ungentle

comparative ungentler · superlative ungentlest

1. Showing a lack of gentleness, kindness or compassion.

   [A] well-conceived squabble arises, and very ungentle terms ensue: […]

   1770, Francis Gentleman, The Dramatic Censor, volume 2, London: J. Bell, page 110

   5 more examples

   […] Moyses lawe, thoughe it were vngentle and sharpe […] yet it punnyshed thefte by the purse, and not wyth deathe.

   1551, Thomas More, “(please specify the Internet Archive page)”, in Raphe Robynson [i.e., Ralph Robinson], transl., A Fruteful, and Pleasaunt Worke of the Best State of a Publyque Weale, and of the Newe Yle Called Utopia: […], London: […] [Steven Mierdman for] Abraham Vele, […], →OCLC

   You haue deceiu'd our truſt, / And made vs doffe our eaſie roabes of peace, / To cruſh our old limbs in vngentle ſteele, / This is not vvell my Lord, this is not vvell.

   c. 1597 (date written), [William Shakespeare], The History of Henrie the Fourth; […], quarto edition, London: […] P[eter] S[hort] for Andrew Wise, […], published 1598, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i], signature I2, recto

   At length, however, the boisterous pastime terminated—suddenly, as might be expected: the little one was hurt and began to cry; and its ungentle playfellow tossed it into its mother’s lap, bidding her “make all straight.”

   1848, Acton Bell [pseudonym; Anne Brontë], The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. […], volume II, London: T[homas] C[autley] Newby, […], →OCLC, page 253

   About John Marin, there move sad, disgruntled beings, full of talk and lamentations. [...] They bewail the fact that in America, soil is poor and unconducive to growth, and men remain unmoved by growing green. But Marin persists, and what ebullience and good humour, in the rocky ungentle loam?

   1922 April, Paul Rosenfeld, “The Water-Colours of John Marin: A Note on the Work of the First American Painter of the Day”, in John Peale Bishop, editor, Vanity Fair, volume 18, number 2, New York, N.Y.: Vanity Fair Publishing Company, →OCLC, page 48, column 2

   Dagh Sahib, a woman by herself—what place can she find in an ungentle world?

   1993, Vikram Seth, A Suitable Boy, New York: HarperCollins, Chapter 12.16, p. 805

   Synonyms: cruel, harsh, rough, unkind

2. obsoleteNot acting according to accepted ethics or standards of behaviour.

   I will reward thee: / But as for him, vngentle Boy, Ile whip / His falshood with a vengeance.

   1629, John Ford, The Lover’s Melancholy, London: H. Seile, act III, scene 1, page 42

   3 more examples

   [T]his vngentle prince, and forgetfull frend, puttyng in obliuion, bothe the dutie of his obeysaunce, toward his souereigne and liege lorde, and the oth and promise, that he made to kyng Henry, […] turned his backe to his frend and kynsman, and loked to the French part, whiche neuer did hym honor nor profite, […]

   a. 1548 (date written), Edward Hall, Richard Grafton, “(please specify the part of the work) King Henry VI, Year 15.”, in The Vnion of the Two Noble and Illustre Famelies of Lancastre & Yorke, […], London: […] Richardi Graftoni […], published 1548, →OCLC

   What more deceit? then look thy Fréend in face: / And woork his death, in most vngentle case.

   1579, Anthony Munday, The Mirrour of Mutabilitie, London: John Allde, Book 2

   Ungentle queen, to call him gentle Suffolk! / No more, I say: if thou dost plead for him, / Thou wilt but add increase unto my wrath.

   1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]

   Synonyms: base, villainous, wicked