Middle English Dictionary Entry
unkept ppl.
Entry Info
| Forms | unkept ppl. |
| Etymology | From kept(e , etc., p.ppl. of kẹ̄pen v. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Of a country, coastline: not watched over or protected, unguarded; of equipment: unattended;
(b) not cared for, neglected; of a child: not provided with a guardian; also in fig. context; also, phil. of an entity: not maintained in being by an external agency, unpreserved;
(c) of divine law, an oath, etc.: not observed or abided by, violated.
Associated quotations
a
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)12.57 : Where is lond vnkept [L incustodita] and insolent, Take from the tronke al clene, vntil so hie As beestis may by noon experiment Atteyne; and there let bowis multiplie.
- (1469) Doc.in Gilbert Cal.Dublin 1336 : It is ordined by the saide semble that the portoures shall…kepe the gye rope and that they goo to noon other labore and lewe the gye rope unkepit, upon the payne of…forfet of ther offices.
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)79/15 : He be-thoght hym that hit was Peril to leue har londe vnkepte; ther he be-toke the Erle Richard al the londe to kepe.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1085 : The kyng had no knawlache…Of the folke so furse þat hym affray wold, ffor-þi vnkeppit were þe costes all þe kythe ouer.
b
- c1440 Hilton ML (Thrn)29/22 : Oure Lorde Ihesu Criste…es heuede of a gastely body whilke es Haly Kirke…if þou be besy with all þi myghte for to arraye his heuede, þat es, for to wirchipe hym selfe…by deuocyon…and forgetis His fete, þat ere thi childire, thi seruantez, thi tenauntes and all thyn euencristyn, and latis þam spill for defaute of kepynge—vnarayede, vnkepide [vr. vnkeped], and noghte tente to as þam aughte for to be—thow pleses Hym noghte.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)57 : Þer muste be oon hiȝest…which is in him silf vnmaad, and of whom alle oþere þingis…ben maad, and so…þer is a maker vnmaad; In lijk maner we mowe come into þe knowing of þis secunde trouþe þat þer is a keper vnkept, fforwhi euery þing þat is maad out of noon beyng into his beyng is faileable and falleable aȝen into no being or vnbeyng, if he be not mayntened and not preservid from þilk falle.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)58 : Þis þing which is vnmaad or vnkept…muste be euer duryng afore wiþoute bigynnyng.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)514 : Þe gude bischop þat kepid cuthbert Dyed and went to heuens blisse…His moder mournyd and sare wepid, For sho hir childe saw vnkepyd.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)975 : Whos herneys is horribil & beduste, Not onys vsed in a fourte nyght, And al that iron is or steel, beruste, Vnkept his hors, how may he fight or juste?
c
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.FCLife (Corp-C 296)194 : Goddis lawe…is hyndrid, vnstudied, & vnkept.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Obed.Prel.(Corp-C 296)38 : Wordly curatis & prelatis…maken hem bysy to kunne wrongful tradiciouns of synful folis makynge & to leue holy writt vnstudied, vnknoud, & vnkept.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)154/2 : He þat hotyth thruȝ truthe & fulfylleth it noȝt is for-sworn, for truthe vnkept, & othe brokyn is all on.