| 释义 |
unˈhonest, a. Obs. exc. arch. or dial.
[un-1 7 and 5 b.]
In senses 2 and 3 very common in the 16th cent.
1. a. Physically or morally objectionable, offensive, or unpleasant; indecent, filthy, vile.
13..K. Alis. 6472 Bothe byfore and eke byhynde, They haveth clothyng unhonest. a1350St. Philip & Jas. 21 in Horstm. Altengl. Leg. (1881) 52 Blastes out of his mouth he blew, Þat war so euyl and vn-honeste, Þai destryd oft both man and beste. 1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 283 The membres of our body that be moost vnhonest and moost rebellynge to our reason. 1542Udall Erasm. Apoph. 152 b, Whatsoever thyng wer not of it self unhonest, he affermed not to bee unhoneste in open presence. 1633P. Fletcher Purple Isl. viii. xx, His shamefull parts, that shunne the hated light, Were naked left; (ah foul unhonest sight!).
b. Uncomely, unhandsome.
1382Wyclif 1 Cor. xii. 23 And tho membris that ben vn⁓honest, han more honeste. 1398Trevisa Barth. De P.R. v. lxvi. (Bodl. MS.), If a man is withoute heed heere, he is yholde þe more vnhoneste.
c. Unseemly, unbecoming, improper.
a1400–50Bk. Curtasye 96 in Babees Bk., While þou holdes mete in mouthe, be war To drynke, þat is an [vn]honest char. 1502Arnolde Chron. (1811) 277 Item that the bookis and vestmentis bien broken and vnhonest for dyuine seruice. 1542Udall Erasm. Apoph. 89 b, It was not a thyng unhonest for one to carrye a gammonde of bakon in his hande. 1568Grafton Chron. II. 234 They dayly chaunged there apparel, sometime long and wide, and at another tyme, cutted short.., and altogether vnsemely and vnhonest.
2. Of actions, language, etc.:
a. Morally unfitting or unbecoming; unseemly, immodest, lewd.
13..E.E. Allit. P. B. 579 Alle illez he hates..; But non nuyez hym..As harlottrye vnhonest, heþyng of seluen. c1380Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 29, I dreede to telle holy wordis wiþ my foule mouþ, fillid wiþ unhoneste wordis. 1456Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 142 Thair under⁓taking was in the begynnyng unhonest, unlefull. c1475Babees Bk. 99 Whenne yee er sette, take noone vnhoneste tale. 1502Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W. 1506) iv. xvi. T ij, Yf in songes vnhonest, & tryfylles, & talkynges of langage, he swereth god. 1598R. Grenewey Tacitus, Ann. iv. xii. (1622) 107 Domitius Afer..laid to her charge that she lead an vnhonest life with Furnius. 1607Dekker Jests to make you Merry Wks. (Grosart) II. 302 To this vnhonest pleasure, is begot a companion repentance. 1645Ussher Body Div. 279 This commandement [is] broken by..taking delight in hearing unhonest things.
b. Dishonourable, discreditable.
c1400Apol. Loll. 100 A wowe is..vnwise, wan it is only about temporal þingis, or vnhonest, or vnprofitable to soule hele. c1440Alph. Tales 41 What profettis þi frenship vnto me, when þu desyris me for to do for þe þat þing þat is vn⁓honeste? a1470Dives & Pauper (W. de W. 1496) iv. xviii. 181/2 The suget shal not..do ony thyng unryghtfull & un⁓honest. 1540Cromwell in Merriman Life & Lett. (1902) II. 254 There is daunger of vnhonest condicions or of Discontentement at departing. 1587Fleming Contn. Holinshed III. 1384/1 My case is hard, but yet am I not so desperat as to reuenge it vpon my selfe, which must needs be the euent of so vnhonest and vnpossible an enterprise. 1614Raleigh Hist. World iii. x. §5. 116 He brought an vnhonest message to his owne Countrimen. 1649Canne Snare Broken 14 An oath is unlawfull when..we promise any thing that is unjust or unhonest. 1825Brockett N.C. Words, Unhonest, dishonourable, dishonest. Stated in Todd's John. to be obsolete; but it is not so in the North.
3. Of persons:
a. Not honourable, respectable, or of good repute; acting in a dishonourable or discreditable manner. Also absol.
1382Wyclif Ecclus. xxxvii. 13 With the dredful trete [not] of bataile,..with the vnhonest, of honeste. 1388― Prov. xxv. 8 Whanne thou hast maad thi frend vnhonest. c1400tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 64 Kepe þy most noble saule hegh,..þat ys geuyn to þe, noght to be maad vnhonest by þe, but to be enhyed and glorifyed. a1548Hall Chron., Hen. IV, 16 b, This false father in lawe, this untrew, unhonest and perjured persone. 1586A. Day Eng. Secretary i. (1625) 32 These and such like, as confounders of all ciuility,..are confirmed to be vnhonest. 1610Healey St. Aug. Citie of God 462 Some ambitious unhonest fellow. 1624Burton Anat. Mel. (ed. 2) iii. ii. 442 Of a majesticall presence, but peradventure imperious, vnhonest, selfewill'd.
b. Bad or immoral in character or conduct; disreputable.
c1422Hoccleve Min. Poems 218/63 To goode wommen that it be no shame, Al thogh þat thow vnhonest wommen blame. 1456Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 190 Gif a man fyndis ane unhonest foule creature hafand conversacioun with his wyf. 1536Cromwell in Merriman Life & Lett. (1902) II. 28 They shall not geve theymself to drinking and ryote sitting all daye at Tables or cardes playng..and specially with vnhonest and vnthryftye persons. 1574Hellowes Gueuara's Fam. Ep. (1577) 60 All which were in their liues very vnhonest, and in their gouernement very offensiue. 1621Burton Anat. Mel. i. ii. iv. i, If a Nurse be mishapen, vnchast, vnhonest, impudent, drunke,..the child..will be so too. 1640–1Kirkcudbr. War-Comm. Min. Bk. (1855) 35 George cryit—Unhonest Beoche and adulterous Beoche.
4. Dishonest (in respect of dealings with others).
a. Of actions, gain, etc. (Also dial. as adv.)
1583Fulke Def. Tr. Script. iii. (1843) 195 This scornful replier..is so accustomed to false and unhonest dealing. 1607Markham Cavel. iii. (1617) 35 To give a false colour to their owne knowledges,..or..to get vnhonest polling pence to their own purses. 1628Feltham Resolves ii. xxxv. 109 Vnworthines is euer the end of vnhonest Deceit. a1670Spalding Troub. Chas. I (1850) I. 109 The purchess of there bischoprikis be brybes, thair vnhonest dealling in civill barganes. 1730St. Trials I. 315 The Earl as well abusing the King's Favours,..as bearing unhonest Friendship, in Conference with Sir Thomas concerning that Imployment. 1901‘Zack’ Dunstable Weir 48 What wud it feel like to come by the money unhonest?
b. Of persons.
1545R. Ascham Toxoph. (Arb.) 20 Honest fletchers and bowyers do not so, and they that be vnhonest, oughte..to amende them selues. a1586Sidney Arcadia ii. xv, The old man..folowed his suite with all meanes of vnhonest seruants, large promises [etc.]. 1603Breton Dial. Pith & Pleas. Wks. (Grosart) II. 13/2 How vnhonest is that labourer, who will not worke for his wages? 1645in J. Wilson Annals of Hawick (1850) 65 In calling of him..ane runnigat beggar,..and ane false unhonest thief. 1825–in dial. glossaries (N. Cy., Yorks., Lancs., Linc.). |