unluckyadj.
/(ˌ)ʌnˈlʌki/, U.S. /ˌənˈləki/ 1. Bringing or regarded as bringing bad luck; presaging misfortune; ill-omened, inauspicious.
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the world > action or operation > adversity > calamity or misfortune > [adjective] > inauspicious
perilousc1390
unlucky1519
unchancy1533
unhappy1533
infortunate1548
sinistrous?c1550
luckless1584
dismal1588
ominous1589
fatal1590
bad-bodinga1592
disastrous1598
inauspicious1599
black1604
naught1620
inauspicate1632
infaustous1656
infaust1658
ill-omened1685
black boding1743
wanchancy1768
oracular1820
inominous1832
widdershins1926
1519 W. Horman Vulgaria ii. f. 19 It is vnlucky with fondis to do on the lyft sho first.
a1547 Earl of Surrey tr. Virgil Certain Bks. Aenæis (1557) ii. sig. Diiv Thunlucky figure of Creusaes ghost.
1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 382 The Scottes..thought John an vnluckie name in a King.
1617 F. Moryson Itinerary i. 61 The King and the Queen,..while sometimes they thought Munday, sometimes Friday, to be vnlucky daies, had lost many faire winds.
1686 tr. J. Chardin Trav. Persia 19 Nor do I know what unlucky star brought him to Constantinople.
1701 N. Rowe Ambitious Step-mother iii. i. 33 Why do you urge my Fathers fatal power, To Curse you with a sad unlucky Bride?
1799 M. Park Trav. Interior Districts Afr. xxi. 174 It is thought very unlucky to begin a journey, or any other work of consequence, in the last quarter.
1825 J. T. Brockett Gloss. North Country Words at Hob Collingwood The four of hearts at whist; considered by old ladies an unlucky card.
1881 Folk-lore Rec. 4 54 It is unlucky to build a house in a deserted road.
1902 J. H. Harris East-ho! 25 He was a first-rate seaman, but ‘unlucky’ most woyages, so that the skippers..gave him a wide berth.
1972 J. A. Beckwith Gem Minerals Idaho 45 Opal is an unlucky gem and likely to bring misfortune to its wearer.
2007 Irish Times (Nexis) 13 Apr. (Opinion section) 17 Fridays in general were considered unlucky by Christians, for obvious reasons.
2. Of a time, place, occurrence, or circumstance: characterized or marked by misfortune or failure; (of an action or event) having an unfavourable outcome as a result of bad luck.
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the world > action or operation > adversity > calamity or misfortune > [adjective]
unseelyOE
ungraciousa1387
infortunatec1390
unhappy1390
haplessa1400
mischancefula1400
unfortunedc1403
infortuneda1413
maleurousa1460
infortunable?a1475
mal-infortunedc1475
unselc1480
mischanced1488
misadventurousa1500
unhap1509
misfortunate1510
mischancya1522
unuredc1525
maleureda1529
unlucky1530
unfortunate1548
luckless1563
unluckly1564
unfortunable1567
untoward1570
unable?1572
sinister1576
unsonsy1578
disaster1584
disastereda1586
disastrous1586
unweirdedc1590
wanhappy?1590
misbefallen1591
fortuneless1596
infelicious1598
misadventured1599
improsperous1602
untoward1632
unhandsome1640
ill-fated1715
donsie?1719
swarthy1756
infelicitous1835
bad luck1872
stiff1919
spooked1937
jinxed1972
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 328/2 Unluckye, meschant.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VI f. cxxxviijv Accomptyng to hym their euil chaunce & vnluckey fortune.
1563 W. Baldwin et al. Myrrour for Magistrates (new ed.) Somerset xxxi My life I lost in that vnlucky place.
1607 S. Rowlands Democritus sig. E2 One..brake his arme, And did complaine vnto a friend Of his vnlucky harme.
1676 T. Hobbes tr. Homer Iliads i. 6 To put an end to this unlucky strife.
1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 271. ¶4 This unlucky Accident happened to me in a Company of Ladies.
1796 S. Gunning Delves (ed. 2) I. xxxiv. 224 The last of thirteen eggs, over which the speckled hen had that unlucky morning been set abrood.
1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. xvi. 721 The year which was closing had certainly been unlucky.
1933 Hockey Field & Lacrosse 16 Dec. 8/2 She..made some very fine saves, one goal especially being unlucky, as it went in off her stick.
1950 R. Graves Transformations Lucius (1951) xii. 186 The people..were still heavy-hearted about the bailiff, and were glad to leave the unlucky place.
2009 N.Y. Times Mag. 19 Apr. 27/2 The unlucky consequence of a coincidence unlikely to occur outside of a Dickens novel.
3. Having or experiencing bad luck or (in earlier use) a lack of success or prosperity; not favoured by fortune; unfortunate. Also (and in earliest use): unsuccessful or unfortunate in some enterprise.
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the world > action or operation > adversity > calamity or misfortune > [adjective] > suffering misfortune
feyOE
unseelyOE
wanspeedyc1000
unselea1200
unblessed1340
unhappena1400
unhappyc1440
misfortuneda1500
unfortunate1530
unlucky1542
misdight1607
unblestful1608
inominal1656
unprovidenceda1661
unfortunable1729
1542 T. Elyot Bibliotheca Male uertit res paecuaria mihi, I am an ylle marchaunt of cattell, or I am vnlucky in byenge of cattell.
1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Vnluckye, to be, or haue yll lucke, exauspicor.
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. xxixv You muste haue respecte also that this newe Empire..be not made vnlucky and vnfortunate.
1627 J. Taylor Armado sig. A7 Some Ships..are so vnlucky that they doe neuer make good voyage.
1673 S'too him Bayes 4 Thou are the unluckyest disputant in the world.
1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 509. ⁋2 The unlucky boys with toys and balls were whipped away by a beadle.
1780 J. Warner in J. H. Jesse G. Selwyn & his Contemp. (1844) IV. 398 Phil. has been unlucky at Sudbury, as he was one short of Marriot.
1833 Edinb. Rev. Jan. 479 Mrs Trollope seems to have been unlucky in her river trips.
1896 W. D. Howells Impressions & Experiences 239 A pair of grim old ladies, who..lived..aloof from their unluckier sisters.
1926 Amer. Mercury July 338/2 Some of them never return, especially those who are unlucky enough to fall across the path of a jocker tramp.
1977 Canad. Jrnl. Irish Stud. 3 49 We are inclined to feel sorry for poor Finn who has been so unlucky in love.
2013 Amer. Econ. Rev. 103 1398 How should gains and losses be distributed between lucky and unlucky risk-takers?
a. Causing or intended to cause harm or damage; injurious; malicious; (later in weakened sense) troublesome, mischievous. Obsolete (English regional in later use).
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the world > action or operation > adversity > calamity or misfortune > [adjective] > causing or bringing misfortune
unwealful1412
unluckful1542
infortunate1548
unluckly1564
unluckya1586
unfortunating1647
hoodoo1882
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) i. xi. sig. G7 By an vnluckye blow the poore Philoxenus fell dead at his feete.
1598 R. Bernard tr. Terence Phormio ii. ii, in Terence in Eng. 414 Are you vnluckie varlot so ready to doe euerie thing against me?
1618 P. Holderus in tr. J. van Oldenbarneveld Barneuels Apol. To Rdr. sig. A4v While by all meanes he endeuoureth therein to auoide the dangers of Charybdis, he is fallen into the barkings and vnluckie iawes of Scylla.
1691 E. Wettenhall Earnest & Compassionate Suit for Forbearance 2 The Evil which those unlucky Wits have introduc'd..affects the very Vitals of our Christianity.
1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 343. ¶9 An unlucky Cock-Sparrow that..had before made great Depredations upon our Common-wealth.
1727 P. Longueville Hermit 237 These unlucky Instruments [sc. guns], which were intended for Destruction, shall be employ'd for..Preservation.
1768 A. Tucker Light of Nature Pursued II. iii. 229 School-masters may not be displeased at unlucky tricks played by their lads.
1859 W. Dickinson Gloss. Words & Phrases Cumberland 107/2 Yon's an unlucky brat of a lad.
1879 G. F. Jackson Shropshire Word-bk. 310 Theer's that onlucky bwoy bin chuckin' stwuns agen at them gis.
b. Of a horse or (occasionally) another animal: bad-tempered, vicious. Obsolete.
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the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > temperament > [adjective] > vicious or bad-tempered
jadish1590
unlucky1678
vicious1711
fratched1847
jady1873
smoky1899
1678 Wits led by Nose ii. 11 An unlucky Horse of mine..stood still with me seven miles together, which forc't me to be beholding to the Gentleman of this House for a nights Lodging.
1688 G. Miege Great French Dict. ii. To Snap... An unlucky dog snapt my leg.
1707 J. Mortimer Whole Art Husbandry 151 If he [sc. the stallion] be unlucky and mad.
1804 M. Edgeworth Murad ii, in Pop. Tales II. 225 I could not be prevailed upon to go upon this unlucky animal.
1848 T. Ross tr. M. de Cervantes El Buscupie in Bentley's Misc. 24 301 The bachelor's unlucky nag, by a sudden leap, snapped the reins by which he was fastened up.
5. Deserving of or giving rise to regret; undesirable, unwelcome; not to be advised or commended; inexpedient; infelicitous.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > dispraise or discommendation > [adjective] > worthy of dispraise > not praiseworthy
unpraisable?c1475
uncommendable1509
incommendable?1518
unlovablea1525
unlaudable1535
unplausible1563
unpraiseworthy1587
illaudable1589
unlucky1628
inextollible1772
unrecommendable1830
1628 O. Felltham Resolves: 2nd Cent. l. sig. Rv In some vnlucky dispositions, there is such an enuious kinde of Pride.
1671 tr. A. Charant Let. conc. Countrys King of Tafiletta 18 in tr. R. Fréjus Relation Voy. Mauritania There would be much greater [plenty], if it was not for the unlucky custom of those people to bury their Gold.
1746 P. Francis tr. Horace in P. Francis & W. Dunkin tr. Horace Epistles i. i. 137 If some unlucky Barber notch my Hair.
1815 W. Scott Guy Mannering I. i. 9 Mannering resolved..to halt for the night..unless he could procure a guide to this unlucky village of Kippletringan.
1829 E. Bulwer-Lytton Disowned 79 It was the unluckiest step we ever made to admit him into the bosom of our family.
1899 W. J. C. Miller Ess. & Nature Stud. xiv. 154 Thomson's play that contained the unlucky verse—‘Oh, Sophonisba! Sophonisba, oh!’
1973 J. Ahokas Hist. Finnish Lit. (1997) viii. 226 The man learns, after many mistakes including an unlucky marriage, that she is the right woman for him.
2006 Music & Lett. 87 673/1 The author makes the unlucky choice of Byrd's first C minor pavan as an example, not realizing that it was originally composed for five-part consort.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2017; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1519