Middle English Dictionary Entry
uncǒuth adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | uncǒuth adj. Also uncouthe, uncod, uncuth(e, unchut, unkouth(e, unkout, un(e)kothe, unkuthe, oncouth(e, onecouth(e, huncouthe, honkouth, (N) uncut, onchothe & (early) uncuððe, uncudðe, uncoþe, unchout, unecouþe, onecouþe, onekuþ, h)oncuþ, (acc.) uncuðne, (dat.) uncuðen, uncuðun & (?error) unkuhe, (error) onknowth; pl. uncouthes & (early infl.) uncuðen, (gen.) uncuðra. |
| Etymology | OE uncūþ |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. unkithe adj.
1.
(a) Unknown; also, unidentified;
(b) not well known, unfamiliar; also, unrecognizable;
(c) not knowable, unpredictable;
(d) of a person: not known by name; not previously encountered; also, as noun: a stranger;—also coll.; ~ man, a stranger.
Associated quotations
a
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1106 : Hig ma on þison timon un cuðra steorra ge sawon.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)4/16 : Uncuð hwu heom æt æhte getide.
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.HApul.(Hrl 6258B)43/2 : Be æȝhwylcum uncuðun bladdran þe on mannes nebbe sittaþ, nim webræde sæd.
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.HApul.(Hrl 6258B)93/13 : Wið uncuþe springas þe on lichama acenned byð, nim þisse wyrte wurtruma þæt man xifion.
- c1175(?OE) HRood (Bod 343)6/35 : Hit is me uncuð ȝyt hwæt þingæ hit beo.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)9236 : Crist wass i þatt time ȝet All unncuþ & all dærne.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)23/3 : Ic bliðeliche ðine rad wile hlesten…ȝif ðu me ðin uncuðe name me woldest kyðen.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)125/301 : One-couþ to þe, man hys þes figure.
- c1350 NPass.(Rwl C.655)145/1782x, 146/1782aa : A auter hii dide sone make…Of þe vnkouþ god hii did it kalle…wan seint paule gan to preche…Him þat hii þe vnchoþe god told Soþfaste god he bad hem hold.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)51 : Al þat was tolde…With many prouerbe diuers and vnkouth.
- a1425 Fasc.Mor.(LdMisc 111)Tag 9 [11] 2 : Wo-so woneth hym nouth to gode frust al in is ȝouthe, Vnthewes to leue were to hym in helde ful vnkwthe.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)110 : I…wil declaryn…Of seynt Margrete…Wych story is no-thyng vnkowthe.
- a1450 Spec.Guy (Morrill)421 : [Auch: Þanne sholen þeih here, herkne nouþe, A blisful word of godes mouþe] Which shal not be to hem vncowþe, For god shal sey it with his mowþe.
- c1484(a1475) Caritate SSecr.(Tak 38)160/10 : He þat wold take euiry morow twyis fulle hys mowth of warm watyr, it make an heyl man swr fro all vnkowth sekenes.
- a1500(a1400) Libeaus (Lamb 306)401 : A knyght me heder ganne sende, That ye cleppen…Lybeus Disconeus, Vnkothe of right and k[y]nde.
- c1500(?a1437) ?Jas.I KQ (SeldArch B.24)st.63 : Quhen sall your merci rew upon your man, Quhois service is yit uncouth unto yow?
b
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)115/1 : Furseus þa beseh to his lichame swylce to uncuðen reafe, & nolde him genealæcen.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)3302 : He hine vncuð makede; Ne i-cneow hine nauere na man.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.5694 : So what with blod and what with teres Out of hire yhe and of hir mouth He made hire faire face uncouth.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)4296 : Ful fewe bedys are yn hys mouþe; He vsyþ none, þey are vncouthe.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1808 : I am here an erande in erdez vncouþe.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.1813 : For his passage was to him vnkouþe, He fil a-geyn in-to þe wolves mouþe.
- a1450 Dial.Bern.& V.(2) (Cmb Dd.1.1)165 : Weping is me not vnkouþe.
- a1500 PNoster R.Hermit (Trin-C O.1.29)p.158 : So mekile he louede þis faucon…þat afterwarde he come not vnto þe ladye & styntede þan to looue hier, ryght as sche hadde ben vnto hym full vncouth & straunge.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)88/45 : Folisshe ignoraunce misledeth wandring wrecches by uncouth wayes…and maketh hem blynde fro the right pathe of trewe way.
c
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)4/6 : Ne hope þu to oðres mannes deaðe, uncuð hwa lengest libbe.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)110/3 : Is swiðe uncuð ælce men…hu longe he þisses lænen lifes brucon mote.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)132/12 : Bið syððæn ful uncuþ hu þe deme embe þa sawle wule.
- a1500 *Lanfranc CP (Wel 397)32a/5 : Vnder stond þat ther is no sekenes in no lyme in all a mannys body þat is so vnkouthe as þe sekenes of eyen.
d
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)4/23 : Help æigðer gea cuðen gea uncuðen, þær þu muge; uncuð hware hwa oðres beðurfe.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)51/25 : Þa com þære steppende sum uncuð cæmpe.
- a1225(?OE) Vsp.A.Hom.(Vsp A.22)231 : Æer þanne we mid ure frienden toðe mete go, scepie we þes uncoðe mæn ur ȝefo, þa hi to-for him come.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)183 : Þe man is uncuð þe oðer þe nele naht him cnowen, ne helpen him gief he neod haueð.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)211/26 : Ne makie ȝe nane gestnunges, ne ne tulle ȝe to þe ȝete nane uncuðe [Nero: unkuðe] hearloz
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)6295 : Heo arædde þis lond & nomen hit al to heore hond for heom heo hit vðen bet þane þan vncuðen.
- a1300-a1400(a1268) Bracton De Leg.(Woodbine)2.306 : Secundum antiquam consuetudinem, dici poterit de familia alicujus qui hospitatus fuerit cum alio per tres noctes, quia prima nocte dici poterit ‘uncuth’ [vr. unchout], secunda vero ‘gust’, tertia nocte ‘hoghenehyne’.
- c1330(?a1300) Guy(2) (Auch)p.504 : For oft it falleþ vncouþe man Þat gode conseyle ȝiue can.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)37/18 : Þe priue þyeues byeþ þo þet ne steleþ naȝt of oncouþe ac of priues.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)193/10 : Þanne me yziȝþ þe nyede…me is y-healde to þe oncouþe; aboue alle oþren me is y-hyealde to uader and to moder huanne me y-ziȝþ hare nyede.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)9872 : Hyt ys grete perel to an vncouþe man A mayde chylde for to holde Byfore þe bysshope.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)6835 : To pilgrime and to vncuth þou ber þe wit þi dedis cuth.
2.
(a) Alien, uncustomary; foreign (to one’s nature); also, ?not naturally restricted to one type of substance [quot. a1398];
(b) of a person, ship: not native, foreign; of a country, place, etc.: foreign, strange; also, as noun: a foreign land [quot. c1230]; foreigners [quot. a1250]; ~ man, a foreigner.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)7846 : Þa ich an ænde me bisæh—selcuð me þuhte—þas mi mæte me wes læd, mine limes uncuðe.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)897/17 : A graffe of oþer kynde may be graffed þerinne…for he haþ moche vncouþ humour.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.pr.2.49 : The covetise of men…schal it bynde me to ben stedfast, syn that stidfastnesse is uncouth to me maneris?
- ?a1475(a1396) *Hilton SP (Hrl 6579)1.31.19a : Þis lufe…is so fer fro þe bodili kende and so vncouþe þat he kan no skele of hit and mai nouȝt beren hit bute failliþ.
b
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)6464 : He Ne wass nohht ta þærinne, Þa þatt unncuþe follc comm inn, To lefenn uppo Criste.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)81 : Nu kumeð þes helendisse Mon…Mon elelendis he is icleped for he is of unkuþe þode.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)53 : Þat israelisse folc andswerede þus and sede…hu muge we singen godes loft song in uncuðe londe?
- ?c1225 Ancr.(Cleo C.6)45/14 : Dina…heode vt to seon vncuðe wimmen.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)74/9 : Ha is her in uncuððe [Tit: uncudðe], iput in a prisun.
- a1250 Ancr.(Nero A.14)158/2 : Ich halsie ou…alse unkuðe [Cleo ?a1289 gloss: outlondische men] & pilegrimes þet ȝe wið holden ou from vlesliche lustes.
- a1300 ME Verse in Anglia 92p.75 : Wanne frend schal fram frende go into Unkuhelonde [?read: Unkuþe londe], nis no wunder þet frend bie wo and wring bo his honde.
- c1300(?c1225) Horn (Cmb Gg.4.27)43/729 : In to vncuþe [vr. onekuþ] londe, Wel more for to fonde; Ischal wune þere.
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)1664 : Ȝef honcuþe [Clg: ferrene] kinges hii-hereþ soche þinges, þat we so take him on, hit hus wolleþ sinde.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)73/88 : Harold…was…to grounde i-brouȝt…and al Enguelond also, In-to vnecouþe mannes honde.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)325/107 : Ich…les mine tweie sones in þe se…And al one fram mine freond þus feor in one-couþe londe.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)6445 : He hom to deþe broȝte, So ver in vnekoþe lond þat no mon of hom ne roȝte.
- c1330(?c1300) Reinbrun (Auch)p.639 : To seche him y schel fonde…In mani an honkouþ londe.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)253/28 : Þe ilke þet is pilgrim and ine oncouþe contraye huer byeþ manye þyeues an robberes þet aspieþ þe pilgrims and wayteþ þe wayes.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)8.141 : Þi sweuene is to mene Þat vnkouþe knihtes schul com þi kindam [?read: kingdam] to clayme.
- c1400(1399) Þer is a busch (Bagot)p.364 : Her eldes[t] bryd his taken her fro, into an uncod place.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)4177 : Þan sagh þai cumand be þe stret Marchands of an vncuth thede.
- a1400(a1325) Glo.Chron.B (Trin-C R.4.26)6758 : Onkouþ [A: Mid lute onekeþ folc to engelond he drou].
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)414 : Þe arc hoven watz on hyȝe wyth hurlande gotez, Kest to kythez uncouþe þe clowdez ful nere.
- ?a1425(?c1350) NHom.(3) Pass.(RwlPoet 175)69 : Romains and folk of vncouth land Sall feche our folk out of our hand.
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.SSecr.(Sln 2464)219 : In Rethoryk he hadde experyence Of euery straunge vnkouth nacyoun.
- a1450(1408) Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)127/29 : It nediþ to wite…wheþer þe straungeres þat comeþ to þe of vnkouþe londes…ben feiþful and trusty.
- a1450 NPass.(Cmb Dd.1.1)182/1554 : A vnkowth man þei gan mete; his name was symon [of Cyrene].
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)13864 : Gud hyre to haue þore he þem hett to helpe hym to þat vncouth yle.
- a1500(a1400) Ipom.(1) (Chet 8009)2306 : The knyghttes, þat were of huncouthe pays, Mighte redely them vnderstonde.
- a1500(a1400) Libeaus (Lamb 306)49 : J am come oute of fer contre…J am a childe vnkowthe.
- c1500(?a1475) Landavall (Rwl C.86)25 : I am here in vnchut londe.
- ?a1525(?a1475) Play Sacr.(Dub 652)147 : Seke the haven both vp and down, To wette yff ony onknowth [read: onkowth] shyppes therin do ryde.
- c1600(c1350) Alex.Maced.(Grv 60)48 : Than was Philip þe free to fosteryng take, In courte vnkouthe kith with a king ryche.
3.
(a) Novel; new; strikingly different; also, unusual;
(b) unheard of, outlandish; also, miraculous; also, as noun: a wonder [quot. c1390]; ~ in sighte, frightful in appearance;
(c) outrageous.
Associated quotations
a
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)110/6 : Þa geherde he eft oðerne sang swylce uncuðne manegra þusenda ængla, þuss cweðende, ‘Heo eoden togeanes Criste.’
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2497 : Ther maistow seen deuysynge of harneys So vnkouth and so riche and wroght so weel Of goldsmythrye of browdyng and of steel.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.284 : Who koude telle yow the forme of daunces So unkouthe? and swiche fresshe contenaunces Swich subtil lookyng and dissimulynges.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)5495 : To-quils þar ras an vncut [Göt: neu] king þat had to ioseph na knauing.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)93 : Arthure…wolde neuer ete Vpon such a dere day, er hym deuised were Of sum auenturus þyng an vncouþe tale.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)2662 : Ther men may see many straunge guyses Of Armyng newe and vncouth devyses.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.705 : Onto Adam this was an vnkouth game, To be constreynyd from riche apparaile In bareyn erthe to sekyn his vitaile.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.4107 : He was nat content a duk men sholde hym calle, But of Cartage for to be namyd kyng, And lik his purpos that it sholde falle, Fro day to day the menys compassyng, How he myht fulfille this vnkout thyng.
- a1456(a1449) Lydg.Friend AN (Ashm 59)24 : It is ful vnkouþe to fynde a freonde at nede.
- a1500(?a1410) Lydg.CB (Lnsd 699)74 : It was a verray heuenly melodie Euen & morwe to here the briddis song, And the soote sewgred armonye Of vncouth warblis & tewnes drawe along.
- 1558(a1456) Shirley TContents(2) (Add 29729)26 : Many a roundell and balade…ye munke of bury hath made and sayd them wt hys sugred mouthe in straunge metres so vnkouthe.
b
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)228 : Þeȝȝ wisstenn þatt himm wass þatt daȝȝ Summ unncuþ sihhþe shæwedd.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)2004 : Itt shollde unnawwnedd ben & all unncuþ…Þatt ȝho þa shollde ben þurrh Godd Off Haliȝ Gast wiþþ childe.
- c1390(?c1350) Jos.Arim.(Vrn)187 : He calles on his chaumberleyn to kennen vncouþes, And he rises a-non and for ferd falles.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)22494 : Efter þe tua fules þe þrid, An uncuth dai þan es it kidd…þe mone…Sal becum rede als ani blod.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1600 : His sawle is ful of syence, saȝes to schawe, To open uch a hide þyng of aunteres uncowþe.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.3448 : For he was in siȝte so vnkouthe…Boþe man & hors sore werne a-ferde.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.6428 : It was ful secre in euery manys siht, Among peeple told for an vnkouth thyng, Wheroff Sampson hadde so gret myht.
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.SSecr.(Sln 2464)89 : Many myracles of Antiquite, Vnkouth and straunge and merveyllous to se…surmounte…Bothe witt of man and werkys of nature.
- a1450(1408) Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)152/32 : Olifauntis…for newe wondringe of þe vnkouþe bestes schap, þey made boþe men & hors aferd at hir first comynge.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)1279 : Ther saugh I Colle tregetour Upon a table of sycamour Pleye an uncouth thyng to telle.
- a1500(1439) Lydg.Sts.AA (Lnsd 699)1390 : Yif al the thyng be trewe Which ye have prechid…Dyvers mervaile, vncouth, straunge, & newe…I yow biseche your vois nat to withdrawe.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)73/300 : Vncowth meruels shalbe meyt And he of malyce meyn.
c
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)13641 : Her-of thinc me al selcuth Qui yee hald him [Jesus] sua vncuth And sais yee wat noght queþen he be Þat þus has giuen mi sight to me.
4.
(a) Unseemly, rude [1st quot. may belong to sense 3.(b)];
(b) distasteful, unpleasant;
(c) uncivilized, barbarous.
Associated quotations
a
- a1250(?c1150) Prov.Alf.(Mdst A.13)121/468 : Elde cummeþ to tune mid fele unkuþe costes.
- c1400(c1382) Wycl.PRSchism.(Dub 244)242 : For þis unkouþe discencioun þat is bitwixe þes popes semeþ to signyfie þe perillous tyme þat Poul seiþ schulde come in þes laste dayes.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)4114 : Adrastus…calleth such counsayl as he wiste…Requeryng hem…To remedyen…The vncouth noyse.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.4098 : For lak off vertu thei fill in gret diffame; And atwen hem ther was an vnkouth striff.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.145 : This hour I can shewe me merciable, And sodenli I can be despitous…My play vnkouth, my maners merueilous Braid on the wynd.
- a1450 PPl.B (Cmb Dd.1.17)9.160 : Vnkouþe [Ld: It is an oncomely couple…To ȝyuen a ȝonge wenche to an olde feble].
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)10397 : I gretly astonyd was, And, for fer, be-gan to quake, What Answere I sholde make Vn-to hys vnkouthe opposaylle.
- a1500(1439) Lydg.Sts.AA (Lnsd 699)2461 : Lik as men gon to some vncouth spectacle, Peeple cam don his martirdam to see.
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.3903 : Eleyne…gan ful rewfully compleyne Hir vnkouþe lyf to dwelle with straungers…Fer sequestrid a-weye from hir comtre [read: contre].
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.661 : It was to hem ful vnkouth and vnleeff For to departe fro thilke mansioun That was so full off delectacioun.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)9.2538 : Heer stant…Duk of Athenis: turne toward hym þi stile His vnkouth stori breefli to compile.
- c1600(c1350) Alex.Maced.(Grv 60)683 : Maister…queme yee me might, Of this unkouth case too karp þe soothe.
c
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)2406 : Lemmon…sore I me drede Now we go bi þis vncouþ [Vsp: laules; Göt: laithly] lede; For þou art feir whenne þei þe se Wiþ myȝte þei wol þe take fro me.
5.
(a) Of a person: not comprehending (what sb. said), not understanding; ~ of, ignorant of (sth.); ~ with, unfamiliar with (sth.), unacquainted with, unaccustomed to;
(b) as noun: uneducated people.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175(OE) Bod.Aelfric OT (Bod 343)25/224 : God sylf com…& sealde heora ælcum synderlice spæce, þæt heora ælc wæs uncuð hwæt oðer sæde.
- a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)97 : His muð is get wel unkuð wið pater noster & crede.
- a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)396 : Of his swike he arn uncuð.
- a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)469 : Here dede is al vncuð wið ðat spekeð here muð.
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Devil Phys.(Phys-E)p.150 : Hou may thou than be in thi youthe Wit fleysly fanding sa vncouthe?
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)8/22 : Uncuþe be wid þe dedis…of þe werld; luue god ouir alle þing.
b
- a1500 Hilton ML (Roy 17.C.18)26/29 : He taght the vn-couthe and vn-kunnynge by his prechynge.
6.
Secret, occult; of a route or path: hidden, out of the way, covert.
Associated quotations
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)5.2778 : Ther was a cosyn that callid was Grispus To Anthiochus, & of the same lyne, Which be title off Demetrius Cleymeth as heyr, be many vnkouth signe.
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.SSecr.(Sln 2464)244 : Desirous I was…to…visite…Rethoryciens to compyle and endyte Vnkouth mysteryes; I was glad hem to se, By ther suppoort to lerne Som secree.
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.SSecr.(Sln 2464)989 : Thou must first Conceyven in substaunce, by A maneer vnkouth divysioun.
- a1450(1408) Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)116/21 : He is hid priueliche in þe ynnermeste party of þe vncouþe place of priuete, þe whiche is cleped þe Laberynthe.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)314 : Ride euer be nyght and by the moste vn-cowth [F destournes] weyes that ye may.
7.
In surnames.
Associated quotations
- (1278) Assize R.Lan.in LCRS 47170 : Robert le Uncuthemon.
- (1323) Nickname in LuSE 55182 : Al. le Vnkoutmon.
- (1325) Court R.Lan.in LCRS 41122 : William le Uncouthmon.