Middle English Dictionary Entry
unpinnen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | unpinnen v. Also unpin(ne; p.ppl. unpinned, unpinde. |
| Etymology | From pinnen v. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To unbolt (a gate, door), unbar; also, fig. of God: free (his pity) from restraint; also, fling open a portal [2nd quot.];
(b) ppl. unpinned, opened; also in fig. context.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 Horn (LdMisc 108)56/1018 : Reymyld gan dore vn pynne.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)18.261 : A spirit speketh to helle & bit vnspere þe ȝatis…‘Prynces of þis place, vnpynneth [vr. oppeneþ] & vnlouketh!’
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)20.328 : He…cam þere conscience was and knokked atte ȝate; Pees vnpynned it.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)728 : Quen such þer cnoken on þe bylde, Tyt schal hem men þe ȝate vnpynne.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.698 : He thought he wolde upon his werk bigynne And gan the stuwe doore al softe unpynne.
- a1425(a1396) Maidstone PPs. (Wht)39 : Thy pytee, Lord, vnpynne, That I may mende me ther-by.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)4240 : On schal dwelle þe clos wiþjnne, þe ȝate to vnschette and vnpynne, And stylly to vnschette þe lok.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)484 : He þat was within…made hym al redy the dorr to vnpyn.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)306/999 : Ȝe develys þat arn here with-inne, helle gatys ȝe xal vn-pynne.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.424 : Wraththe…berth evere his mowth unpinned, So that his lippes ben unloke.
- a1500 Wast bryngyth (Cmb Ff.2.38)st.36 : Thys worldys worschyp ys worde of wynde…Þe worde of wynde in bladdre bynde, Not synke in watur but swymme in boos, Do wynde owt of þe bladdur vnpynde, It synkyþ in watur & ys clyppyd cloos.