Middle English Dictionary Entry
unsāciāble adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | unsāciāble adj. Also (?error) unsacionable. |
| Etymology | Prob. from L satiābilis; also cp. L insatiābilis or OF insacïable. The -n- of the form unsācionāble perh. from the pr.ppl. of L satiāre to satisfy; cp. OProv. sazion, saziontat, reaziondar. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Incapable of being satisfied, insatiable; also, of a people: ?implacable, not peaceable;
(b) limitless (in response to an insatiable appetite or desire).
Associated quotations
a
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Bar.4.15 : He brouȝte vpon hem a folc fro fer, a folc vnsaciable [WB(2): yuel; L improbam], or vnrestful, and of an other tunge.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)229/33 : A soule is norischid by charite of neiȝborehood, of whom it haþ desier and hungir, þe which is to hym a mete of þe which it is norischid and neuere fulfillid bycause it is vnsaciable; þerfore his hungir is contynuel.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)523/10 : With mony we sall fyll þine vnsaciable harte.
- a1475(a1456) Shirley Death Jas.(Add 5467)7 : The saide kynge of Scottes, noght stanchid of his unsacionable and gredi avarice, ordeynd that tallage and other imposicions upon his people.
- c1460 Tree & Fruits HG (McC 132)141/1 : He fyndeth…many vntollerable hetis of stiringis with vnsaciable yanynges of þe fende wich sterith þe flessh to be inportune.
b
- c1400 PLove (Hrl 2254)8/3 : He þat loueth for to wone with his þouȝth in þe passioun of crist…is filled with vnsaciable swetnesse.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)419/4 : O eendeles trinyte…Þou art vnsaciable, for a soule þat fulfilleþ him in þi deepnes is not so fulfillid but [þat] alwey euere it hungriþ in þe.