Middle English Dictionary Entry
unk pron.
Entry Info
| Forms | unk pron. Also (chiefly early) unc. |
| Etymology | OE unc, dat. & acc. of wit pron. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. ink pron. dual.
1.
(a) As direct obj. of a verb: us two, the two of us; also, as indirect obj.: to the two of us; ~ bothe, us both;
(b) as obj. of a prep.: us two, us both; ~ two, ~ bo (bothe);
(c) as refl.: our two selves;
(d) as obj. of an impers. verb: us two; ~…bothe, us both, you and me.
Associated quotations
a
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.Nicod.(Vsp D.14)84/10 : Gyf he on mænniscnysse swa mihtig is þæt he naðer ne unc ne þone deað ne ondrætt, þonne gebint he þe & þe byð æfre wa syððen.
- c1175(?OE) HRood (Bod 343)16/20 : On godes nome wit halsiȝæð þe þet ðu unc unne þet wit heom gretan moten & unc ðerto biddan.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)9/9 : Sume of mine friende…ic halp to sweriȝen, and on swilche wise wende helpen unc baðe, and brohte unc baðe in to muchele harme.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)12/13 : Drihtin…þe deorwurðe lauerd…haueð his merke on me iseiled wið his in-seil; ne mei vnc lif ne deð noðer twemen otwa.
- c1225 Body & S.(2) (Wor F.174)71/32 : Seiþ þeo soule…‘[Ic was] from gode clene to þe isend, ac þu hauest unc fordon mid þine luþere deden.’
- c1225 Body & S.(2) (Wor F.174)74/32 : Nu beoþ fordutte þine dreamþurles; ne ihereþ heo [nefr]e more none herunge of þe, ær þeo bemen blowen þe unc becnien scu[len] [f]rom deaþes dimnesse to drihtenes dome.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)12927 : Eleinen wes ihaten…Howeles dohter…Ich wes hire uoster-moder…Þer þe eotend unc ifeng forð mid him-seoluen, fiftene mile into þisse wilde wude.
b
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.Nicod.(Vsp D.14)84/27 : Se ilca hit is þe Lazarum of deaðe awehte & of unc bam genam.
- c1175(?OE) HRood (Bod 343)6/16 : Ealæ moyses…þur þa freondrædene þe unc betweonan is, ic wolde winiæn æt þe ane bene.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)10987 : Þiss iss min Sune, & me full lef…Forr all witt baþe sinndenn an I Godd cunndnessess kinde; Forþ wiþþ þatt Hallȝhe Frofre Gast Þatt cumeþþ off unnc baþe, We sinndenn an Allmahhtiȝ Godd.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)11002 : Þatt Hallȝhe Frofre Gast…till unnc ba bilimmpeþþ.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Roy 17.A.27)79/704 : He haueð iweddet him to mi meiðhad mitte te ring of treowe bileaue…swa wit beoð…in an iteiet, ant swa þe cnotte is icnut bitweonen unc twa [Bod: us tweien] þet ne mei hit liste…of na mon liuiende leowsin.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)20/9 : He heateð euch god, ant euch hali þing…is him lað; Þu art, drihtin, domes-mon of cwike & of deade—dem bituhen unc twa.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)1776 : Frend sule wit [Laban & Jacob] ben, And trewðe wligt [read: pligt] nu unc bi-twen.
c
- a1275(?c1150) Prov.Alf.(Trin-C B.14.39)128/547 : Sone min, ich fele þad min her falewidy, & min wlite is wan, & min herte woc; mine daȝis arren nei done, & we sulen unc to-delen; wenden ich me sal to þis oþir werlde.
d
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)ded.27 : Broþerr Wallterr, broþerr min…unnc birrþ baþe þannkenn Crist Þatt itt [this work] iss brohht till ende.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)ded.87 : Lef broþerr…unnc birrþ biddenn Godd tatt he Forrȝife hemm here sinne.