Middle English Dictionary Entry
unbōrn(e ppl.
Entry Info
| Forms | unbōrn(e ppl. Also unbore, onborn, onbore, (early) unboren(e. |
| Etymology | From OE unboren & ME bōre(n , bōrn(e, p.ppl. of bēren v.(1). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Unborn; yet to be born; also, not reborn spiritually [1st quot.]; as noun: unborn children;
(b) never born; deprived of birth;—freq. in proverbs and prov. expressions; also fig. [quot. a1393, 1st]; also, nonexistent [quot. a1425];
(c) ~ in mulori, not born in wedlock.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)17327 : Nicodem wass ȝet Unnborenn i þatt time Off Haliȝ Gast.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)135 : Þo þe he was on his moder wombe get unboren, he witegede of ure helendes to cume.
- ?a1300 Fiftene toknen (Dgb 86)9 : Children vnborene þat nout ne beþ Of þare tokne adred hy beþ.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2084 : A womman trauaillyng was hir biforn, But for hir child so longe was vnborn, Ful pitously Lucyna gan she calle.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)3463 : Bituix vn-born a batel blind Suilk an was ferli to find.
- a1425(a1396) Maidstone PPs. (Wht)690 : In anoþer kynrede lete þese be writen; Thanne schal preise God þe peple vnbore.
- c1450 Form Excom.(3) (Dc 60)106/43 : We accorsen…alle þat sleen childeren or distroien boren or vnborn with drynkes or with wichecraft.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)99 : Yef he that is ther-to chosen were yet vn-bore, it shall neuer be taken oute of the ston till he come.
b
- a1250(?c1150) Prov.Alf.(Mdst A.13)98/243 : Betere is bern unborn [Trin-C: vnboren] þanne unibeten.
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)822 : Wo worþe þulke man þat shal him so bytraye; Him were betere to beo vnbore ȝut to þis daye.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Sh.(Manly-Rickert)B.1372 : Yet were me leuere that I were vnborn Than me were doon a sclaundre or vileynye.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.3221 : O Phebus…Withdrawgh the Banere of thin Armes, And let thi lyhtes ben unborn.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.1748 : It helpeth noght a man be bore, If goddes Sone were unbore.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)4855 : Better were þe chylde vnbore Þan fayle chastysyng, and syþþen lore.
- a1400 Sinne & fulþe (Hrl 7322)6 : Wit-outin loue þou art lorn; wose hat nout loue were bettre on-born.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.269 : For that man is unbore, I dar wel swere, That evere wiste that she dide amys.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)15592 : I byde here blynd as best in bale þat bettur ware haue bene vn born.
- c1450 Dc.Prov.(Dc 52)p.54 : Better is a chylde vnborne þen vnlerned.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)42/236 : It were well bettyr euer to be vnborn than ffor to forfetyn evyr more in þat synne.
- c1475 Rwl.Prov.(Rwl D.328)p.118 : Better ys a chyld on-bore þan on-tauȝth.
- c1500 All lust and lykyng (Trin-C R.3.19)9 : I may wysshe I were vnbore; My hert ys hold in hygh distresse.
c
- a1425 Dial.Reason & A.(Cmb Ii.6.39)19/15 : Þow þe lawe reuerently faueringe þe sacrement of wedlok ponysch on diuerse maneres children vnborn in mulori.