undueadj.
/(ˌ)ʌnˈdjuː/, /(ˌ)ʌnˈdʒuː/, U.S. /ˌənˈd(j)u/ 1. Not properly owing or payable.
ΚΠ
1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Rolls) VIII. 241 For þe pope greved þe chirches of Engelond wiþtaxes and wiþ paiementis undewe and uncustemable.
1818 H. T. Colebrooke Treat. Obligations & Contracts 98 It was not undue, though payment might have been postponed.
1843 T. Carlyle Past & Present ii. xii. 138 My Lord of Clare, coming to claim his undue ‘debt’ in the Court at Witham.
2. Not appropriate or suitable; improper. Also of times, etc.: Unseasonable.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > a suitable time or opportunity > untimeliness > [adjective]
untimec1000
untidya1225
untimesa1300
out of season1377
undue1398
out of time1483
untimeousa1500
importunate1529
inopportune1533
importunea1535
unconvenable1542
intempestive1548
unseasonable1561
untimeable1570
out-of-season1574
untimely1581
unseasoned1589
baldc1590
timeless1590
melancounterous?1602
untimelessa1607
unopportune1653
mistimelyc1680
mistimed1687
ill-timed1692
ill-seasoned1843
unchancy1860
intempestuous1885
unseasonal1935
the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > unfittingness > [adjective]
unbecomelyc1200
uncomelyc1230
unsetec1325
unconablea1340
unhonestc1380
unsitting1390
undue1398
ungainanda1400
disconvenienta1425
unjustc1443
unconvenient1450
unsoundablec1450
inconvenientc1460
unorderly1471
mis-seeminga1522
unconvenable1542
undecent1546
ungreeing1560
graceless1562
unsetting1567
unhovable1570
ill1586
uncouth1589
unfittinga1592
unbeseeming1593
seemless1596
unbecoming1598
unbefitting1598
ill-seta1627
unbeseemly1648
ungainlya1660
indecorous1681
paw-paw1723
ungain-like1796
jive1971
society > morality > dueness or propriety > moral impropriety > [adjective]
unbecomelyc1200
uncomelyc1230
unseemlya1300
unsetec1325
unseemly1338
unconablea1340
unseeminga1340
uncovenablec1374
unsitting1390
undue1398
ungainanda1400
unseemc1425
unjustc1443
unconvenient1450
unsoundablec1450
unhonestc1503
inconvenienta1513
mis-seeminga1522
unconvenable1542
undecent1546
graceless1562
unsetting1567
indecent1570
misbecoming1589
misbeseeming1589
uncouth1589
unbeseeming1593
seemless1596
unbecoming1598
unbefitting1598
wry1601
disbecominga1639
unbeseemly1648
improper1739
ugly1879
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > [adjective] > unseemly
unthewfulc1050
unbecomelyc1200
unhend?c1225
uncomelyc1230
unseemlya1300
unsetec1325
unconablea1340
uncovenablec1374
unsitting1390
undue1398
ungainanda1400
unlikelya1425
unconvenient1450
unsoundablec1450
unorderly1471
unhonestc1503
inconvenienta1513
mis-seeminga1522
unconvenable1542
undecent1546
unsetting1567
indecent1570
uncouth1589
unfittinga1592
unbeseeming1593
seemless1596
unbecoming1598
unbefitting1598
unbeseemly1648
untoward1658
indecorous1682
ungain-like1796
society > morality > dueness or propriety > moral impropriety > [adjective] > unwarranted or unjustifiable
undue1398
sacklessa1400
indefensible1529
unwarranted1577
indefensive1586
unjustifiable1589
unwarrantable1612
unconcessible1643
unjustified1644
injustifiable1646
insupportable1649
ill-deserveda1666
unsupportable1710
warrantless1863
the world > relative properties > order > disorder > disharmony or incongruity > unsuitability or inappropriateness > [adjective]
unkinOE
un-i-feieOE
unbecomelyc1200
amissc1325
wrongousa1350
uncovenablec1374
unsitting1390
undue1398
ungainanda1400
unquemea1400
inconvenientc1400
unlikelyc1405
disconvenienta1425
impertinenta1425
discovenablec1436
unmeetc1440
wrongc1440
unjustc1443
unbehovablec1450
inconvenientc1460
uncordial1488
unmeetly1534
unapt1539
unfit1548
incommodious1553
ungreeing1560
impertinent1565
stravagant1565
unproper1566
improper1570
unhovable1570
unapt1579
unbeseeming1583
unsuitablea1586
unappliable1588
unapt1588
unlikely1590
unfittinga1592
unfitted1592
unsuiting1596
unbefitting1598
unsorted1598
unsuited1598
contrary1600
impair1609
unfitty1613
incompetible1621
incongruous1623
infita1626
uncompetiblea1628
inaccommodatea1657
inapplicable1656
inconcinnate1657
inconcinnous1662
inept1675
unaccommodatea1676
incommode1678
indecorous1681
untoward1682
unapplicable1690
insuitable1692
unsuit1704
malapropos1709
inapt1744
out of place1748
uncongenial1788
unfit-like1796
ungain-like1796
inappropriate1804
unadapted1805
dissuitable1807
dissuited1819
ineligible1828
infelicitous1835
unapropos1840
butt-ended1850
malappropriate1851
ungenial1871
misappropriate1878
unbecoming1893
unappropriate1898
unadjusted1899
offside1910
off-key1943
improbable1958
1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (1495) ii. xix. 45 Also in an undewe manere the deuyll coueyted highnes that fell not for hym.
1436 Pol. Poems (Rolls) II. 176 Thow this proverbe be homly and undew, Yet be liklynesse it is for soth fulle trew.
c1450 Jacob's Well (1900) 165 Whan playes arn hantyd in vndewe places & in vndewe tyme.
1541 Act 33 Hen. VIII c. 21 §1 Culpeper and she met..at an vndue houre of a leuen a clocke in the night.
1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie i. xvii. 19 Wee woulde not at an vndue houre enter amongest the Turkes armie.
1641 E. Dering Coll. Speeches on Relig. (1642) 77 Throwing that overboard which is adventitious, borrowed, and undue.
1680 W. Allen Perswasive to Peace & Unity (ed. 2) Pref. p. lx Our undue separations, and unchristian Contentions.
a1716 O. Blackall Wks. (1723) I. xxvi. 250 It is a Sin to omit the holy Duty, and it is likewise a Sin to perform it in an undue manner.
1774 J. Bryant New Syst. (new ed.) I. 344 They seem to have been aware, that they were guilty of an undue representation.
1866 C. Kingsley Hereward the Wake II. ii. 25 Men-at-arms.., who would, on due or undue cause shown, hunt men while he hunted game.
1875 B. Jowett in tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) V. 58 The undue awarding of honours is the ruin of states.
3. † c. Of persons: Acting unjustly. Obsolete. rare.
a. Not in accordance with what is just and right; unjustifiable; illegal.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > unjustness > [adjective]
unrighteOE
unrightfulOE
wrongousa1200
wrongfulc1311
unevenc1380
unjustc1384
untrue1393
injustc1430
unreasonablec1440
unduec1450
inique1521
unequal1535
wry1561
undeserved?c1570
justless1578
unrighted1608
unequitable1643
inequitable1667
unfair1724
iniquitablea1734
unsportsmanlike1754
unsportsmanly1776
unsporting1859
below the belt1892
red-hot1896
c1450 Jacob's Well (1900) 99 Ȝif þou do it..wyth exces of vndewe mesure, wyth a strong wyll to sle,..it is dedly synne.
c1475 (?c1400) Apol. Lollard Doctr. (1842) 11 If þe pope..graunt or behiȝt ani swilk þingis..for vndeu seruise, or oþer vndeu cause and vnpertinent.
a1525 ( Coventry Leet Bk. (1908) II. 293 Diuers subbaillifs of this Cite afore this han made many vndue returnes of preceptes directed..vnto theym.
1598 J. Florio Worlde of Wordes Iritto, vnlawfull, vndue, vnfit, vnright.
1622 F. Bacon Hist. Raigne Henry VII 14 Which proceeding being even at that time taxed for vigorous and undue [etc.].
1660 R. Coke Justice Vindicated Ep. Ded. 7 Such miscreants..had by undue ways devoured the patrimony of the Church.
1692 N. Luttrell Diary in Brief Hist. Relation State Affairs (1857) II. 601 Irish letters say, divers persons were committed for undue practices.
1783 E. Burke Rep. Affairs India in Wks. (1819) XI. 149 Complaints against the inferiour collectors of the Landed Revenue, stating their undue and vexatious exactions.
b. In special contexts.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > unjustness > [adjective] > of election
undue1477
society > authority > office > appointment to office > choosing or fact of being chosen for office > [adjective] > unfair (of election)
undue1477
(a)
(b)1687 T. Cartwright in J. R. Bloxham Magdalen Coll. & James II (1886) (modernized text) 134 The Election was undue.1736 Gentleman's Mag. Aug. 440/1 The Petition..complaining of an undue Election and Return for the City of Coventry.1764 T. Hutchinson Hist. Colony Massachusets-Bay, 1628–91 (1765) 62 This election was immediately determined..to be undue..[and] a warrant issued for a new.(c)1735 Visct. Bolingbroke Diss. upon Parties (ed. 2) 122 Thus He acquired an undue Influence over the Elections.1772 ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra I. Ded. p. viii Long parliaments are the foundation of the undue influence of the crown.1854 Act 17 & 18 Victoria c. 102 (title) An Act to..amend the Laws relating to Bribery, Treating, and undue Influence at Elections.1477 Earl Rivers tr. Dictes or Sayengis Philosophhres (Caxton) (1877) lf. 3v To gadre money..by subtyl exortacion or other vndewe meanes.
1534 Act 26 Hen. VIII c. 2 Without gile, fraude, or other vndew meane.
1621 H. Elsynge Notes Deb. House of Lords (1870) App. 136 Those innes..that have benne lately erected by his undue meanes.
1676 M. Hale Contempl. Moral & Divine: 2nd Pt. ii. 132 Frauds, and Plots, and Underminings, and Undue Means.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > rightness or justice > wrong or injustice > [adjective] > specifically of persons
wrongousa1200
unjustc1384
unduea1400
a1400 Pistill of Susan 236 Hir domus men vnduwe do hir be withdrawen.
4. Going beyond what is appropriate, warranted, or natural; excessive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > sufficient quantity, amount, or degree > excessive amount or degree > [adjective] > excessive or too great in amount or degree
overmeteeOE
unmeeteOE
unimeteOE
unmethelyOE
over-mickleOE
hoflesc1175
overmucha1300
unskilwisea1340
unskilfulc1370
luxuriousc1374
overseemingc1384
superfluec1384
unreasonablea1387
outrageousc1390
over-greatc1390
overlargec1390
overgrowna1398
unmeasurablea1398
unmoderatea1398
unordinatea1398
immoderate1398
rankc1400
overabundantc1410
excessivea1420
superabundant?a1425
unmeasureda1425
superfluousc1475
nimious?c1500
surfeitc1500
overliberala1535
torc1540
exceeding1548
distemperate1557
over-ranka1568
overswelling1582
accessive1583
overaboundinga1600
overteeming1603
excessful1633
overproportionated1647
superproportioned1652
over-proportioned1662
overproportionate1672
unduea1684
unequal1704
unmerciful1707
hypermetric1854
hypertrophied1879
over the top1980
society > morality > dueness or propriety > moral impropriety > [adjective] > unwarranted or unjustifiable > inordinate
inordinatec1386
unduea1684
a1684 R. Leighton Pract. Comm. 1st Epist. Peter (1694) II. 334 [Love] delights not in undue disclosing of Brethrens failings.
1739 Hist. Wks. Learned I. 137 He seems to own they are both chargeable with some Instances of undue Warmth and Zeal.
1780 W. Cowper Progress of Error 269 Pleasure admitted in undue degree, Enslaves the will.
1814 T. Chalmers Evid. Christian Revel. i. 21 An undue advantage has been given to that argument.
1865 E. B. Tylor Res. Early Hist. Mankind i. 2 An undue confidence in the statements of ancient writers.
1893 H. D. Traill Social Eng. Introd. p. xiv The undue prominence formerly given..to these matters has produced a reaction.
Derivatives
rare.
unˈdueness n.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > dueness or propriety > moral impropriety > [noun] > condition of being undue or unwarrantable
unrightfulnessc1275
unwarrantableness1633
unjustifiableness1642
undueness1653
indefensibility1823
unwarrantability1836
indefensibleness1876
1653 W. Allen (title) An Answer..in which..the Undueness of mixt Communion is declared.
1680 W. Allen Perswasive to Peace & Unity (ed. 2) Pref. p. xxxv I shall..argue the undueness of their practise that withdraw..upon the foresaid ground.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1387