Middle English Dictionary Entry
unbought adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | unbought adj. Also unbouȝt(e, unbou(h)t, unboukt, unboght, unboȝt, unboht, (early) unbocht. |
| Etymology | OE unboht, unbocht; also cp. ME bo(u)ght , bout, iboukt, p.ppl. of bīen v. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Unpurchased, unpaid for; free of cost; also, belonging to another [1st quot.]; of a creature: unredeemed [quot. c1450];
(b) fig. without retribution, unrequited, unrewarded.
Associated quotations
a
- a1350 Prov.Hend.(Hrl 2253)216 : Of vn boht hude men kerueþ brod þong.
- c1390 Bi a wode (Vrn)66 : Ȝif þou beo a fryk mon in þi floures, And haue vn-bouȝt boþe purpel & pal…Þou kepes not come with-in þe chirche wal.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)5410 : In all egypti lefte he na land Vn-boght [Trin-C: vnbouȝte] in-til þe king hand.
- c1450(?c1400) Wycl.Elucid.(StJ-C G.25)8 : If crist of an aungel schulde take aungels kynde, him aloone bye aȝen & oþer leve fulle vnbought.
- a1500(?a1400) SLChrist (Hrl 2250)9974 : Also ryȝt As bonde-men wer þat ȝer delyuerd All vnboȝt, So out of synne we ben her delyuered with þat God has wroȝt.
b
- a1225(?c1175) PMor.(Lamb 487)59 : Ne scal nan ufel bon unbocht [Jes-O: vn-bouht] ne nan god unforȝolden.
- a1300 Worldes blis ne last (Rwl G.18)62 : Ne wort ne god þer unforgulde ne non uuel ne worth unboukt [vr. unbout] wanne þu list, mon, under molde, þu shalt hauen as tu hauest wrokt.