Middle English Dictionary Entry
unclōthen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | unclōthen v. P. unclōthed(e, onclōthid; pl. uncladden; ppl. unclōthid(e, unclōthud, unclad, onclōthid. |
| Etymology | From clōthen v. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. unclethen v.
1.
(a) Refl. To remove one’s clothing, undress, disrobe; divest oneself (of a garment); also fig.; take off from oneself (an article of clothing);
(b) to undress (sb.), strip; divest (sb. of clothing); also, uncover (a plant) [quot. ?1440];
(c) ppl. unclothede, undressed; naked; also in fig. context;
(d) ppl. unclothede, in a natural state;—used fig.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)659 : Grim dede maken a ful fayr bed, Vncloþede him, and dede him þer-inne.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Is.32.11 : Vncloþe ȝou & beþ counfoundid.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Bar.4.20 : I sothli am forsaken aloon; I haue vnclothide me the stole of pese.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Ezek.44.19 : Thei shuln vnclothe hem her clothingus.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.3494 : For thei scholden hem unclothe, Ther cam a Maide and…dede hem bothe full servise.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)SSol.5.3 : I have vnclothid me of my coote.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.m.7.11 : He unclothide hym of pite of fadir.
- (1440) Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)1157 : He onclothid him of his vestimentis alle.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)37 : I am the mooder of vertues…that made seint martyn vnclothe him self for to clothe the poore man.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)239/2 : He made the pore man vncloþe hym, and he cloþed hym with his owene cote.
b
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.27.28 : Thei, vnclothinge hym, diden aboute hym a rede mantel.
- a1400 Pep.Gosp.(Pep 2498)97/22 : Hij vncladden Jesu of þe purpre and cladden hym wiþ his owene cloþes.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)4.449 : Ek in the wynter seson, Couert of stre their coldes most appeson; When somer comth, vnclothe hem, they beth sure.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)33.399 : Thanne Celidoyne this kyng vnclothed Anon, and powre Clothes dyde hym vppon.
c
- c1400 St.Anne(1) (Min-U Z.822.N.81)1977 : Þe thefs wyffe…sayde, ‘leue, syr, yt were gret syn To leve þer folke unclad; I rede on no wysse þat ȝe þam spoyle.’
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)100/10 : Whan she of þe fayrie sawe him uncloþid [vr. onclothyd] & al nakid, she went in to him & for greet loue took þat yong þing in hir armys.
- a1475(a1456) Shirley Death Jas.(Add 5467)15 : The Kyng that same tyme ther stondyng in his nyght gowne, all unclothid save his shirt, his cape, his combe, his coverchif, his furrid pynsons upon the forme, and the foote sheet.
- c1475(?c1425) Avow.Arth.(Tay 9)850 : Þe knyȝte did as he him bade, And qwenne ho se him vnclad, Þen þe lady wex drede, Worlyke in wede.
- c1475 Earth(3) (Brog 2.1)25/35 : How schulde erth vppon erth soe prode or gaye, Sen erth vnto erth schal pase in symple araye Unclade?
- a1500 Octav.(1) (Cmb Ff.2.38)84/139 : Hastyly was the knaue vncladd; In he went, as sche hym badd, Into the ryche bedde.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)2247 : Whan þei hadde of þe appil bite, Eiþer shamed of oþer as tite, For þei sawe hem þo vnclad Of cloþing of grace þat þei had.
d
- c1390 Swete Ihesu now (Vrn)329 : Ihesu, my soule preyeþ þe: Let hit nouȝt vncloþed [vr. vn-cloþud] be, cloþe hit wiþ þi loue fre.
- a1425(?a1400) Cloud (Hrl 674)142/5 : It suffisiþ now vnto þee…for to offre up þi nakid beyng…contynowel sacrifize of…vncloþid with eny qualite or special beholdyng.