Middle English Dictionary Entry
unnit adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | unnit adj. Also unnitte, unnet, unned, unnut(te, unnud & (?error) unnvwt; pl. unnitte, unnet(t)e, unnute, (dat.) unnittum. |
| Etymology | OE unnyt(t, unnet adj., unnet adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. unnait(e adj., unnet adj.
1.
(a) Useless, profitless; idle, vain;
(b) of a person: ?unprofitable; ?unworthy.
Associated quotations
a
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)6/1 : Gyf þe þynce þæt þu towræne sy, wit þæt þinre ceola, for þan seo ceola is þære wambe freond, þanen þe cumeð þa unnytte lustes.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)92/13 : Witodlice se geleafe byð unnytt buten þan gode weorcan, swa eac þa gode weorc bute þan rihten geleafen nane mæn ne helpð.
- c1175(OE) Bod.Hom.Dom.2 Quadr.(Bod 343)54/19 : Is eac monnum to witenne þæt ðæs monnes wæcce þe wacæð for his oferfulle…& for unrihte ðance, ant for unnytte spece, ant eac for moniȝe oðrum unnyttum wordum & weorcum, nis to nane wæcce iteald.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)132/28 : Hwæt fremæþ þam men…þeah he libbe her on life a þusend wintræ? Al hit bið him unnyt ȝyf he æfter his deaþe bið into hælle ilædd & þær on pine wunæð a buton ende.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)15127 : Boc seȝȝþ þatt tatt Judisskenn follc Wass wunedd…To wasshenn…þeȝȝre lic…To clennsenn þeȝȝre bodiȝ…Off…sinne…Acc þatt wass all…Unnnitt & idell dede.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)23 : Þah an castel beo wel bemoned mid monne and mid wepne, and þer beo analpi holh þat an mon mei crepan in, Nis hit al unnet?
- a1225(?c1175) PMor.(Lamb 487)5 : Vnnet [vrr. Vnnvwt, Vnned] lif ich habbe iled and ȝet me þingþ ilede.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)65 : Eare luste unnitte speche turne þerfro and here godes word on holie lorspelle.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)107 : Þe deuel mid his for-tihtingt bringeð unnut þonc [L malam cogitacionem] on mannes heorte.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)129 : Al þat folc þat þurh unnutte speche…and iuedede [read: iuele dede] turneð fro gode…is cleped westren.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)39/415 : Ȝef we [devils] seoð ham ȝeornliche sechen to chirche & ter swiðe bi ham seolf bireowsin hare sunnen & leofliche lustnin hali chirche lare, þer we beoð ȝetten bisiliche…to letten ham…& wrenchen hare þonkes towart unnette þinges.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)43/26 : Idel is & unnet [Cleo: unnud] al þet god ne kimeð of.
- a1300 Leuedi sainte (Add 27909)3 : Vnnut lif to longe ich lede; hwanne ich me biþenche wel sore ich me a-drede.
b
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)4921 : Icc amm an allforrwurrþenn þeoww & all unnitt & idel.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)69/3 : Serui inutiles sumus…ure lauerd seggeð þet ȝe beoð unnete [Cleo: unnute] þrealles.