Rudest

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Rude \Rude\, a. [Compar. {Ruder}; superl. {Rudest}.] [F., fr. L.
     rudis.]
     1. Characterized by roughness; umpolished; raw; lacking
        delicacy or refinement; coarse.
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              Such gardening tools as art, yet rude, . . . had
              formed.                               --Milton.
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     2. Hence, specifically:
        (a) Unformed by taste or skill; not nicely finished; not
            smoothed or polished; -- said especially of material
            things; as, rude workmanship. "Rude was the cloth."
            --Chaucer.
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                  Rude and unpolished stones.       --Bp.
                                                    Stillingfleet.
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                  The heaven-born child
                  All meanly wrapt in the rude manger lies.
                                                    --Milton.
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        (b) Of untaught manners; unpolished; of low rank; uncivil;
            clownish; ignorant; raw; unskillful; -- said of
            persons, or of conduct, skill, and the like. "Mine
            ancestors were rude." --Chaucer.
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                  He was but rude in the profession of arms. --Sir
                                                    H. Wotton.
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                  the rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep.
                                                    --Gray.
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        (c) Violent; tumultuous; boisterous; inclement; harsh;
            severe; -- said of the weather, of storms, and the
            like; as, the rude winter.
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                  [Clouds] pushed with winds, rude in their shock.
                                                    --Milton.
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                  The rude agitation [of water] breaks it into
                  foam.                             --Boyle.
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        (d) Barbarous; fierce; bloody; impetuous; -- said of war,
            conflict, and the like; as, the rude shock of armies.
        (e) Not finished or complete; inelegant; lacking
            chasteness or elegance; not in good taste;
            unsatisfactory in mode of treatment; -- said of
            literature, language, style, and the like. "The rude
            Irish books." --Spenser.
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                  Rude am I in my speech.           --Shak.
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                  Unblemished by my rude translation. --Dryden.
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     Syn: Impertinent; rough; uneven; shapeless; unfashioned;
          rugged; artless; unpolished; uncouth; inelegant; rustic;
          coarse; vulgar; clownish; raw; unskillful; untaught;
          illiterate; ignorant; uncivil; impolite; saucy;
          impudent; insolent; surly; currish; churlish; brutal;
          uncivilized; barbarous; savage; violent; fierce;
          tumultuous; turbulent; impetuous; boisterous; harsh;
          inclement; severe. See {Impertiment}.
          [1913 Webster] -- {Rude"ly}, adv. -- {Rude"ness}, n.
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