† un-i-seliadj.n.
Obsolete.
1. Unfortunate, wretched. Cf. unseely adj. 1a.In quot. a12251: unwise.In quot. a1250 as n.: a wretch, a fool.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > adversity > [adjective] > miserable or wretched
un-i-selieOE
drearyOE
unseelyOE
wretcha1122
usellc1175
unselea1200
wretcheda1200
misease?c1225
un-i-sele?c1250
wanlichec1275
miseasyc1300
wrackfulc1311
unblessed1340
wretchfula1382
wretchedful1382
caitiff1393
loddera1400
unhappena1400
pilledc1400
miserable?c1422
vengeablec1430
unhappyc1440
meschant?1473
miserousc1475
unselc1480
miser1542
forlorn1582
villainous1582
skybala1585
unblestful1608
despicable1635
haveless1868
the mind > emotion > suffering > misery > [adjective]
armlyeOE
un-i-selieOE
unledeeOE
unseelyOE
armOE
wretcha1122
unselea1200
wretcheda1200
wretchlyc1200
misease?c1225
wanlichec1275
miseasyc1300
wansomea1325
simplec1330
wretchfula1382
wretchedful1382
caitiff1393
loddera1400
desolate14..
disconsolatea1425
meschant?1473
miserousc1475
miser1542
unvisited1548
tribulate1575
happiless1582
uncomforted1583
blisslessa1586
uncomfortless1598
miserablea1616
thrallfula1618
calamitous1668
tribulated1682
donsie?1719
unsolaced1796
mis1939
eOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Otho) (2009) I. vi. 401 Ðæt is sio mæste unsælð on þys andweardan [li]fe þæt mon ærest sy gesælig, & æfter [þam] ungesælig.
OE Ælfric Lives of Saints (Julius) (1900) II. 234 Him wearþ þa gesæd þæt sum ungesælig man hine sylfne ahenge.
a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 31 (MED) He his uniseli ȝif him is lað to donne þis.
a1225 (c1200) Vices & Virtues (1888) 17 (MED) Andswere me nu, þu un-ȝesælie saule..hwat hafst ðu swa lange idon on ðare woreld?
a1250 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Nero) (1952) 29 Sum uniseli [?c1225 Cleo. vnseli]..haueð i schriuen hire al to wundre.
2. Wicked, accursed. Cf. unseely adj. 1b.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > wickedness > [adjective]
litherc893
unledeeOE
evil971
missOE
murkOE
unrighteousOE
unseelyOE
un-i-seliOE
unselec1050
wickc1175
foul-itowenc1225
unwrast?c1225
un-i-felec1275
wickedc1275
wrakefula1350
felonousc1374
unquertc1390
unperfect1395
felona1400
wanc1440
meschant?c1450
sinnyc1475
unselc1480
poison?1527
pernicious?1533
scelerous1534
viperous?1548
improbate1596
scelestious1609
scelestic1628
spider-like1655
dark-hearted1656
demonic1796
nineteda1798
sinful1863
society > morality > moral evil > wickedness > [adjective] > wicked or accursed
wariedc975
un-i-seliOE
awariedc1000
curseda1400
manseda1400
accursedc1400
damned1563
sacred1594
OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 1st Ser. (Royal) (1997) iv. 210 Se ungesæliga gitsere wile mare habban þonne him genihtsumað, þonne he furðon orsorh ne brihð his genihtsumnyssę.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 2003 Þe uniselie moder mid sexe hine to-snæde.
c1350 (a1333) William of Shoreham Poems (1902) 99 (MED) Purgatorie and helle, Hy beþ so lyte by-leued..Hem wolde douty more A lytel pyne her Þane ham wolde al þat sore And on-ysely fer.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2018; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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adj.n.eOE