Middle English Dictionary Entry
unhonestẹ̄ n.
Entry Info
| Forms | unhonestẹ̄ n. |
| Etymology | From honestẹ̄ n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Dishonesty; sinfulness, immoral behavior; lewdness; also, a sinful or an immoral practice.
Associated quotations
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)941/29 : Som trowed þat þis tree…hadde þerfore worschipe in triumphes and victory, and it was nought laweful vse noþer in vnhoneste.
- ?c1400 Chaucer Bo.(Add 10340)1.pr.5.[49].587 : Of þe vnhonestee [Riverside: honestete; L honestate], or falsnesse, of þinges þat ben opposed aȝeins þe þou hast remembred þinges þat ben knowe to alle folk.
- a1425(c1400) 5 Wits (Hrl 2398)17/20 : Of fylþe þat is in þe herte þe mouþ spekeþ such vnhoneste.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)346/15 : Þei goon synginge & lawhinge, spendinge her tymes in vanytees, in delicis, & in grete vnhonestees, wantowne in alle þingis.
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)50/17 : The bodyes of chosen creatures…Ther heeres schal schyne os gold, ther bodyes schul be feyre and schaply…that It es impossible to fynde in hem ony foul thynges or vnhoneste.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)50/13 : God fro all euelys, and swilke wirkes, & fro all vnhoneste [Ashmole: werk vn-honest] by his mercy kepe ȝow.