Middle English Dictionary Entry
ungī̆rden v.
Entry Info
| Forms | ungī̆rden v. Also ungird(e; p. ungerde; ppl. ungird(e, ungerd, ungurd & ungirt(e, ungert, ungurt, (SW) oungerte. |
| Etymology | From OE ungyrdan & ME gī̆rden v.(1). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To remove a belt or girdle from (sb.) [quot. c1450, 2nd occurrence]; ppl. ungirde, not wearing a belt or girdle, with belt or girdle removed;
(b) to undress (sb.);
(c) ppl. ungirde, not wearing armor, not dressed for combat; also, as noun: one unprepared for battle [1st quot.];
(d) to unbuckle (a sword);
(e) ben ungirde, to be divested (of honor);—used in fig. context.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (Hrl 2277)2373 : Al afote and barefot he wende into the toun, In his curtel al ungurd…And to the place he wende so as Seint Thomas lay.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)10826 : Hii…To him come at gloucetre…Vn hosed & bareuot & vngurt al so, Hor armes to þe elbowe naked, hor heued bar þer to.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)1943 : Al open-her, & eke oungerte…be-for Char[les] com þow so.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)8.213 : Þe abbot and þe chanouns of Osenay and maistres regentes of Oxenforde com barefoot and barelegged and ungerd [Higd.(2): ungyrde; L discincti] þorugh Londoun to þe legat his in.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)8b/b : Asonus [Cnt: Azonus]: ungurd.
- a1450(?c1430) Lydg.DM(1) (Hnt EL 26.A.13)262 : Ful ofte I haue constreyned Breste & throte my notes owte to twyne, Mi chekes rounde vernysshed for to shyne, Ungirte ful ofte to walke atte large.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.860 : To kille The rukul and fele other thyngis ille, A menstruate vngird womman, vnshood, Vntressed, al aboute to goon is good.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)135 : Doom of resoun neither…appproueth or reproueth…that a man wole were a girdel, or that he wole go vngerd.
- c1450 Trin-C.LEDict.(Trin-C O.5.4)578/36-7 : Discinctus: ungyrd; Discingo: to ungyrd.
- a1500(c1465) SEChron.(Lamb 306:Everett)69 : They brought him thorowe London ungirde by twene two bysshopis to his owne place.
b
- c1460 Dub.Abraham (Dub 432)201 : A, fader, þen do of my gowne, Vngirde me and take hem with you to towne.
c
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)3 Kings 20.11 : Seiþ to hym, ‘ne glorie eueneli þe gird as þe vngird.’
- c1410(c1350) Gamelyn (Hrl 7334)215 : Barfoot and vngert Gamelyn in cam…He durst auntre him…That was so doughty champioun in wrastlyng and in fight.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)4181 : Out com the wardayn Orgayl And an hundryd knyȝtes in his parayl, Barffoot, vngyrt, wiþouten hood.
d
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)894/6 : He…cam to hys horse, and dud of hys sadyll…and unlaced hys helme and ungerde his swerde.
e
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)3653 : Dignite had ben vnlaced And vngirt of honour, nad vertu be.