unskill

English

Etymology

From un- +‎ skill.

Noun

unskill (uncountable)

1. Foolish conduct; wrongdoing.
   • 1954, The Collection of the Middle Length Sayings:

     And what, your reverences, is unskill ? what is unskill's root ? what is skill ? what is skill's root ? Onslaught on creatures, your reverences, is unskill, taking what is not given is unskill. Sexual misconduct is unskill. Lying speech is unskill.

2. Lack of skill; skilllessness.
   • 1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 9, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:

     I make others to relate […] what I cannot so well expresse, either through unskill of language, or want of judgement.

   • 1901, Popular Science:

     It is at this point that the real menace of unskill becomes clear. Much has been written and spoken about the retarding effect of unskill upon our national production, and this is indeed serious. But the real danger is more fundamental.

Anagrams

• unkills