Middle English Dictionary Entry
unlaue n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | unlaue n.(1) Also unlau, unlawe, unlaȝ, unlage, (early SWM) hounlawe & (gen.) unlawis, (N) unlaus, unlouwis, (NWM) unlaghes; pl. (early SWM) unlahen, unlahan. |
| Etymology | OE unlagu |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Unlawfulness; violation of law, illegality; also, violation of divine law, sin, wrongdoing; also, a sin, a crime; pl. evil customs or practices;
(b) injustice; wrong, offense;
(c) gen. unlawis as adj.: of evil custom, wicked; ?also, in a sinful state, unredeemable [1st quot.].
Associated quotations
a
- c1225 St.Juliana (Roy 17.A.27)64/558 : Lvsteð me, leoue men…bireowseð ower sunnen & lasseð wið soð schrift & wið dedbote; leaueð ower unlahen [Bod: unlahan] & buldeð ower boldes uppon treowe staðele þat ne dredeð na wind ne na weder nowðer.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)529 : Caymes sunes wrogten vn-lage, Wið breðere wifes hore-plage.
- a1325(?c1300) NPass.(Cmb Gg.1.1)566 : Iesu stode þat ilke þrowe Among þe Iues witht vnlawe [vr. with outen lawe]; Noth was fonden him with inne þing þat tuched ani sinne.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)8795 : Ȝyf þou dedyst euer þat vnlawe, A man oute of holy cherche to drawe Seþen þat he toke hym þar-tyl, Þou hast synned yn moche vnskyl.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)19196 : Þe lauerd þat bidd þe man wit-stand, Vnlau [Phys-E: Vnlaȝ] it es to tell in land!
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)29509 : O thrijn-wijs Mai cursing be tald on right wijs, And þis thre wordes mai þai scau Will, and chesun, and vn-lau…þat cursing tald vn-laghful es þat ordir wantes and right-settnes O lagh.
b
- ?a1300 Sirith (Dgb 86)60 : Nou ich haue wonne leue, Ȝif þat I me shulde greue, Hit were hounlawe.
- a1325 SLeg.Becket (Corp-C 145)629/594 : Enyman…ȝif me dude him vnlawe [Ld: a-ȝen lawe]…to bissop fram ercedekne is apel ssolde make, And fram þe bissop to þe erchebissops court.
c
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)18248 : Nu es all vr kingdom for-dune…nu þai thrett us sare þat ded war ful vnlouwis are þat neuer moght be blith ne gladd Quils þai in caitifte war stadd.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)22335 : Þis ilk forsaid vnlaus [Frf: vn-laghes; Göt: vnlaus; Phys-E: un lawis] lede, Ouer-all landes sal þai sprede, And do þe men to drede ful sare.