Middle English Dictionary Entry
unbilēfful(le adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | unbilēfful(le adj. Also unbileful(le, unbilev(e)ful, unbelef(f)ul, unbileveful. |
| Etymology | From bilēf-ful adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Unbelieving, unfaithful, impious; as noun: the unbelieving ones; also, the impious ones; ~ to, unfaithful or disobedient to (God); also, skeptical of (sth.);
(b) incredible, unbelievable.
Associated quotations
a
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)11 : Þe deuel…makeð þe unbilefulle man to leuen swilche wigeles.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)105 : Ech god giue and fule giue cumeð of heuene dunward; and ech idel, and unnit, and iuel neðen uppard, þeh þe unbileffulle swo ne lete.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)105 : Þeh þe deuel muge man bi-charre he ne mai no man neden, and on þis wise werpeð þe unbileffulle man his agen gilt uppe þe giltlese.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ecclus.16.7 : In þe vnbeleeueful [vr. vnbileeueful; WB(2): vnbileuful] folc of kinde, wrathe shal waxe ful out tend.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ecclus.23.33 : First in þe lawe of þe heȝeste she was vnbeleeful.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ecclus.41.4 : O deþ! good is þi dom to a man nedy…& to þe vnbeleeueful þat leesiþ wisdam.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.17.16 : Jhesus answerynge seith, ‘A! thou generacioun vnbyleeful, or out of the feith, and weiward.’
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Deeds 26.19 : I was not vnbileefful to heuenly visioun.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Bar.1.19 : Fro the dai in which he ledde oure fadris out of the lond of Egipt til in to this dai, we weren vnbileueful to oure Lord God.
- ?c1430(c1400) Rule & T.St.Francis(1) (Corp-C 296)45 : Who euere of freris bi inspiracioun of god wilen goon among sarasyns & oþere vnbelefful, axe þei leue þerof of here mynystris prouyncyal.
b
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Judg.20.5 : Men of that citee cumpassiden in nyȝt the hows in which Y dwellide, and thei wolden sle me, and thei bitraueliden my wijf with vnbileueful [vr. vncredible] woodnesse of letcherie.