping Gulf E j b, If ther be..a generall vntowardnes to desire that state of lyfe. |
† 2. Lack of good progress or promise, esp. in respect of physical condition. Obs.
| 1538 Audley in St. Papers Henry VIII, I. 588 Besechyng you to travayle therin [sc. the suit] and to advertise me..of the towardnes or ontowardnes therof. 1555 W. Watreman Fardle Facions ii. viii. 184 Yf thei spie vntowardnes in the infante, deformitie, or lacke of lymmes, [they] commaunde it to be slayne. 1601 Holland Pliny I. 359 Even in trees as well as in other living creatures, there is a certaine infelicitie, which may be well tearmed, A dwarfish untowardnesse. |
† 3. Lack of aptitude; awkwardness. Obs.
| 1598 Florio, Inettudine, vnaptnesse, vntowardnesse, grossenes. 1604 T. Wright Passions v. iii. 176 Some..eloquent [men],..for lack of action or rather vntowardnesse,..were accounted infants. 1622 F. Markham Bk. War v. ii. 168 There will be such disparity and untowardnesse in his actions, that all his labour will be to little or no purpose. |
4. Unpropitiousness; adverseness.
| 1778 [W. H. Marshall] Minutes Agric., Observ. 101 The untowardness of circumstances prevented any Experiment..from being made. 1803–5 Wordsw. Rob Roy's Grave 62 Through untowardness of fate..He came an age too late. 1847 Helps Friends in C. i. iii. 44 The untowardness of things present, the miseries of the past. 1871 Morley Vauvenargues in Crit. Misc. 7 His nature had such..quality that the perpetual untowardness of circumstances left no evil print upon him. |