Middle English Dictionary Entry
unlust n.
Entry Info
| Forms | unlust n. Also unluste. |
| Etymology | OE |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Slothfulness, idleness, listlessness; weariness; disinclination;
(b) an idle or a slothful person, a sluggard;
(c) an evil desire, inclination, or passion, a wicked pleasure.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)2623 : Unnlusst & forrswundennleȝȝc Iss Drihhtin swiþe unncweme.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)3/21 : Of a-solknesse, Vnlust: Ðies swikele senne haueð ȝiet ane suster, ðe is icleped accidia, [etc.].
- c1300 Body & S.(5) (LdMisc 108)p.45 : Prude and wicke coveytise…To god of hevene and alle hise And in unlust for to lye, Waste wane non of þise.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.680 : Accidie…dooth alle thyng with anoy and with wrawnesse, slaknesse, and excusacioun and with ydelnesse and vnlust, for which the book seith, ‘Acursed be he that dooth the seruyce of god necligently.’
- (1402) Hoccl.Cupid (Hnt HM 744)227 : Ful many…for vnweeldy age And for vnlust may nat to loue atteyne.
- c1425 Mirror LM&W (Hrl 45)172/35 : He þat for heuynes & vnluste of his herte is ydell…schal not longe kepe him from fallynge in grete synne.
- ?a1450 Dives & P.(BodTh d.36)2.194 : Vnlust [Htrn: Þe goodis of holy chirche…ben ȝouyn to helpe of þe pore peple and to kepyn hospitalyte, nout to sellyn is aȝen to riche men to menteþin hem in onlusthed & in bodely hese].
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)116/28 : Ȝe ianglerys & sleperys in cherche…arn enpoysouned in slowthe, þat no lyif of sweete deuocyoun ne gostly gladnesse is in ȝou, but dedly heuynes & angwysch & vnlust.
- a1500 Discip.Cler.(Wor F.172)55 : His lord comaunded hym…to shitte the yaate; and he, oppressed with slowth and vnlust myght nat arise, and therfor he saide the yaate was shit.
b
- ?a1400 Wyth scharp þornes (Hrl 2339)25 : Arise up, vnlust, out of þi bed, And biholde my feet, þat are forbled And nailid faste upon þe tree.
- a1450 Parton.(1) (UC C.188)8936 : The sonne her bemes oute fresch spered; Hit made the vnlust to leve his bedd.
- c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)713 : Abhominable auauntours Of syn, gret clappers & makers of clamours, Vnthryftys & vnlustes came also to that game, With luskes & loselles that myght nat thryue for shame.
c
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)149/15 : Seo geferrædden getacneð unlustes & lehtres þe us hefegigeð, & ure heorte ofsitteð, þæt we ne mugen us swa geornlice gebidden, swa us behofede.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)128/26 : Þer ne byð sar, ne seoreȝæ, ne nan longing, ne unlustes ȝewin; Ac þær is þæs hestæn kynges kynerice.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)107/23 : Alle ðe fondinges and alle ðe unlustes and alle unwilles ðe cumeð of ðe manne, ðies hes atempreð, and wiðhalt te misdon.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)149/23 : Þis is hwen þe heorte draheð to hire unlust as þing þe were amainet.
- a1450(a1401) Chastising GC (Bod 505)121/20 : Sum for vnstablenesse fallen into diuerse temptacions and siknesse…sum for vnlust fallen fro perfeccioun and lyuen al contrariousli aȝens goddis techynge.
2.
In phrase: ~ of, sorrow or grief for (sth.).
Associated quotations
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)8.486 : For unlust of that aventure Ther was noman which tok tonsure; In doelful clothes thei hem clothe.
- (?1397) In a sesone (Gldh 25125/32)13 : I had lenyd me long al a Lentyn tyme In vnlust of my lyf and lost al my joye.
3.
A lack of physical appetite, distaste.
Associated quotations
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)32/522 : Þi muð is bitter, & walh al þet tu cheowest; ant hwet se þi mahe hokerliche underueð, þet is, wið unlust, warpeð hit eft ut.