▪ I. unˈtowardly, a. Now rare.
[un-1 7.]
1. Unbecoming, improper.
| 1483 Cov. Leet Bk. 511 Not beyng content with such answer [he] desired a copy of þat Evidence,..&..other vntowardly wordes there vttered. 1598 R. Grenewey Tacitus, Ann. i. ii. 3 Little doubt but Augustus, complaining of the yong mans vntowardly behauior, caused his exile to be confirmed. 1693 Locke Educ. 70 [Children] frequently learn from unbred or debauched Servants..untowardly Tricks and Vices. |
b. Froward, perverse, ill-disposed.
| 1561 T. Hoby tr. Castiglione's Courtyer iv. Z z iii, Not to be haughtie, enuious,..contentious nor vntowardlye. 1598 R. Barckley Felic. Man v. 427 If they [sc. children] prooue vntowardly and giuen to lewdnesse, what greater griefe can happen to a man? a 1678 H. Scougal Disc. Imp. Subj. (1735) 193 Sad and heavy looks, morose and untowardly deportment. 1712 Steele Spect. No. 442 ¶3 The Serene or Cloudy, Jovial or Melancholy, Untowardly or Easy [Temper]. 1791 Washington Let. Writ. 1892 XII. 85 If you are disobliging, self-willed, and untowardly, it is hardly to be expected that they will engage themselves in unpleasant disputes with you. 1887 S. Cheshire Gloss. 320 Ay, he's..an unto'artly yowth, is Joe. |
2. Awkward, clumsy.
| 1611 Cotgr., Faire le pied de veau, to make an vntowardlie, or clownish leg; or, to vse a foolish lifting vp of the leg in dauncing, &c. a 1642 Sir W. Monson Naval Tracts ii. (1704) 270/1 They went the most untowardly way I ever saw. 1668 G. Etherege She wou'd if she cou'd iii. ii, Well, thou hast seduc'd me; But I shall look so untowardly. |
3. Ill-suiting; adverse; unfavourable.
| 1756 C. Lucas Ess. Waters II. 257, I have observed at Spa..one most untowardly effect. 1856 Carlyle Let. 22 Feb. (Encycl. Dict.), Travelling is at all times very untowardly to me. 1864 ― Fredk. Gt. xv. iii. IV. 32 The Expedition does not improve in promise;..the march one of the most untowardly. |
▪ II. untowardly, adv.
(ʌntəˈwɔːdlɪ, -ˈtəʊəd-)
[un-1 11.]
1. Unskilfully, awkwardly, clumsily, badly.
| 1550 Bale Apol. 146 b, That rawe and ragged clause whych ye haue vntowardly torne out of hys xxi. homely. 1561 T. Norton Calvin's Inst. iii. 159 No man shal go so vntowardly, but he shal euery day get some ground, though it be but litle. 1576 R. Peterson G. della Casa's Galateo 105 Their cloathes doe sit vppon them so vntowardly. 1642 Fuller Holy & Prof. St. iv. ix. 281 Generally the most dexterous in spiritual matters are left-handed in temporall businesse, and go but untowardly about them. 1667 Dryden Sir Martin Mar-all v. i, He played well, and yet methinks he held his lute not untowardly. 1697 W. Dampier Voy. I. 190 They rig their Ships but untowardly,..and are as meanly furnished with Warlike Provisions. 1762 Sterne Tr. Shandy vi. xxxiii, A large uneven thread..running along the whole length of the web, and so untowardly, you cannot so much as cut out..a fillet. 1764 Harmer Observ. ix. 23 There is no scripture from whence he attempts to deduce it, as he doth the time of the latter rain, though very untowardly. |
b. Unsuitably (for use).
| 1686 Plot Staffordsh. 352 If there be any such land that lyes so untowardly. |
2. Unluckily; unpropitiously; with likelihood or suggestion of misfortune or mishap.
| 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 262 As he lept out of his ship,..he fell so vntowardly, that the blood brast out of his nose. 1571 Golding Calvin on Ps. ii. 8 Least this Prophecie should bee spoken in vayne, yea and untowardly concerning the largenesse of dominion. 1599 Shakes. Much Ado iii. ii. 134 O day vntowardly turned! 1603 Holland Plutarch's Mor. 108 Which as many as use, worke their own..destruction, dauncing..a daunce untowardly about a pits brinke. 1699 Bentley Phal. Introd. 2 Mr. B. here seems to enter upon his work a little untowardly and ominously. |
b. Unsuccessfully; unfortunately.
| 1649 J. H. Motion to Parl. Adv. Learn. 35 There were some propensions and aversions,..which if disobeyed succeeded untowardly and unsuccessefully. 1679 Hist. Jetzer 26 The Prior swore things went very untowardly against them. a 1722 Lisle Husb. (1752) 180 Such barley..will come away very untowardly in the malting. 1815 Jane Austen Emma xxxvi, If things are going untowardly one month, they are sure to mend the next. 1889 Gretton Memory's Harkb. 269 On his death-bed he..sent urgently for the clergyman, who untowardly happened to be from home. |
3. Rudely, roughly; frowardly.
| 1682 Bunyan Holy War 223, I charge you, therefore,..that you carry it not ruggedly, or untowardly to my Captains, or their men. 1693 Southerne Maid's Last Prayer ii. ii, Give me thy Hand dear Bully; Faith, I'm sorry you provok'd me to use you so untowardly. 1868–9 Browning Ring & Bk. ix. 259 Let the heifer bear the yoke!..What if..all untowardly she pursue her way With groan and grunt? |