Middle English Dictionary Entry
unpūre adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | unpūre adj. Also onpure. |
| Etymology | From pūr(e adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Adulterated, mixed; filthy, contaminated; gross, unrefined; also, ?unworked [last quot.]; also, as noun: impure or contaminated matter;
(b) morally or spiritually impure or imperfect, sinful, immoral.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)22b/b : Þe vertu of digestioun…departiþ in þe fode couenabil from concouenabil [vr. vncouenabyl] & pure from vnpure [L impuro].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)39b/a : In oþir membres by digesttioun clene & pure is departid fram vnclene & vnpure.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)40b/b : It is not conuenyent þat so clene & pure vmour schulde fonge vnpure [L inpurum] fedinge, þat he schulde do ȝif þe rede blood, nouȝt defied…were by ony occasioun I-medled with þe humour cristallun.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)130b/a : Þe furþere matiere is fro nobilte of fourme; it is þe more greet and vnpure, þe more vnworthy and derk.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)310a/b : Blaknesse is ygendred of skars light and dymme incorporat in clere matiere…þat is dymme and vnpure.
- a1425 Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Wel 225)325/4691 : Tak hede þat every fleume is unpure & unclen in hytself & becaus þareof makys uryn cloudyssh & dymmyssh.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)87/15 : Blood is…gendred…of þe chile, i. of þe firste moysture þat is digeste in þe stomak and twynned fro þe þikke or vnpure mater.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.2 Merch.(Hrl 2255)307 : Yif of colra he take his groundement, Pure or vnpure, citryn or vitellyne, Gyles you techith to iuge it by vryne.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)41/18 : Þis nurischyng regioun bigynneþ at þe mydreef vndir þe brest…Into werkis of þis nurischyng regioun seruen many powers…summe to defie, þat is to seie, to departe, þe pure from þe vnpure.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.B.1486 : Like as a kervoure that before hym hath a tree That is but a stoke, boistous and vnpure, Whateuer hym liste, therof he maketh…Right so of a childe, to ony crafte…While he is yonge he may mak hym applie.
b
- c1390 Treat.Mass (Vrn)222 : Of sunnes we beþ vn-pure.
- a1425 PPl.C (Lond-U V.88)1.116 : For þay were prestes vnpure…Wrong on þe wrecches wroken was þe harder.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.1136 : Yiff it seeme…In this caas I sholde been onpure, I will receyue iust punycioun.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)106/27 : Where our affeccions lieth, we takiþ non hede, & hov vnpure all oure werkes are we weyle not.