narrow-mindedadj.n.
/ˌnarəʊˈmʌɪndᵻd/, U.S. /ˈnɛroʊˌmaɪndᵻd/ A. adj.
Rigid or restricted in one's views, unreceptive to new ideas; lacking in breadth of mind; illiberal, prejudiced.In quot. 1611: (probably) faint-hearted, timid.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > expressed belief, opinion > bias, prejudice > narrow-mindedness > [adjective]
narrowed1599
narrow-minded1611
narrow1612
small1619
narrow1622
tub-brained1634
narrow-souled1641
narrow-spirited1645
narrow-compassed1647
illiberal1649
cat-witted1672
stingy1694
little-minded1707
straitened1712
unenlarged1741
contracted1765
one-eyed1779
unliberalized1793
nippit1808
small-minded1811
narrow-brained1835
narrow visioned1853
thin-minded1862
narrow-gauge1872
one-track1900
narrow-gutted1903
tunnel-visioned1968
1611 J. Barclay tr. W. Barclay Treat. Temporall Power Pope viii. 48 in R. Sheldon Cert. Reasons Lawfulnesse Oath Allegiance Shall we imagine, that they were so vnskilfull and ignorant of the authority of the Church, that they knew not that it was indued with such a power? Or in a word, that they were so fearefull, and narrow minded [L. pusillanimos], that they durst not tell the Princes that which they knew?
1631 B. Jonson Staple of Newes v. i. 74 in Wks. II A narrow minded man! my thoughts doe dwell All in a Lane, or line indeed.
1777 W. Robertson Hist. Amer. (1783) II. 271 Where a narrow-minded bigotry appears in such close union with oppression and cruelty.
1830 J. F. W. Herschel Prelim. Disc. Study Nat. Philos. 7 The objection which has been taken..by persons, well meaning perhaps, certainly narrow-minded.
1874 L. Stephen Hours in Libr. 1st Ser. 389 He shows to the full their narrow-minded hatred of the preceding century.
1908 E. M. Forster Room with View i. 13 So you think I ought to have accepted their offer? You feel I have been narrow-minded and suspicious?
1937 R. K. Narayan Bachelor of Arts v. 82 I am sorry you are so narrow-minded.
1999 New Scientist 21 Aug. 3/3 Creation scientists..adopting the guise of open-minded science to disguise their narrow-minded dogma.
B. n.
With plural agreement. With the. Narrow-minded people as a class.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > expressed belief, opinion > bias, prejudice > narrow-mindedness > [noun]
narrow-mindedness1646
parvanimitya1691
narrowness1697
narrow-spiritedness1709
little-mindedness1767
narrow-mindeda1774
contraction1775
illiberality1775
smallness1813
illiberalism1839
narrow-heartedness1850
single-track mind1919
tunnel vision1949
a1774 A. Tucker Light of Nature Pursued (1777) III. iv. 424 The rigorous and narrow-minded throw so many difficulties in the way of salvation.
1792 M. Wollstonecraft Vindic. Rights Woman iii. 83 When any prevailing prejudice is attacked, the wise will consider, and leave the narrow-minded to rail with thoughtless vehemence at innovation.
1841 J. F. Cooper Deerslayer II. viii. 134 As is usual with the vulgar and narrow-minded, he was more disposed to reproach others..than to censure himself.
1987 E. David Omelette & Glass of Wine (BNC) 183 The uninformed criticism of the narrow-minded..did not worry Dr de Pomiane one jot.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.n.1611