unlikelinessn.
/(ˌ)ʌnˈlʌɪklɪnᵻs/, U.S. /ˌənˈlaɪklinᵻs/ a. The quality or condition of being unsuitable, unfit, or unpromising. Cf. unlikely adj. 2a, unlikely adj. 2c, likeliness n. 3. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > unfittingness > [noun]
unconablenessa1340
unconabletya1340
unlikelinessa1413
ungrace1430
disconveniencec1450
wangrace1513
uncomeliness1542
improperty1555
unproperness1561
unmeetness1574
unhandsomeness1598
unbeseemingness1623
unbecomingness1652
impropriety1697
indecence1714
paw-pawness1828
unadaptedness1846
unbefittingness1865
a1413 (c1385) G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde (Pierpont Morgan) (1881) i. l. 16 For I þat god of loues seruauntȝ serue Ne dar to loue for myn vnliklynesse.
1440 J. Capgrave Life St. Norbert (1977) l. 1640 Þis religioun mytȝ not stande..for þe onliklynesse Of þe sory ground.
?1577 F. T. Debate Pride & Lowlines To Rdr., sig. Aij Yet marke thou if what they say bee sooth. And if thou finde it so haue thou no scorn, Therof, for their vnlikelines that spake.
1615 T. Bastard 12 Serm. iv. 67 We see, as the littlenesse or vnaptnesse of the persons, cannot hinder God in executing by them works of wonder, no more can the vnlikelinesse or vnaptnesse of the place.
1676 C. Cotton Compl. Angler v. 41 Now that I have told you how a Flie is to be made, you shall presently see me make one, with which you may peradventure take a Trout this morning, notwithstanding the unlikeliness of the day.
b. Unseemliness, unbecomingness. Cf. unlikely adj. 2b. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > dueness or propriety > moral impropriety > [noun]
unconablenessa1340
unseemlinessc1380
ungrace1430
disconveniencec1450
unlikelinessc1485
wangrace1513
unseemingness1540
uncomeliness1542
indecency1589
undecency1589
unhandsomeness1598
unbeseemingness1623
misbecomingness1644
unbecomingness1652
indecorum1664
indecence1714
impropriety1751
indecorousness1811
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > [noun] > unseemly behaviour or unseemliness
unconablenessa1340
unconabletya1340
unseemlinessc1380
ungrace1430
disconveniencec1450
unlikelinessc1485
wangrace1513
uncomeliness1542
indecency1589
undecency1589
unhandsomeness1598
unworthiness1608
inconveniencya1616
unbeseemingness1623
unbecomingness1652
indecorum1664
indecence1714
indecorousness1811
c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Law of Armys (2005) 179 Neuertheles, and he saw..him mak grete repaire till his hous, and vnlyklynes, he mycht mak him..exhortacioun, to nocht mak sik vnlikly repaire.
1562 in J. Stuart Sel. Rec. Kirk Aberdeen (1846) 8 All suspect personis of adultery, quhair full probatioun can nocht be had, bot ane suspitioun risin throcht evill apperans and onlyklenes..to..forbeir the cumpany of tham with quhom thai ar suspect.
1685 H. More Paralipomena Prophetica xxxiv. 306 What unlikeliness or Indecorum is it, that Proclamation be made who he is, that shall..[open] the Book?
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > difference > [noun]
diversitya1340
difference1340
variancec1374
distancea1382
unlikenessa1387
variationc1405
discrepation?a1425
distinction1435
severaltyc1449
unlikelinessc1450
dissemblance1463
unlikelihood1483
alteritya1500
indifferencec1503
discrepancea1522
dissimilitude1532
differency1542
variety1552
discernment1570
disparitya1575
discrepancy1579
otherness1587
discernance1592
imparity1608
disanalogy1610
disresemblance1622
dislikeness1623
diff1624
inconformity1625
irresemblance1628
variousness1628
odds1642
disparation1654
aliety1656
disparility1656
disparateness1659
severality1664
nonconformity1672
unconformableness1712
dissimilarity1715
differentness1727
differ1787
allogeneitya1834
otherwiseness1890
otherliness1937
diversion-
c1450 in D. Thomson Middle Eng. Grammatical Texts (1984) 34 (MED) Wordes that bytokenyth byddyng, hotyng, or comaundyng, lycclynesse or vnlicclynesse, euenesse or vneuenesse..wyll constreu wyth datyf case.
1561 T. Norton tr. J. Calvin Inst. Christian Relig. ii. f. 143 It shall be sufficient that we wey the wordes of one of them, to attain the meaning of them both. Albeit, there is some vnlikelinesse betwene them.
1588 E. Aggas tr. F. de La Noue Politicke & Mil. Disc. xii. 162 We must no more speake of those daies, least ye vnlikelinesse of ours therto do make vs to blush for shame.
1620 Bp. J. Hall Contempl. V. N.T. ii. 358 Nether was there more vnlikelinesse in their disposition and carriage, then similitude in their function.
1659 W. Hicks Ἀποκάλυψις Ἀποκάλυψεως i. 5 The unlikelyness of the style and speech that there is between this book and the Gospel of John.
1722 J. Crawford Case of inoculating Small-pox Consider'd 13 Therefore 'twere absurd, to pretend to assimilate them to the Blood, when the Effect expected from them is to result from their unlikeliness to, and discord with it.
1795 D. Campbell Journey over Land to India ii. xxxiv. 67 Things, which..from the novelty of their appearance, and their unlikeliness to any thing seen in Europe, serve..to divert by their oddity.
1854 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Oct. 396/1 The Essayist's points of unlikeliness between our Sun and other Fixed Stars.
1907 A. M. Douglas In Sherburne Line xvii. 285 Perhaps that is the unlikeliness between love and friendship.
3. The quality, state, or fact of being unlikely or improbable; improbability. Cf. unlikely adj. 1.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > improbability, unlikeliness > [noun]
unlikelihood?1470
unlikeliness?1560
implausibility1592
improbability1598
dislikelihood1823
inverisimilitudea1834
?1560 T. Norton Orations of Arsanes sig. L.iiij The mightynesse of our aduersaries, and the sclendernesse of our powers in comparison of theirs..haue after so many spoyles of our contrey..brought vs to great vnlikelynesse of long continuance.
1614 W. Raleigh Hist. World i. iii. vii. §4. 82 Whether Themistocles perceiued much vnlikelinesse of good successe [etc.].
1690 J. Locke Ess. Humane Understanding iv. xv. 332 There being degrees herein, from the very neighbourhood of Certainty and Evidence, quite down to Improbability and Unlikeliness.
1722 R. Boulton Possibility Magick, Sorcery & Witchcraft Demonstrated i. iv. 73 The unlikeliness of the Truth of what he says, will make others disbelieve him.
1754 E. Burt Lett. N. Scotl. II. xxvi. 299 The Unlikeliness it should, or could have ever been done by the Natives.
1841 T. P. Thompson Exercises (1842) VI. 160 The unlikeliness that he should get what he asked for.
1881 G. Saintsbury Dryden 72 The unlikeliness of his ever having been a very fervent Roundhead.
1941 Washington Post 17 Sept. 12/7 There was an unlikeliness to having a maid and the possessors thereof were more than mortal.
1988 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 3 Dec. 1458/2 Those [children] now seen in hospital will to some extent be selected for their unlikeliness to benefit from a simple elimination diet.
2000 Sunday Tasmanian (Nexis) 25 June (Sport section) 61 Illustrating the unlikeliness of the win were the following match statistics.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2017; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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