Middle English Dictionary Entry
unbain(e adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | unbain(e adj. Also unbeien(e, (16th cent.) unbaien. |
| Etymology | From bain adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Contumacious, insubordinate, disobedient; also, uncooperative [1st quot.];
(b) unpleasant; ?also [1st quot.], of a general situation: unfavorable, adverse [may belong to (a)];
(c) debilitating, enervating.
Associated quotations
a
- a1325 Prov.Hend.(Cmb Gg 1.1)st.23 : Such man ichave ilend mi clod þat heavid…maked me ful wrod Ar hit come aȝein…He scal, ȝef he bidit mo, Finde me unbein.
- c1390 NHom.Narrat.(Vrn)40.306/30 : Euere þei don vuel a geyn And to heore lord ben vn bayn.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)17735 : He sal find mani bern vn-bain [Trin-C: vnbeyne], For mani sal him sai again.
- a1425(c1300) NHom.(1) Peter & P.(Ashm 42)69 : Dar þai na worde speke þaim againe Ne to þaire biddinge be vnbaine.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)1639 : If ony be so vnbayne In word or werk to groch ogayn, And scho þer-of þan be ascried, With penance sal scho be chastid.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)291/356 : What thou art fre! vnbychid, vnbayn!
- 1591(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hnt HM 2)27/338 : Thus shall thou live, soothe to sayen for thou haste byne to mee unbayen.
b
- ?a1300(c1250) Prov.Hend.(Dgb 86)st.20 : Sweche man…ofte haveþ imaked me wroþ…Efte, þau he havede nede And he wene wel to spede, Hic [read: ?Hit, ?Ich] shal ben him unbein.
- a1325 Prov.Hend.(Cmb Gg 1.1)st.22 : Drawe þine honde sone aȝein, Ȝef man doth þe ouht unbein, Þar þine herte is ilende.
c
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.102 : So was he kyng of Brytain then again, And sone then after he fell in age vnbain.