Middle English Dictionary Entry
unhap n.
Entry Info
| Forms | unhap n. Also onhap(pe, onhape, (early SW or SWM) unhep. |
| Etymology | From hap n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Misfortune, mishap, calamity; bad luck, ill-fortune; also, loss, destruction; as theire ~ wolde, as misfortune would have it, to their misfortune; bi (of, thurgh, with) ~, by mischance, unfortunately;
(b) an instance of misfortune, a mishap, a calamity; also, an unfortunate accident; bi ~, by accident, accidentally;
(c) holden hit ~, to think it a pity (that sb. does sth.).
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)93/27 : Vttre fondun ge is hwer of kimeð licunge oþer mislicunge…mislicunge wið uten ase secnesse, meoseise, scheome, vnhap [Nero: vnhep], & euch licomlich derf þet te flesch eileð.
- c1330 Body & S.(5) (Auch)p.34 : Wheþer þou be mi gast, Þat me abreidest of min vnhap [vr. onhape]?
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)13.7 : Defoule and vnhappe [L infelicitas] ys in her waies and hij ne knewen nouȝt þe waie of pees.
- c1390 St.Greg.(Vrn)100/797 : Þorwh hire is vs þis werre i come, And þorwh a Duyk in vn hap Hire wolde wiþ force to wif ha nome.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.273 : Whan þei had slayn & brent, robbed toun & feld, To Dunbar alle þei went, als þer vnhap wild [F à lur confusiouns].
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.1993 : He þat was of vnhap first put doun, Remounteþ ofte to ful hiȝe renoun, By þe chaunge and þe variance.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.5099 : Of þe cite, sothly, and þe toun, His vnhap were endeles ruyne.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.1983 : Þoruȝ oure vnhap and infelicyte In-to an yle myddes of þe see We were dryve.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.552 : O mercy, God! What unhap [vrr. onhappe, onhap] may this meene? Han now thus soone Grekes maad yow leene?
- c1425 Mirror LM&W (Hrl 45)158/8 : Moche vnhap falleþ hem in þis world as it is right, & moche worse schal bifalle hem in þat oþer but they amende hem.
- a1450 St.Kath.(3) (Richardson 44)56 : What euel hath myn vnhap deserued, þat whyle I compelle oþir to worschepe of oure goddys, þe deedly venym of deceyt ys crept so hoomly in to myn hous.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3287 : If any hathill be so hard with vnhapp woundid…Þan liftis oure lord him on-loft.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)271/1 : Other they shall be overcom with a sympler knyght than they be hemself, other ellys they shall sle by unhappe and hir cursednesse bettir men then they be hemself.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)60a : Vn hape: Infortunium [Monson adds: infelicitas].
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)245/23 : There spryngeþ oute of his sepulcre aungels fode…by the whiche…the folke that dwelles there-abowte can knowe the happe or the vnhappe of here nexte yere.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)129 : Socoure me in this myschieff, for I have thorow vnhappe slayn a man.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)2686 : A! nobill Troye…What vnhappe & hardship hapnes the to.
b
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)26/422 : Ne mei na worldlich unhap bireauin ham hare weole, for ha beoð riche & weolefule in wið i þe heorte.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)143/10 : Þe hali mon nefde he of þe oþres fal na wunderlich ouerhohe & biweop his unhap [Cai: unhep] & dredde þet him a swuch mahte bitiden.
- a1300 Owl & N.(Jes-O 29)1267 : Naueþ mon no sikerhede þal-he ne may wene or adrede þat sum vnhap neih him beo.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.1466 : I wot now wel that ye be blinde, Of thilke unhapp which I now finde Only betwen my love and me.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.1024 : Thei…to the god for helpe criden Of suche unhappes as betyden.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)6759 : If fire be kyndeled bi vnhap þourȝe felde or corn mowe or stak, he þat hit kyndeled in þat felde…owe þe harmes for to ȝelde.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)892 : Þay wern wakned al wrank þat þer in won lenged, Of on þe uglokest unhap þat ever on erd suffred.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.456 : Unhappes fallen thikke Alday for love.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.3160 : Off queen Iocasta Bochas doth eek endite…Off hir vnhappis he doolfulli doth write.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.1786 : Hir thridde onhapp…That Fortune list hir efft assaile Made hir vncle…to be slayn.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)4635 : Cesar saw þat grete vnhap, Þat in þe water was swylk a trap.
- a1500(?c1400) Gowther (Adv 19.3.1)127 : His modur fell a fowle unhappe.
c
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)360/33 : Of Jesu I holde it vnhappe Þat he on yone hill hyng so hye, For gilte.