unobservantadj.n.
/(ˌ)ʌnəbˈzəːv(ə)nt/, U.S. /ˌənəbˈzərv(ə)nt/ A. adj.† 1. Not attentive in service; neglectful. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > carelessness > [adjective] > indiligent or remiss > in service
unobservant1611
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Inofficieux, vnofficious, vnobseruant, vnseruiceable.
2. Not taking notice; inattentive, unperceptive.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > inattention > [adjective]
unmindfula1382
unminda1400
mindlessa1425
indiligent1549
regardless1578
heedless1579
unheedy1579
unregarding?1585
unattentive1591
thoughtless1592
unobservant1615
unobservinga1628
tentless1636
unattending1637
inadvertent1653
inobservant1663
inadverting1678
incurious1691
wistless1747
unnoticing1751
unheeding1770
inattentive1785
unrecking1824
unnoting1826
oblivious1854
the world > action or operation > manner of action > carelessness > [adjective] > careless or heedless
getelessc1175
untimingc1350
unmindfula1382
negligentc1390
unminda1400
roughtlessa1500
respectlessa1542
indiligent1549
unheedful1570
regardless1578
heedless1579
unheedy1579
unregarding?1585
unrespective1594
neglectful1595
unregardful1598
unobservinga1628
tentless1636
disregardfula1641
unregardant1652
inadvertent1653
disregarding1659
unaspective1661
inobservant1663
unheeding1770
unobservant1775
inattentive1785
disregardant1816
unrecking1824
unminded1831
unchary1856
amelectic1879
irregardless1912
blithe1922
slap-happy1937
1615 T. Jackson Justifying Faith ii. v. 205 Least from some passages..the vnobseruant Reader happily suspect the difference betwixt vs and the Romish Church in this controuersie to be but small.
1661 J. Glanvill Vanity of Dogmatizing xxiv. 247 The unobservant Multitude may have some general confus'd apprehensions of [etc.].
1775 J. Ash New Dict. Eng. Lang. at Disobedient Unobservant of lawful authority.
1782 V. Knox Ess. (new ed.) II. xc. 73 An unexperienced and unobservant man.
1825 W. Scott Talisman iv, in Tales Crusaders III. 120 [This] fear..made her behave with indifference, as if unobservant of his presence.
1888 F. Hume Madame Midas i. v. 39 Vandeloup looked idly at all this beauty with an unobservant eye.
1933 E. Ferber They brought their Women 187 Her skin was so fair, her eyes so blue, her hair held such glints that unobservant strangers..failed to notice her jaw line.
2007 Guardian (Nexis) 10 Oct. 11 Even the most unobservant guest would spot the difference.
B. n.
With the and plural agreement. Unobservant people as a class.
ΚΠ
1615 T. Jackson Justifying Faith ii. vii. 249 Hee may seeme vnto the vnobseruant to attribute somewhat to Gods mercies, in the businesse of iustification after grace infused.
1788 W. Marshall Rural Econ. Yorks. I. 378 The quantity of destruction is not easily to be ascertained; but it is probably much greater than the unobservant are aware of.
1898 ‘H. S. Merriman’ Roden's Corner iv The unobservant may pass it by without distinguishing it.
1920 Quick March 10 Mar. 38 The unobservant are apt to lump all fern-trees together.
1995 RV Times Sept. 11/2 The unobservant might miss the brown beechdrops and further south the wild bergamot.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2014; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
<
adj.n.1611