ungentle

adj

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

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

   “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.”

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

   “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.””

   “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?”

2. (obsolete)Not acting according to accepted ethics or standards of behaviour.

   “[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, […]”

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

   “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.”

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