unˈfaithful, a.
[un-1 7.]
1. Not having the proper religious faith; infidel, unbelieving. Also absol.
| 1382 Wyclif 1 Cor. vii. 12 If ony brothir haue an vnfeithful..wyf, and sche consentith for to dwelle with hym, leue he..hir not. 1388 ― Ps. l. 15, I schal teche wickid men thi weies; and vnfeithful men schulen be conuertid to thee. 1456 Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 106 Thai landis that the unfaithfull men haldis. 1534 More Treat. Passion Wks. 1341/2 Justinus..writing of our faith in his second Apologye to the vnfaithful Emperour Antonius. 1560 Bible (Genev.) 2 Esdras xv. 4 For euery vnfaithful shal dye in his vnfaithfulnes. 1643–5 Milton Divorce i. viii, The author of a generall divorce between the faithfull and unfaithfull seed. 1667 ― P.L. xii. 481 What will betide the few, His faithful, left among th' unfaithful herd, The enemies of truth? 1768–74 Tucker Lt. Nat. (1834) II. 484 Whatever supernatural virtue or nutritive faculty the priest has infused into the bread, are verily..received by the unfaithful. 1800 Asiat. Ann. Reg., Misc. Tr. 334/1 Therefore he who follows Mahommedanism and..violates this treaty, so comporting himself like the unfaithful [etc.]. |
† b. Not in accordance with faith; irreligious.
| 1549 Compl. Scot. i. 22 Mony ignorant pepil hes confermit ane ymaginet onfaythtful opinione in ther hede. |
2. Not keeping good faith; acting falsely or treacherously. Also absol.
| c 1400 Destr. Troy 714 Vnfaithfull freke, with þi fals cast, Þat such a lady belirt. 1530 Palsgr. 328/1 Unfaythfull of promesse, desloyal. 1549 Cheke Hurt Sedit. L j, Shall they not truly say the subiectes to be more vnfaithfull in disobedience, than other subiects worse ordered be. 1600 Shakes. A.Y.L. iv. i. 199, I will thinke you the most patheticall breake-promise..that may bee chosen out of the grosse band of the vnfaithfull. 1620 in Foster Eng. Factories Ind. (1906) I. 209 Theis Pegu factors were fownde to be royotous, vitious and unfaithfull. a 1729 Congreve Ovid's Art of Love iii. 63 The prince so far for piety renown'd, To thee, Eliza, was unfaithful found. 1803 Wellesley in Owen Desp. (1877) 331, I propose to view this transaction as the combined offence of two unfaithful servants. 1832 H. Martineau Demerara iii. 35, I should be unfaithful if I had ever promised either. |
b. transf. Of things.
| a 1586 Sidney Arcadia iii. xii, The unfaythfull armour yeelding to the swoordes strong-guided sharpenesse. 1615 G. Sandys Trav. 2 A sea tempestuous and unfaithfull, at an instant incensed with sudden gusts. 1669 Dryden Tyrannic Love i. i, I..Did first the depth of trembling Marshes sound, And fix'd my Eagles in unfaithful ground. 1726 Leoni Alberti's Archit. I. 35 Sea-sand..is..unfaithful in supporting great Weights. 1779 Sheridan Monody on Garrick 14 As Fancy, oft,..Has view'd by shadowy Eve's unfaithful Gloom, A weeping Cherub on a Martyr's Tomb. 1831 James Phil. Augustus I. v, One of those people whose lips—those ever unfaithful guardians of the treasures of the heart—are peculiarly apt to murmur..unconsciously. 1842 Tennyson Love & Duty 91 With quiet eyes unfaithful to the truth. |
c. Not following an original, not translating or translated, faithfully; incorrect, inexact.
| a 1697 Aubrey Lives (1898) II. 174 He was a learned man,..but is much blamed for his unfaithfull quotations. 1724 A. Collins Gr. Chr. Relig. 163 The Septuagint seems the work both of ignorant and unfaithful Translators. 1776 Mickle tr. Camoens' Lusiad Introd. 130 The unfaithful and unpoetical version [of the Lusiad] of Fanshaw. 1798 Ferriar Illustr. Sterne, etc. 91 Burton has spoiled this passage by an unfaithful translation. 1855 Macaulay Hist. Eng. xix. IV. 332 An unfaithful interpreter of the sense of the nation. 1864 Pusey Lect. Daniel 379 To which act this writer probably alluded in his unfaithful paraphrase, ‘chrism shall be removed’. |
d. spec. Not faithful in wedlock.
| 1828 Webster s.v., An unfaithful husband or wife. 1841 W. Spalding Italy & It. Isl. II. 147 Galeotto Manfredi,..having married Francesca Bentivoglio,..not only was unfaithful to her, but treated her with cruelty. |
3. Of conduct: Characterized by want of good faith; not honest or upright.
| 1565 Cooper s.v. Perfidia, To be deceiued by ones treacherie and vnfaithfull dealing. Ibid. s.v. Infidus, An vnfaithfull league that will not long be kepte. 1651 Jer. Taylor Serm. for Year xxiii. 292 Lying or craftinesse, and unfaithful usages, robs a man of the honour of his soul. 1680 Otway Orphan iv. vi, I might think with Justice most severely Of this unfaithful dealing with your Brother. 1704 Trapp Abra-Mulé ii. i. 451 Spies..who for hope Of a Reward, will give the Sultan notice Of such unfaithful Dealing. 1866 Geo. Eliot F. Holt v, Your father..was, as I understand, a man whose walk was not unfaithful. |