Middle English Dictionary Entry
unbrōken ppl.
Entry Info
| Forms | unbrōken ppl. Also unbrokon, unbroke. |
| Etymology | From brōke(n , p.ppl. of brēken v.; cp. OE ungebrocen. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Not broken, whole;
(b) not to be infringed, inviolate; also, sacrosanct [quot. a1400];
(c) direct, continuous, not interrupted.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)1384/32 : Þerfore men in olde tyme cleped a þing þat was hool and vnbroke solidum et totum.
b
- a1325 *Rwl.Statutes [OD col.] (Rwl B.520)lf.31b : Þulke þat we graunteden to holde…in þe forme hol bi forseide ant vnbroke.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)611 : In to þat land…Was adam broght quen he was made; He gaf it him…Bot for to hald it wel vnbroken [Trin-C: vnbrokon] Þe forbot þat was be-tuix þam spoken.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.14/3 : We make sure…ordeynyng þat all maner possessions…nowe this same church by the offryng of true men ryȝghtfully and lawfully hath, vndewyd to þem and to þere successours sure and vnbroke Abyde.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)627/31 : Þat þys gyft graunt & confirmacion & hys quite-clayme sholde byde sure, stable, & unbroke for euyr, he put to hys seele.
c
- (1435) Misyn FL (Corp-O 236)39/26 : In god he is delityd withouten gaynstandyng, with goinge vp vnbrokyn he behaldis.