unwieldyadj.

Brit.

/ʌnˈwiːldi/, U.S.

/ˌənˈwi(ə)ldi/

Forms: Middle English–1600s unweldy, 1500s unweldye, 1500s–1600s unweldie; Middle English–1600s unweeldy, Middle English unweeldi, 1500s unweeldie; 1500s–1600s unwealdy, unwealdie, 1600s inwealdy; 1500s–1700s (1800s) unweildy (1500s unweyldy, Scottish wnveildy), 1500s–1600s wnveildie; 1500s– unwieldy, 1600s unwieldie; 1500s–1600s unwildy, 1500s unwildie, Scottish unwyldy. (Also Middle English–1600s vn-, Middle English–1500s on-.)

Etymology: un- prefix¹ 1 + wieldy adj. Compare the early unwield adj. and unwieldly adj.

†1.

a. Of persons, the body, etc.: Lacking strength; weak, impotent; feeble, infirm. Also const. with prepositions, as for, of, to (with infinitive). Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > the body > bodily constitution > bodily weakness > [adjective]

wokec897

unstronga900

unmightyeOE

feeblec1175

strengthlessc1175

unwieldc1220

weaka1300

frailc1384

unwieldyc1386

unthendec1425

dissolutec1450

unsure?a1475

feyc1475

simple1477

unfirm1483

unsinewed?1541

wash1548

weakling1557

ladylike1566

silly1567

water weak1592

washya1631

wankle1686

foible1715

unmuscular1725

nerveless1792

wankly1795

shilpit1813

wankya1825

sinewless1829

weedy-looking1835

queachy1859

insubstantiala1861

paper-backed1888

weak-fleshed1967

the world > health and disease > ill health > [adjective] > in state of ill health or diseased > weak

unmightyeOE

unferea1060

unwieldc1220

fade1303

lewc1325

weak1340

fainta1375

sicklyc1374

unwieldyc1386

impotent1390

delicatea1398

lowa1398

unmighta1450

unlustyc1450

low-brought1459

wearyc1480

failed1490

worn1508

caduke?1518

fainty1530

weak1535

debile1536

fluey1545

tewly?1547

faltering1549

puling1549

imbecilec1550

debilitate1552

flash1562

unable1577

unhealthful1595

unabled1597

whindling1601

infirm1608

debilitated1611

bedrid1629

washya1631

silly1636

fluea1645

tender1645

invaletudinary1661

languishant1674

valetudinaire?c1682

puly1688

thriftless1693

unheartya1699

wishy-washy1703

enervate1706

valetudinarian1713

lask1727

wersh1755

palliea1774

wankle1781

asthenic1789

atonic1792

squeal1794

adynamic1803

worn-down1814

totterish1817

asthenical1819

prostrate1820

used up1823

wankya1825

creaky1834

groggy1834

puny1838

imbeciled1840

rickety-rackety1840

muscleless1841

weedy1849

tottery1861

crocky1880

wimbly-wambly1881

ramshackle1889

twitterly1896

twittery1907

wonky1919

strung out1959

c1386 G. Chaucer Manciple's Prol. 55 So vnweeldy was this sory palled goost.

1421–2 T. Hoccleve Dialog 248 My lymes sumdell now vnweldy be.

1442 in Proc. King's Counc. Irel. (Rolls) App. 274 The said Erlle..is aged, vnweldy and vnlustie.

1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid viii. v. 71 Furth held the king vnweildy in auld ȝeris.

1584 R. Scot Discouerie Witchcraft i. vi. 13 A toothles, old, impotent, and vnweldie woman.

1606 G. W. tr. Justinus Hist. xxxiv. 111 Altogither giuen to sloath, and growne so vnweeldy through dayly ryot.

1621 T. Granger Familiar Expos. Eccles. xii. 321 So doe olde men, because they are vnwealdie, and vnable to auoide dangers.

1659 W. Chamberlayne Pharonnida i. iii. sig. D2^v At that stroke his Limbs Slack their unweildy Nerves.

absolute.1550 R. Crowley Way to Wealth sig. Bviii To releue the vnweldy that be not able to labour for theire fode.(b)1570 J. Foxe Actes & Monumentes (rev. ed.) I. 80/1 Narcissus..was vnwieldy for his age to gouerne that function alone.1588 T. Hughes Misfortunes Arthur i. ii. 13 Any wight vnwildie of herselfe.1592 T. Nashe Pierce Penilesse (Brit. Libr. copy) sig. F4 ^v To corrupt the braine, and make it vnapt and vnweldie for anie thing.1642 T. Fuller Holy State ii. xix. 128 The weilding of his sword hath not made him unweildie to do any other work.

†b. Of age, etc.: Characterized or attended by infirmity, weakness, or impotence. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > health and disease > ill health > [adjective] > in state of ill health or diseased > weak > weak with age > of age: attended by weakness

unwieldy1430

unwieldsome1567

saplessa1616

1430–40 J. Lydgate tr. Bochas Fall of Princes i. 2127 In his vnweeldi age He was compellid to holden his passage Out off Thebes.

c1450 J. Lydgate Secrees 645 Yif inpotence of his vnweldy age, In his desirs put hym nat abak.

1502 Will of William Wilbey (P.R.O.: PROB. 11/13) f. 169 Oppressed with gret unweldy age.

a1592 R. Greene Sc. Hist. Iames IV (1598) iii. sig. F4 Mine age vnweldie and vnmeete for toyle.

1659 W. Chamberlayne Pharonnida ii. iii. sig. I5^v Although unweildy age allow Not strength to sell my life at such a rate Honour aimes at.

1685 J. Dryden tr. Horace Odes i. ix, in Sylvæ sig. K^v E're with'ring time the taste destroyes, With sickness and unwieldy years!

a. Of persons or animals: Moving ungracefully or with difficulty, by reason of corpulence or ponderousness; lacking litheness or flexibility; awkward, clumsy.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in specific manner > [adjective] > heavily or clumsily

unwieldlya1513

unwieldy1530

wieldy1588

ponderous1808

lumping1884

pot-walloping1899

the world > action or operation > ability > inability > unskilfulness > [adjective] > clumsy or awkward

stubblea1300

lubber?1515

awkward1530

unwieldy1530

lubberlike1572

unwieldsome1579

lubberly1580

looby1582

wieldy1588

clumsy1597

ungainly1611

unqueme1611

untowardly1611

clouter-likea1624

hip-shot1642

loobish1648

loobily1655

bumble-arsed1661

clouterly1675

lubbard1679

fumbling1681

sinistrousa1682

maladroit1685

shammockinga1704

ungain1710

splay-footed1716

gawky1759

hobbledehoyish1812

uncouthly1821

nunting1836

shammocky1841

numb1854

awkwardish1860

slummocky?1861

numb-footed1867

gawkish1876

flat-footed1899

brontosaurian1909

shamblya1937

slew-foot1945

ham-footed1960

klutzy1961

dorkus1979

1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 328/2 Unweldye, boystouse, lourt.

a1538 T. Starkey Dial. Pole & Lupset (1989) 54 In a dropcy the body ys unweldy unlusty & slo.

1563 B. Googe Eglogs Epytaphes & Sonettes sig. E.i A bluddy Butcher byg and blunt, a vyle vnweldy knaue..at hym..let dryue.

1602 2nd Pt. Returne fr. Parnassus iii. ii. 1257 Then the old vnweldy Camels gin to dance.

1650 R. Stapleton tr. F. Strada De Bello Belgico x. 11 Others that wore Armes which made them unweldier, not so nimble to avoid a hurt.

1677 R. Plot Nat. Hist. Oxford-shire 134 The motion of so unwildy Creatures as Elephants.

1741 J. Wilford Memorials & Characters App. 41 From the unwieldiest Beast of Land or Deep.

1779 Mirror No. 8 I have seen the unwieldy burgess changed into a slender gentleman.

1823 W. Scott Quentin Durward III. vi. 161 He was, though now somewhat unwieldy, a powerful athletic man.

1867 E. F. Bowden tr. Countess Hahn-Hahn Lives Fathers of Desert 149 An unwieldy Bactrian camel had gone mad.

in extended use.1553 T. Wilson Arte of Rhetorique 2 b Nothyng is more nedefull, then..to cherishe these our lompishe and vnweldie natures.1606 G. Chapman Gentleman Vsher iii. sig. D4 She shall haue an vnweldie and dull soule, If she be nothing moou'd with my poore tongue.1635 A. Stafford Femall Glory sig. e7 The toylesome burthen of unweldy clay.

b. Characterized by clumsy massiveness, awkward shape, or ponderousness.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > largeness > [adjective] > of large volume or bulky > and clumsy

unridec1175

un-i-weldec1275

boistous?a1400

cumbrousa1400

roida1450

clubbishc1530

lumpish?1573

bouncing1579

unwieldy1582

boisterous1590

unfeirdyc1590

lumbering1593

cumbersome1594

elephantic1598

elephant-likea1603

moliminous1642

clumpish1681

rhinocerical1689

hulking1699

hulky1785

lumberly1805

elephantine1826

rhinocerial1828

lumbersome1834

clumpy1836

lumbrous1836

hippopotamic1853

hippopotamian1864

megatherial1894

hippopotamine1911

1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis iii. 56 When that..strayts shal be opned neere craggy vnwieldye Pelorus.

1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene vi. viii. sig. Ff7 Th'other Knight, Whom with his weight vnweldy downe he held.

1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 39 As a ship of exceeding great bulke..endangered through the own unweldy hugenesse.

1671 J. Milton Samson Agonistes 54 But what is strength without a double share Of wisdom, vast, unwieldy, burdensom.

1720 A. Pope tr. Homer Iliad V. xvii. 834 As when two Mules..Drag some vast Beam, or Mast's unwieldy Length.

1753 W. Hogarth Anal. Beauty vi. 30 Elephants and whales please us with their unwieldy greatness.

1793 T. Beddoes Observ. Nature & Cure Calculus 101 Two cases of unwieldy corpulence.

1828 E. Bulwer-Lytton Pelham II. xxi. 205 His person..was of no unwieldy obesity.

1856 E. K. Kane Arctic Explor. I. xx. 260 Of such unwieldy bulk as not unfrequently to be mistaken for the walrus.

1892 Photogr. Ann. II. 374 On account of its unwieldy dimensions.

c. Expressed, manifested, or exhibited in a clumsy, awkward, or ungraceful manner; awkwardly performed.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > bad taste > lack of refinement > inelegance > [adjective] > ungraceful

graceless?1507

clumsy1597

ungainly1611

awkwarda1616

disgraceful1615

unwieldya1635

dishonest1653

ungraceful1667

ungracious1695

ungain1710

unswan-like1837

unheppen1855

disgracious1870

a1635 R. Corbet Poems (1807) 107 What a sting Of lust do their unwildy daunces bring?

1648 J. Beaumont Psyche vii. xxxii. 98 O'r-powred with unweildy Thanks and Praise.

1728 J. Thomson Spring 41 The broad Monsters..flounce, and tumble in unwieldy Joy.

1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson ii. i. 124 Their motion is the most unweildy that can be conceived.

1789 W. Cowper On Queen's Visit to London 20 [Water] Up~spouted by a whale in air, T'express unwieldy joy.

1824 S. E. Ferrier Inheritance III. x. 345 The manners of Lady C..made her feel her own as something unwieldy and overgrown.

1850 L. Hunt Autobiogr. (1860) xvii. 268 Two grampuses..interested us extremely by their unwieldy gambols.

a. Of weapons: Difficult to handle or wield. Also transferred.

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > [adjective] > quality of, generally

starkOE

stiffc1250

sterna1400

vengeablec1400

unwieldya1547

vengefula1586

mistempered1597

maiden1598

lathen1843

humane1970

a1547 Earl of Surrey tr. Virgil Certain Bks. Aenæis (1557) ii. sig. Cii^v The aged man..Forcelesse..cast his weake unweldy dart.

1595 W. S. Lamentable Trag. Locrine iii. iv. 44 This great vnwildie club.

1646 H. Lawrence Of Communion & Warre with Angels 173 The weapon would be too heavy, to unweildy for us to use.

1700 S. L. tr. C. Frick Relation Voy. in tr. C. Frick & C. Schweitzer Relation Two Voy. E.-Indies 160 With my unwildy weapon..I struck him into the left side.

1719 D. Defoe Farther Adventures Robinson Crusoe 68 These Swords were strange great unweildy Things.

1745 P. Thomas True Jrnl. Voy. South-Seas 289 Pole-axes like ours, but somewhat more rough and unweildy.

b. Difficult to control, guide, move, manipulate, etc., by virtue of size, shape, or weight; clumsily massive, awkwardly large; unmanageable.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > difficulty > types of difficulty > [adjective] > difficult or intractable (of things) > by reason of extent

unwieldy1552

wieldy1588

the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > inconvenience > [adjective] > unhandy

unwield1390

unhandsome1548

unwieldy1552

wieldy1588

awk1593

unmanageable1600

uneasy1611

unhandy1664

awkward1695

1552 T. Cooper Bibliotheca Eliotæ (rev. ed.) at Inhabilis A ship that by reason of the biggenesse is vnwildie.

1644 J. Milton Areopagitica 33 Untill he see our small divided maniples cutting through at every angle of his ill united and unweildy brigade.

1663 A. Cowley Complaint v The dull work of thy un~weildy Plough.

1679 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. ix. 161 These Doors are commonly un-weildy to lift off and on.

1774 J. Bryant New Syst. II. 408 Ships, which were unwieldy, and of great burden.

1814 Ld. J. Russell in S. Walpole Life Ld. J. Russell (1889) I. 75 His legs being quite swollen and unwieldy.

1866 C. Kingsley Hereward the Wake II. ii. 29 A pole..which he dragged after him, like an unwieldy tail.

1879 S. C. Bartlett Egypt to Palestine xix. 406 Division-walls,..composed of large and un~wieldy stones.

c. figurative, transferred, and in figurative context.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > difficulty > types of difficulty > [adjective] > difficult or intractable (of things)

wickc1330

riotous1340

wickeda1352

untreatablec1374

frowarda1400

inobedient1495

stubborn?1518

unwieldya1538

unruly1548

wieldlessa1560

hard1560

untoward1566

tickle1570

churlish1577

unwieldsome1579

rebellious1587

disobedient1588

unframeable1593

unwilling1593

untractable1601

unmanageable1606

intractable1607

surly1609

unwedgeablea1616

dogged1627

uncontrollable1648

obdurate1651

morose1652

uncompliant1659

sullen1678

unpliant1716

ungovernable1773

sulky1867

intractile1880

unwieldly1881

bunglesome1915

a1538 T. Starkey Dial. Pole & Lupset (1989) 54 We have over many [priests] wych..make our polytyke body unweldy & hevy.

?1589 T. Nashe Almond for Parrat B iij His..burlibond adiunctes, that so pester his former edition with their vnweldie phrase, as no true syllogisme can haue elbowe roome.

1612 M. Drayton Poly-olbion ix. 139 [To] make vs Britains beare Th' vnwieldy Norman yoke.

1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. iv. 144 This vnwealdy body [of the Ottoman dominion in Persia] hauing two heads, began to decline.

1665 R. Boyle Occas. Refl. iv. xix. sig. Hh7 Though an unwieldy Affluence may afford some empty Pleasure to the Imagination.

a1704 T. Brown Praise Poverty in Wks. (1720) I. 113 Raising their own Fortunes to an unweildy Bulk.

1744 M. Akenside Pleasures Imagination iii. 117 Hints deep-omened with unwieldy schemes, And dark portents of state.

1777 E. Burke Let. to Sheriffs Bristol 59 The unwieldy haughtiness of a great ruling nation.

1796 J. Morse Amer. Universal Geogr. (new ed.) I. p. vi The second fault of Guthrie's Grammar..is its unwieldy and disproportionate account of Great Britain.

1807 J. Barlow Columbiad vi. 224 Athenian youths, the unwieldy war to meet, Couch the stiff lance.

1826–7 H. Neele Lit. Remains (1829) 49 The ‘Iliad’ [of Chapman] is written in the cumbrous and unwieldy old English measure of fourteen syllables.

absolute.1702 R. Steele Funeral iii. 44 That strong Masculine thing..pretends to all the Tenderness in the World! and would Fain put the Unweildy upon us for the Soft the Languid!

4. Indisposed to submit to guidance or command; restive, recalcitrant, indocile. Also const. to.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > will > decision > obstinacy or stubbornness > [adjective] > disobediently stubborn

incorrigiblea1340

unchastisable1382

contumaxc1386

stubbornc1386

stoutc1410

contumacec1425

staffish?a1513

unwieldy1513

untractable1538

intractable1545

prefract?1549

incounselable1554

indocible1555

uncorrectable1562

refractorious1563

haggard1566

neck-stiff1570

uncounsellablea1578

refractary1583

contumacious1603

refractarious1609

refractory1615

unmanageable1616

immorigerous1623

refractive1623

pervicacious1633

unrectifiable1645

undocible1653

undocile1656

untractible1670

unadvisable1672

recalcitrant1797

unguidable1822

recalcitrary1861

society > authority > lack of subjection > unruliness > [adjective] > uncontrollable or ungovernable > specifically of the heart, tongue, or feelings

unrulya1450

unwieldy1513

unrefrainable?1520

untameable1567

unrulable1672

1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid xiii. vi. 34 [He] went..the onweldy common pepill ilkane To caus adres eftir thar faculte.

?1534 L. Cox tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Epist. Paule vnto Titus Titus i. f. xxviii^v That nacion beyng rebellious and vnweyldy to be ordered.

1584 T. Lodge Alarum against Vsurers E iv What praise deserueth he that will proffer..the raine to an unwildie colt?

1611 J. Speed Hist. Great Brit. ix. xvi. 659/2 The Flemings grew vnweildie to his commandements.

a1732 T. Boston Memoirs (1776) vi. 65 In the forenoon, I thought my heart was very unwieldy.

figurative and in extended use.?1611 G. Chapman tr. Homer Iliads xiv. 13 As when with vnwieldie waues, the great Sea forefeeles winds, That both waies murmure.1641 J. Milton Of Reformation 13 Exact Reformation is not perfited at the first push, and those unweildy Times of Edward 6. may hold some Plea by this excuse.1648 J. Beaumont Psyche x. ccclviii. 181 He knows the heats of this unweildy Passion, And will allow it brave Immoderation.

†5. Inexpert or awkward (in doing something); incapable, unpractical. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > ability > inability > unskilfulness > [adjective]

craftlessOE

unslyc1275

unexperta1425

incrafty?1520

imperite?1550

unskilful1565

skilless1573

artless1586

inexpert1598

unarted1603

boisterous1609

unhandsomea1616

unwieldy1666

unartful1683

undexterous1688

unaccomplished1709

not so (also not too) hot1845

rotten1867

one-fingered1868

button pushing1896

1666 J. Davies tr. C. de Rochefort Hist. Caribby-Islands 201 They are..so fearful and unwieldy in the handling of Armes, that they are easily reduc'd under subjection.

1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 27. ⁋2 A Rake..is a poor unwieldy Wretch, that commits Faults out of the Redundance of his good Qualities.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1926; most recently modified version published online December 2021).

单词	unwieldy
释义	unwieldyadj. Brit. /ʌnˈwiːldi/, U.S. /ˌənˈwi(ə)ldi/ Forms: Middle English–1600s unweldy, 1500s unweldye, 1500s–1600s unweldie; Middle English–1600s unweeldy, Middle English unweeldi, 1500s unweeldie; 1500s–1600s unwealdy, unwealdie, 1600s inwealdy; 1500s–1700s (1800s) unweildy (1500s unweyldy, Scottish wnveildy), 1500s–1600s wnveildie; 1500s– unwieldy, 1600s unwieldie; 1500s–1600s unwildy, 1500s unwildie, Scottish unwyldy. (Also Middle English–1600s vn-, Middle English–1500s on-.) Etymology: un- prefix¹ 1 + wieldy adj. Compare the early unwield adj. and unwieldly adj. †1. a. Of persons, the body, etc.: Lacking strength; weak, impotent; feeble, infirm. Also const. with prepositions, as for, of, to (with infinitive). Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > life > the body > bodily constitution > bodily weakness > [adjective] wokec897 unstronga900 unmightyeOE feeblec1175 strengthlessc1175 unwieldc1220 weaka1300 frailc1384 unwieldyc1386 unthendec1425 dissolutec1450 unsure?a1475 feyc1475 simple1477 unfirm1483 unsinewed?1541 wash1548 weakling1557 ladylike1566 silly1567 water weak1592 washya1631 wankle1686 foible1715 unmuscular1725 nerveless1792 wankly1795 shilpit1813 wankya1825 sinewless1829 weedy-looking1835 queachy1859 insubstantiala1861 paper-backed1888 weak-fleshed1967 the world > health and disease > ill health > [adjective] > in state of ill health or diseased > weak unmightyeOE unferea1060 unwieldc1220 fade1303 lewc1325 weak1340 fainta1375 sicklyc1374 unwieldyc1386 impotent1390 delicatea1398 lowa1398 unmighta1450 unlustyc1450 low-brought1459 wearyc1480 failed1490 worn1508 caduke?1518 fainty1530 weak1535 debile1536 fluey1545 tewly?1547 faltering1549 puling1549 imbecilec1550 debilitate1552 flash1562 unable1577 unhealthful1595 unabled1597 whindling1601 infirm1608 debilitated1611 bedrid1629 washya1631 silly1636 fluea1645 tender1645 invaletudinary1661 languishant1674 valetudinaire?c1682 puly1688 thriftless1693 unheartya1699 wishy-washy1703 enervate1706 valetudinarian1713 lask1727 wersh1755 palliea1774 wankle1781 asthenic1789 atonic1792 squeal1794 adynamic1803 worn-down1814 totterish1817 asthenical1819 prostrate1820 used up1823 wankya1825 creaky1834 groggy1834 puny1838 imbeciled1840 rickety-rackety1840 muscleless1841 weedy1849 tottery1861 crocky1880 wimbly-wambly1881 ramshackle1889 twitterly1896 twittery1907 wonky1919 strung out1959 c1386 G. Chaucer Manciple's Prol. 55 So vnweeldy was this sory palled goost. 1421–2 T. Hoccleve Dialog 248 My lymes sumdell now vnweldy be. 1442 in Proc. King's Counc. Irel. (Rolls) App. 274 The said Erlle..is aged, vnweldy and vnlustie. 1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid viii. v. 71 Furth held the king vnweildy in auld ȝeris. 1584 R. Scot Discouerie Witchcraft i. vi. 13 A toothles, old, impotent, and vnweldie woman. 1606 G. W. tr. Justinus Hist. xxxiv. 111 Altogither giuen to sloath, and growne so vnweeldy through dayly ryot. 1621 T. Granger Familiar Expos. Eccles. xii. 321 So doe olde men, because they are vnwealdie, and vnable to auoide dangers. 1659 W. Chamberlayne Pharonnida i. iii. sig. D2^v At that stroke his Limbs Slack their unweildy Nerves. absolute.1550 R. Crowley Way to Wealth sig. Bviii To releue the vnweldy that be not able to labour for theire fode.(b)1570 J. Foxe Actes & Monumentes (rev. ed.) I. 80/1 Narcissus..was vnwieldy for his age to gouerne that function alone.1588 T. Hughes Misfortunes Arthur i. ii. 13 Any wight vnwildie of herselfe.1592 T. Nashe Pierce Penilesse (Brit. Libr. copy) sig. F4 ^v To corrupt the braine, and make it vnapt and vnweldie for anie thing.1642 T. Fuller Holy State ii. xix. 128 The weilding of his sword hath not made him unweildie to do any other work. †b. Of age, etc.: Characterized or attended by infirmity, weakness, or impotence. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > health and disease > ill health > [adjective] > in state of ill health or diseased > weak > weak with age > of age: attended by weakness unwieldy1430 unwieldsome1567 saplessa1616 1430–40 J. Lydgate tr. Bochas Fall of Princes i. 2127 In his vnweeldi age He was compellid to holden his passage Out off Thebes. c1450 J. Lydgate Secrees 645 Yif inpotence of his vnweldy age, In his desirs put hym nat abak. 1502 Will of William Wilbey (P.R.O.: PROB. 11/13) f. 169 Oppressed with gret unweldy age. a1592 R. Greene Sc. Hist. Iames IV (1598) iii. sig. F4 Mine age vnweldie and vnmeete for toyle. 1659 W. Chamberlayne Pharonnida ii. iii. sig. I5^v Although unweildy age allow Not strength to sell my life at such a rate Honour aimes at. 1685 J. Dryden tr. Horace Odes i. ix, in Sylvæ sig. K^v E're with'ring time the taste destroyes, With sickness and unwieldy years! 2. a. Of persons or animals: Moving ungracefully or with difficulty, by reason of corpulence or ponderousness; lacking litheness or flexibility; awkward, clumsy. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in specific manner > [adjective] > heavily or clumsily unwieldlya1513 unwieldy1530 wieldy1588 ponderous1808 lumping1884 pot-walloping1899 the world > action or operation > ability > inability > unskilfulness > [adjective] > clumsy or awkward stubblea1300 lubber?1515 awkward1530 unwieldy1530 lubberlike1572 unwieldsome1579 lubberly1580 looby1582 wieldy1588 clumsy1597 ungainly1611 unqueme1611 untowardly1611 clouter-likea1624 hip-shot1642 loobish1648 loobily1655 bumble-arsed1661 clouterly1675 lubbard1679 fumbling1681 sinistrousa1682 maladroit1685 shammockinga1704 ungain1710 splay-footed1716 gawky1759 hobbledehoyish1812 uncouthly1821 nunting1836 shammocky1841 numb1854 awkwardish1860 slummocky?1861 numb-footed1867 gawkish1876 flat-footed1899 brontosaurian1909 shamblya1937 slew-foot1945 ham-footed1960 klutzy1961 dorkus1979 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 328/2 Unweldye, boystouse, lourt. a1538 T. Starkey Dial. Pole & Lupset (1989) 54 In a dropcy the body ys unweldy unlusty & slo. 1563 B. Googe Eglogs Epytaphes & Sonettes sig. E.i A bluddy Butcher byg and blunt, a vyle vnweldy knaue..at hym..let dryue. 1602 2nd Pt. Returne fr. Parnassus iii. ii. 1257 Then the old vnweldy Camels gin to dance. 1650 R. Stapleton tr. F. Strada De Bello Belgico x. 11 Others that wore Armes which made them unweldier, not so nimble to avoid a hurt. 1677 R. Plot Nat. Hist. Oxford-shire 134 The motion of so unwildy Creatures as Elephants. 1741 J. Wilford Memorials & Characters App. 41 From the unwieldiest Beast of Land or Deep. 1779 Mirror No. 8 I have seen the unwieldy burgess changed into a slender gentleman. 1823 W. Scott Quentin Durward III. vi. 161 He was, though now somewhat unwieldy, a powerful athletic man. 1867 E. F. Bowden tr. Countess Hahn-Hahn Lives Fathers of Desert 149 An unwieldy Bactrian camel had gone mad. in extended use.1553 T. Wilson Arte of Rhetorique 2 b Nothyng is more nedefull, then..to cherishe these our lompishe and vnweldie natures.1606 G. Chapman Gentleman Vsher iii. sig. D4 She shall haue an vnweldie and dull soule, If she be nothing moou'd with my poore tongue.1635 A. Stafford Femall Glory sig. e7 The toylesome burthen of unweldy clay. b. Characterized by clumsy massiveness, awkward shape, or ponderousness. ΘΚΠ the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > largeness > [adjective] > of large volume or bulky > and clumsy unridec1175 un-i-weldec1275 boistous?a1400 cumbrousa1400 roida1450 clubbishc1530 lumpish?1573 bouncing1579 unwieldy1582 boisterous1590 unfeirdyc1590 lumbering1593 cumbersome1594 elephantic1598 elephant-likea1603 moliminous1642 clumpish1681 rhinocerical1689 hulking1699 hulky1785 lumberly1805 elephantine1826 rhinocerial1828 lumbersome1834 clumpy1836 lumbrous1836 hippopotamic1853 hippopotamian1864 megatherial1894 hippopotamine1911 1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis iii. 56 When that..strayts shal be opned neere craggy vnwieldye Pelorus. 1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene vi. viii. sig. Ff7 Th'other Knight, Whom with his weight vnweldy downe he held. View more context for this quotation 1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 39 As a ship of exceeding great bulke..endangered through the own unweldy hugenesse. 1671 J. Milton Samson Agonistes 54 But what is strength without a double share Of wisdom, vast, unwieldy, burdensom. View more context for this quotation 1720 A. Pope tr. Homer Iliad V. xvii. 834 As when two Mules..Drag some vast Beam, or Mast's unwieldy Length. 1753 W. Hogarth Anal. Beauty vi. 30 Elephants and whales please us with their unwieldy greatness. 1793 T. Beddoes Observ. Nature & Cure Calculus 101 Two cases of unwieldy corpulence. 1828 E. Bulwer-Lytton Pelham II. xxi. 205 His person..was of no unwieldy obesity. 1856 E. K. Kane Arctic Explor. I. xx. 260 Of such unwieldy bulk as not unfrequently to be mistaken for the walrus. 1892 Photogr. Ann. II. 374 On account of its unwieldy dimensions. c. Expressed, manifested, or exhibited in a clumsy, awkward, or ungraceful manner; awkwardly performed. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > bad taste > lack of refinement > inelegance > [adjective] > ungraceful graceless?1507 clumsy1597 ungainly1611 awkwarda1616 disgraceful1615 unwieldya1635 dishonest1653 ungraceful1667 ungracious1695 ungain1710 unswan-like1837 unheppen1855 disgracious1870 a1635 R. Corbet Poems (1807) 107 What a sting Of lust do their unwildy daunces bring? 1648 J. Beaumont Psyche vii. xxxii. 98 O'r-powred with unweildy Thanks and Praise. 1728 J. Thomson Spring 41 The broad Monsters..flounce, and tumble in unwieldy Joy. 1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson ii. i. 124 Their motion is the most unweildy that can be conceived. 1789 W. Cowper On Queen's Visit to London 20 [Water] Up~spouted by a whale in air, T'express unwieldy joy. 1824 S. E. Ferrier Inheritance III. x. 345 The manners of Lady C..made her feel her own as something unwieldy and overgrown. 1850 L. Hunt Autobiogr. (1860) xvii. 268 Two grampuses..interested us extremely by their unwieldy gambols. 3. a. Of weapons: Difficult to handle or wield. Also transferred. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > [adjective] > quality of, generally starkOE stiffc1250 sterna1400 vengeablec1400 unwieldya1547 vengefula1586 mistempered1597 maiden1598 lathen1843 humane1970 a1547 Earl of Surrey tr. Virgil Certain Bks. Aenæis (1557) ii. sig. Cii^v The aged man..Forcelesse..cast his weake unweldy dart. 1595 W. S. Lamentable Trag. Locrine iii. iv. 44 This great vnwildie club. 1646 H. Lawrence Of Communion & Warre with Angels 173 The weapon would be too heavy, to unweildy for us to use. 1700 S. L. tr. C. Frick Relation Voy. in tr. C. Frick & C. Schweitzer Relation Two Voy. E.-Indies 160 With my unwildy weapon..I struck him into the left side. 1719 D. Defoe Farther Adventures Robinson Crusoe 68 These Swords were strange great unweildy Things. 1745 P. Thomas True Jrnl. Voy. South-Seas 289 Pole-axes like ours, but somewhat more rough and unweildy. b. Difficult to control, guide, move, manipulate, etc., by virtue of size, shape, or weight; clumsily massive, awkwardly large; unmanageable. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > difficulty > types of difficulty > [adjective] > difficult or intractable (of things) > by reason of extent unwieldy1552 wieldy1588 the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > inconvenience > [adjective] > unhandy unwield1390 unhandsome1548 unwieldy1552 wieldy1588 awk1593 unmanageable1600 uneasy1611 unhandy1664 awkward1695 1552 T. Cooper Bibliotheca Eliotæ (rev. ed.) at Inhabilis A ship that by reason of the biggenesse is vnwildie. 1644 J. Milton Areopagitica 33 Untill he see our small divided maniples cutting through at every angle of his ill united and unweildy brigade. 1663 A. Cowley Complaint v The dull work of thy un~weildy Plough. 1679 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. ix. 161 These Doors are commonly un-weildy to lift off and on. 1774 J. Bryant New Syst. II. 408 Ships, which were unwieldy, and of great burden. 1814 Ld. J. Russell in S. Walpole Life Ld. J. Russell (1889) I. 75 His legs being quite swollen and unwieldy. 1866 C. Kingsley Hereward the Wake II. ii. 29 A pole..which he dragged after him, like an unwieldy tail. 1879 S. C. Bartlett Egypt to Palestine xix. 406 Division-walls,..composed of large and un~wieldy stones. c. figurative, transferred, and in figurative context. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > difficulty > types of difficulty > [adjective] > difficult or intractable (of things) wickc1330 riotous1340 wickeda1352 untreatablec1374 frowarda1400 inobedient1495 stubborn?1518 unwieldya1538 unruly1548 wieldlessa1560 hard1560 untoward1566 tickle1570 churlish1577 unwieldsome1579 rebellious1587 disobedient1588 unframeable1593 unwilling1593 untractable1601 unmanageable1606 intractable1607 surly1609 unwedgeablea1616 dogged1627 uncontrollable1648 obdurate1651 morose1652 uncompliant1659 sullen1678 unpliant1716 ungovernable1773 sulky1867 intractile1880 unwieldly1881 bunglesome1915 a1538 T. Starkey Dial. Pole & Lupset (1989) 54 We have over many [priests] wych..make our polytyke body unweldy & hevy. ?1589 T. Nashe Almond for Parrat B iij His..burlibond adiunctes, that so pester his former edition with their vnweldie phrase, as no true syllogisme can haue elbowe roome. 1612 M. Drayton Poly-olbion ix. 139 [To] make vs Britains beare Th' vnwieldy Norman yoke. 1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. iv. 144 This vnwealdy body [of the Ottoman dominion in Persia] hauing two heads, began to decline. 1665 R. Boyle Occas. Refl. iv. xix. sig. Hh7 Though an unwieldy Affluence may afford some empty Pleasure to the Imagination. a1704 T. Brown Praise Poverty in Wks. (1720) I. 113 Raising their own Fortunes to an unweildy Bulk. 1744 M. Akenside Pleasures Imagination iii. 117 Hints deep-omened with unwieldy schemes, And dark portents of state. 1777 E. Burke Let. to Sheriffs Bristol 59 The unwieldy haughtiness of a great ruling nation. 1796 J. Morse Amer. Universal Geogr. (new ed.) I. p. vi The second fault of Guthrie's Grammar..is its unwieldy and disproportionate account of Great Britain. 1807 J. Barlow Columbiad vi. 224 Athenian youths, the unwieldy war to meet, Couch the stiff lance. 1826–7 H. Neele Lit. Remains (1829) 49 The ‘Iliad’ [of Chapman] is written in the cumbrous and unwieldy old English measure of fourteen syllables. absolute.1702 R. Steele Funeral iii. 44 That strong Masculine thing..pretends to all the Tenderness in the World! and would Fain put the Unweildy upon us for the Soft the Languid! 4. Indisposed to submit to guidance or command; restive, recalcitrant, indocile. Also const. to. ΘΚΠ the mind > will > decision > obstinacy or stubbornness > [adjective] > disobediently stubborn incorrigiblea1340 unchastisable1382 contumaxc1386 stubbornc1386 stoutc1410 contumacec1425 staffish?a1513 unwieldy1513 untractable1538 intractable1545 prefract?1549 incounselable1554 indocible1555 uncorrectable1562 refractorious1563 haggard1566 neck-stiff1570 uncounsellablea1578 refractary1583 contumacious1603 refractarious1609 refractory1615 unmanageable1616 immorigerous1623 refractive1623 pervicacious1633 unrectifiable1645 undocible1653 undocile1656 untractible1670 unadvisable1672 recalcitrant1797 unguidable1822 recalcitrary1861 society > authority > lack of subjection > unruliness > [adjective] > uncontrollable or ungovernable > specifically of the heart, tongue, or feelings unrulya1450 unwieldy1513 unrefrainable?1520 untameable1567 unrulable1672 1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid xiii. vi. 34 [He] went..the onweldy common pepill ilkane To caus adres eftir thar faculte. ?1534 L. Cox tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Epist. Paule vnto Titus Titus i. f. xxviii^v That nacion beyng rebellious and vnweyldy to be ordered. 1584 T. Lodge Alarum against Vsurers E iv What praise deserueth he that will proffer..the raine to an unwildie colt? 1611 J. Speed Hist. Great Brit. ix. xvi. 659/2 The Flemings grew vnweildie to his commandements. a1732 T. Boston Memoirs (1776) vi. 65 In the forenoon, I thought my heart was very unwieldy. figurative and in extended use.?1611 G. Chapman tr. Homer Iliads xiv. 13 As when with vnwieldie waues, the great Sea forefeeles winds, That both waies murmure.1641 J. Milton Of Reformation 13 Exact Reformation is not perfited at the first push, and those unweildy Times of Edward 6. may hold some Plea by this excuse.1648 J. Beaumont Psyche x. ccclviii. 181 He knows the heats of this unweildy Passion, And will allow it brave Immoderation. †5. Inexpert or awkward (in doing something); incapable, unpractical. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > ability > inability > unskilfulness > [adjective] craftlessOE unslyc1275 unexperta1425 incrafty?1520 imperite?1550 unskilful1565 skilless1573 artless1586 inexpert1598 unarted1603 boisterous1609 unhandsomea1616 unwieldy1666 unartful1683 undexterous1688 unaccomplished1709 not so (also not too) hot1845 rotten1867 one-fingered1868 button pushing1896 1666 J. Davies tr. C. de Rochefort Hist. Caribby-Islands 201 They are..so fearful and unwieldy in the handling of Armes, that they are easily reduc'd under subjection. 1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 27. ⁋2 A Rake..is a poor unwieldy Wretch, that commits Faults out of the Redundance of his good Qualities. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1926; most recently modified version published online December 2021). < adj.c1386
随便看	to lose both one's meat and mense to lose breath to lose by a head to lose by a neck to lose caste to lose codille to lose company to lose count to lose countenance to lose earth to lose face to lose ground to lose heart to lose hold, one's balance to lose it to lose it that to lose leather to lose no time to lose nothing in the telling to lose oil to lose one's bearings to lose one's bottle to lose one's breath to lose one's cherry to lose one's cool