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inconsiderable, a. (n.)|ɪnkənˈsɪdərəb(ə)l|
[a. F. inconsidérable (16th c. in Godef.), f. in- (in-3) + considérable.]
Not considerable; not to be considered.
†1. Incapable of being considered or reckoned, incalculable. (Cf. consider 6.) Obs. rare.
1598Florio, Inconsiderabile, that cannot be considered, or imagined, inconsiderable. a1631Donne Serm. (Alford) IV. cvii. 466 All that inexpressible inconsiderable Number made not up one Minute of this Eternity.
2. Not to be considered; unworthy of consideration; beneath notice; of no consequence, unimportant; insignificant, trifling. The opposite of considerable (senses 3–5).
1637Laud in Collect. (O.H.S.) I. 318 Nor is it altogether inconsiderable, that [etc.]. 1658–9Burton's Diary (1828) III. 80, I never heard of the fellow. He is inconsiderable. 1699Bentley Phal. 133 This Discovery of mine, if it be true, is no inconsiderable one. 1712Steele Spect. No. 302 ⁋11 A trifling inconsiderable Circumstance. 1754Sherlock Disc. (1759) I. xi. 311 This Earth was made for the Habitation of Men, wicked and inconsiderable as they are. 1806T. S. Surr Winter in Lond. (ed. 3) II. 39 My uncle, in whose correspondence..Mr. Montagu has made no inconsiderable figure.
b. Hence, Of very small value, amount, or size.
1648D. Jenkins Wks. 2 The place is of so inconsiderable a benefit that it is worth but 80. l. per Annum. 1654Sir E. Nicholas in N. Papers (Camden) II. 61, I know nothing of all the money he hath received,..which I assure you have not been inconsiderable sums. 1766Smollett Hist. Eng. (1804) V. 264 A small fortification..defended by an inconsiderable garrison. 1796Morse Amer. Geog. I. 450 Paukatuck river, is an inconsiderable stream. 1812Chalmers Dom. Econ. Gt. Brit. 373 The American tribes..are found to be inconsiderable in numbers. 1875Scrivener Lect. Text N. Test. 9 But a few inconsiderable fragments of the New Testament still extant are older than the fiery reign of Diocletian.
†3. Inconsiderate, thoughtless. Obs. rare.
1640[implied in inconsiderableness 2]. a1646[implied in inconsiderably 2]. 1692Locke Educ. 138 Questions which to a supercilious and inconsiderable Japaner would seem very idle. 1726Leoni tr. Alberti's Archit. II. 100/1 The Region wherein an inconsiderable Architect has placed his City, may perhaps have those defects.
†B. n. A point or circumstance not worth considering, or of no importance. Chiefly in pl. Obs.
1670W. Simpson Hydrol. Ess. p. xiv, Both not so repleat with inconsiderables. |