† undecentlyadv.
Obsolete.
1. Unbecomingly, unsuitably, improperly; = indecently adv.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > unfittingness > [adverb]
evilOE
wrongc1175
unworthlyc1200
unkindly?c1225
ungraithlya1300
unkindlyc1300
wrongly1303
unconablya1340
unworthily1377
ungoodlyc1380
falsely1393
uncomelya1400
unsittinglyc1412
uncomelilyc1420
unorderly1471
ungainlya1500
ill?1529
unmeetly1533
unconveniently1538
undecently1563
unproperly1604
unbeseemingly1617
viciously1617
unbecomingly1653
abusefully1656
unbefittingly1871
society > morality > dueness or propriety > moral impropriety > [adverb]
wrongc1175
unworthlyc1200
unkindly?c1225
ungraithlya1300
wrongly1303
unconablya1340
unworthily1377
ungoodlyc1380
uncovenablya1382
improperly1390
falsely1393
unduly1399
unseemlya1400
unsittinglyc1412
unorderly1471
induly1483
unseemlily1483
ungainlya1500
uncomely?1518
unmeetly1533
unconveniently1538
wrongfully?1549
uncomelily1561
undecently1563
indecently1589
unproperly1604
unbeseemingly1617
viciously1617
unseemingly1619
misbecominglya1625
unbeseeming1645
unbecomingly1653
invalidly1705
naughty1892
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > [adverb] > in unseemly manner
unworthlyc1200
unconablya1340
unworthily1377
unhonestlyc1380
uncovenablya1382
uncomelya1400
unseemlya1400
unsittinglyc1412
uncomelilyc1420
foula1450
unmeetly1533
unconveniently1538
undecently1563
unbeseemingly1617
unbeseeming1645
unbecomingly1653
indecorously1818
unbefittingly1871
1563 2nd Tome Homelyes Sacrament i. ⁋2 Lest..this comfortable medicine of the soule vndecently receaued, tende to our greater harme.
1577 H. I. tr. H. Bullinger 50 Godlie Serm. II. iv. iv. sig. Eee.ijv/1 Hee ought to bee free, least the Image of God should seeme to bee bonde vndecently.
1628 T. Spencer Art of Logick 171 We may not thinke, that he hath omitted it: for that is to charge him vndecently:..and against reason.
1672 N. Grew Anat. Veg. iii. App. 100 The Branches whereof..must needs by their own weight, and that of their Fruit, undecently fall.
1716 M. Davies Athenæ Britannicæ II. 96 He made early Applications to King Henry's Queen Dowager, who comply'd with him a little undecently.
2. Unhandsomely, inelegantly.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > bad taste > lack of refinement > inelegance > [adverb]
unburlya1400
ungoodlya1400
unhandsomely1565
undecently1587
unhandsome1596
unhandsomely1650
inelegantly1698
1587 Presentmt. in Essex Rev. XV. 43 The church is undecently and unsemely and filthily kept.
a1645 W. Laud Hist. Troubles & Tryal (1695) xxxii. 310 I say so too, or else my Chappel must lye more undecently than is fit to express.
1665 J. Webb Vindic. Stone-Heng Restored 38 They are most undecently high, saith Scamozzi.
1673 R. Allestree Ladies Calling i. v. §32 Shall she take no care how sordidly, how undecently she appear when the King of Kings gives audience?
3. With impropriety or indecency.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > bad taste > unseemliness or unbecomingness > [adverb]
unhonestlyc1380
uncomelya1400
unseemlya1400
uncomelilyc1420
unseemlily1483
indecently1589
undecently1589
grossly1600
unseemingly1619
unbeseeming1645
widely1665
indelicately1800
indecorously1818
unbefittingly1871
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > [adverb] > with impropriety
unkindlyc1300
ungoodlyc1380
unhonestlyc1380
indecently1589
undecently1589
grossly1600
unproperly1604
widely1665
like a whore at a christening1706
indelicately1800
1589 G. Puttenham Arte Eng. Poesie iii. xxiii. 224 It was not vndecently spoken.., for it was the cleaneliest excuse he could make.
1603 J. Florio tr. M. de Montaigne Ess. iii. v. 522 I know a hundred Cuckolds, which are so, honestlie and little vndecently.
1655 T. Stanley Hist. Philos. I. iii. 52 Another time she offered to go to a publick show attired undecently.
1686 Bp. G. Burnet Some Lett. conc. Switzerland iii. 144 The great libertinage that is so undecently practised by most sorts of people at Venice.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
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adv.1563