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unkindly

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unkindly¹

  • /ʌnˈkaɪndli/

Where it comes from

From Middle English unkyndely, from Old English unġecyndelīċ; equivalent to un- + kindly (adjective).

adjective more unkindly · most unkindly

  1. Not kind, lacking in friendliness, warm-heartedness or sympathy. Preceded by the beadle, and attended by an irregular procession of stern-browed men and unkindly visaged women, Hester Prynne set forth towards the place appointed for her punishment.
  2. archaic Rough, unfavourable, bad. From this superfluous pulp in unkindely, and wet years, may arise that multiplicity of little insects, which infest the Roots and Sprouts of tender Graines and pulses.
  3. obsolete Unnatural, contrary to the natural or proper order of things. That detestable sight him much amazde, / To see th’vnkindly Impes of heauen accurst, / Deuoure their dam;

unkindly²

  • /ʌnˈkaɪndli/

Where it comes from

From Middle English unkyndely, from Old English unġecyndelīċe; equivalent to un- + kindly (adverb) or unkind + -ly.

adverb more unkindly · most unkindly

  1. In an unkind manner. Good master, take it not unkindly, pray, / That I have been thus pleasant [i.e. joking] with you both.
  2. obsolete In an unnatural manner. All th’ unaccomplisht works of Natures hand, / Abortive, monstrous, or unkindly mixt, / Dissolvd on earth, fleet hither, and in vain, / Till final dissolution, wander here,

Opposite: kindly

Thesaurus

adverb

Opposite: kindly

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MLA

"unkindly." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/unkindly. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

unkindly. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/unkindly

Chicago

"unkindly." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/unkindly.

BibTeX
@misc{unkindly_2026,
  title = {unkindly},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/unkindly},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}