Middle English Dictionary Entry
unhōlī adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | unhōlī adj. Also onholi. |
| Etymology | From hōlī adj.(2); also cp. OE unhālig. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Not holy, profane; sinful, wicked; also, as noun: that which is profane [quot. a1425(c1384)].
Associated quotations
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))2 Mac.12.23 : Judas sothely aȝein-stode gretely, punyshynge vnholy men.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.803 : Sacrilege is to reuen holy thyng fro holy place or vnholy thyng out of holy place or holy thyng out of vnholy [vr. onholy] place.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)prol.2 : I shope me in shroudes, as I a shepe were.
- a1425(c1384) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ezek.22.26 : Thei hadden no difference bitwix hooli and vnhooli [L profanum]; thei vndirstoden not bitwixe vnclene and clene thing.
- c1425 *Wycl.Concord.(Roy 17.B.1)155a : Eschewe þou vnholy & veyne speechis.