Middle English Dictionary Entry
unsaught(e ppl.
Entry Info
Forms | unsaught(e ppl. Also unsauȝt(e, unsauht(e, unsaght, (NWM) unsaȝt, (WM) unsaht(e, (NEM) unsoght, (late) unsoughte & (early) unsehte, unseihte & (?error) unsyȝt, (error) unsaþt. |
Etymology | From saught(e , etc., p.ppl. of saughten v.; also cp. LOE unseht adj., the vowel of which may have been altered through influence of ON (cp. OI ūsāttr). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Out of accord, at enmity, engaged in strife or disagreement; hostile; also, unreconciled [quot. a1400(c1303) & perh. quot. a1500(c1400)]; of warfare: fierce [last quot.];
(b) not satisfied, displeased; distressed, troubled; ?also, beside oneself [quot. a1500(a1400)]; also, angry [quot. c1500];
(c) of sin: unexpiated.
Associated quotations
a
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1102 : Sona þær æfter wurdon un sehte se cyng & se eorl Rotbert of Bælæsme.
- a1150(?OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)91/13 : On Mærces monðe, hit bodeð mycele windes, & wæstmes wel gewænde, & folc unsehte.
- c1225 Body & S.(2) (Wor F.174)72/45 : Þu wendest þet þin ende nefre ne cuman scolde; to long[e þo]lede deaþ þe þet he nolde nimen þe, for efre þu arerdest sake and unseihte [were].
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)1961 : Þas breþren weren swa wode and swa wiþer-warde þat al heo weren vn-sahte…& eiþer hateden oþer.
- c1390 I warne vche (Vrn)37 : Men vnsauȝte loke þou assay To sauȝten hem þenne, at on assent.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.2034 : Aristotle…Unto king Alisandre tauhte Of thilke folk that were unsauhte Toward here king for his pilage.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)482 : Swych beyn þe deuyl betaght, with holy chyrche þey ben vnsaght.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)16318 : Þe bisshop & alle his men wiþ þe ben vn sauȝt; Her purpos is fully: to deþ to make þi drauȝt.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1306 : Gyffe ȝow sytte in ȝour sette, Sowdane and oþer, That here are semblede in sale, vnsawghte mott ȝe worthe!
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)8534 : Sire Eldok, Hengist ful wel knew, His herte a-geyns hym gros & grew…Gret encheson mad þeym vnsaughte.
- c1450(a1400) Libeaus (Clg A.2)1331 : Þe strokes be-twene hem two Descryue no man ne myȝte, For þey wer vn-syȝt And eyder oþres fo.
- a1500(c1400) St.Erk.(Hrl 2250)8 : Þe temple…hethen had bene in Hengyst dawes Þat þe Saxones vnsaȝt haden sende hyder; Þai bete oute þe Bretons and broȝt hom into Wales.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.123 : Yet kyng hym met, & with hym faught…and put hym to the flygt, Vnto Irelande, with batayle sore vnsaught.
b
- a1350 Of a mon (Hrl 2253)31 : Swore somme vnsaht þat hem wes werk bytaht longe er hit were lyht.
- a1350 Prov.Hend.(Hrl 2253)148 : Hit is mony gedelyng When me him ȝeueþ a lutel þyng, Waxen wol vnsaþt [Böddeker reads: vnsaht].
- c1390(c1350) NHom.(2) PSanct.(Vrn)302/366 : A Brid In to a Cage cauht, þer-In he liueþ ful vnsauht, he rewardeþ mete ne drynke Nor on song wol he þenke, But lokeþ euer niht and day hou he mihte skape away.
- c1440(?a1400) Perceval (Thrn)2152 : When scho sawe þe tokynyng, Then was scho vn-saughte.
- a1500(a1400) Libeaus (Lamb 306)661 : Euer the gyaunte ffaught, But at the secunde draught His spere barst evyn a-twoo; As man that was vnsawght, A tronchon oute he laught To fyght agaynes his foo.
- a1500(?a1400) Morte Arth.(2) (Hrl 2252)3189 : The kynge gan lowde crye And calle, As marred man of wytte vn-saught.
- c1500(?c1450) Wedding Gawain (Rwl C.86)434 : He wol be wrothe and vnsoughte, And curse her fast that itt the taughte, For his laboure is lost.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)5057 : Yf we be cause of þi kene yre, And þou vnsaght of þi sight sothely of vs two…Withouten noy be þou neuer.
c
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)26/97 : In erth I se right noght Bot syn that is vnsoght; Of those that well has wroght ffynd I bot a fone.