Revised 2018 More entries for "unkind"
unkindadjective & noun2
Factsheet
What does the word unkind mean?
There are 21 meanings listed in OED's entry for the word unkind, 13 of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
unkind has developed meanings and uses in subjects including
How common is the word unkind?
About 1occurrence per million words in modern written English
| 1750 | 2.5 |
| 1760 | 2.4 |
| 1770 | 2.2 |
| 1780 | 2.2 |
| 1790 | 2.3 |
| 1800 | 2.4 |
| 1810 | 2.6 |
| 1820 | 2.8 |
| 1830 | 2.9 |
| 1840 | 3.0 |
| 1850 | 3.0 |
| 1860 | 3.1 |
| 1870 | 3.1 |
| 1880 | 2.9 |
| 1890 | 2.9 |
| 1900 | 2.6 |
| 1910 | 2.5 |
| 1920 | 2.2 |
| 1930 | 2.0 |
| 1940 | 1.7 |
| 1950 | 1.5 |
| 1960 | 1.3 |
| 1970 | 1.2 |
| 1980 | 1.0 |
| 1990 | 1.0 |
| 2000 | 1.0 |
| 2010 | 1.1 |
How is the word unkind pronounced?
British English
/(ˌ)ʌnˈkʌɪnd/
un-KIGHND
U.S. English
/ˌənˈkaɪnd/
uhn-KIGHND
Where does the word unkind come from?
Earliest known use
Old English
The earliest known use of the word unkind is in the Old English period (pre-1150).
unkind is of multiple origins. Partly formed within English, by clipping or shortening. Partly formed within English, by derivation.
Etymons: un-i-cunde adj.; un- prefix1, kind adj.
Nearby entries
- unkeyed, adj.1824–
- unkeying, n.1820–
- unkicked, adj.1733–
- unkillability, n.1835–
- unkillable, adj.1837–
- unkilled, adj.1546–
- unkilling, adj.1651–
- unkilned, adj.1854–
- unkin, adj. & n.Old English–1200
- unkind, n.¹a1200–1500
- unkind, adj. & n.²late Old English–
- unkindfully, adv.?1534
- unkindhead, n.c1325–1400
- unkind-hearted, adj.1760–
- unkindled, adj.a1525–
- unkindledness, n.1869–
- unkindliness, n.1488–
- unkindling, adj.1766–
- unkindly, adj.?c1225–
- unkindly, adv.?c1225–
- unkindness, n.c1390–
Etymology
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Meaning & use
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Pronunciation
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Forms
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Frequency
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Compounds & derived words
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Entry history for unkind, adj. & n.²
unkind, adj. & n.² was revised in March 2018.
unkind, adj. & n.² was last modified in March 2024.
oed.com is a living text, updated every three months. Modifications may include:
- further revisions to definitions, pronunciation, etymology, headwords, variant spellings, quotations, and dates;
- new senses, phrases, and quotations.
Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into unkind, adj. & n.² in March 2024.
Earlier versions of this entry were published in:
OED First Edition (1924)
OED Second Edition (1989)
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Citation details
Factsheet for unkind, adj. & n.²
Browse entry
Nearby entries
- unkeyed, adj.1824–
- unkeying, n.1820–
- unkicked, adj.1733–
- unkillability, n.1835–
- unkillable, adj.1837–
- unkilled, adj.1546–
- unkilling, adj.1651–
- unkilned, adj.1854–
- unkin, adj. & n.Old English–1200
- unkind, n.¹a1200–1500
- unkind, adj. & n.²late Old English–
- unkindfully, adv.?1534
- unkindhead, n.c1325–1400
- unkind-hearted, adj.1760–
- unkindled, adj.a1525–
- unkindledness, n.1869–
- unkindliness, n.1488–
- unkindling, adj.1766–
- unkindly, adj.?c1225–
- unkindly, adv.?c1225–
- unkindness, n.c1390–
