Middle English Dictionary Entry
unserved ppl.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | unserved ppl.(1) |
| Etymology | From served , p.ppl. of serven v.(1). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Not helped or ministered to; not attended to, not provided appropriate service;
(b) not provided with goods; of customers: not waited on; ~ of, not duly supplied with (sth.).
Associated quotations
a
- (1433) RParl.4.439a : The…Warantes, yf I shuld paye hem, youre Household, Chambre and Warderope, and youre Werkes, shuld be unservid and unpaide.
- c1425 Wycl.Church (Dub 245)p.xxix : Þe puple dwelliþ vntauȝt & vnseruyd in goostli help.
- 1790(1471-1472) Ordin.Househ.Edw.IV(2) (Topham)78 : One page in this office…tellyth the pottes and pelles, and fetche them home everey mornynge, so that the halle and the Kinges chambre be not unserved.
b
- ?a1425(?c1350) NHom.(3) Pass.(RwlPoet 175)2594 : Þir men sall noght vnserued be; þai sall haue nayles, or þai ga.
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)185 : Avyse…the maister of the beremen that [he have] the levours and other thynges [that] longyn to his office, that the pepele may ben serued, for ȝif folk ben unserved of thynges that hym longeth to fyndyn, he shal answere of harme and damage.
- (1474) Let.Bk.Lond.L (Gldh LetBk L)124 : The Bochers…havyng no Respecte to the common wele…ingrose the Talugh and bryng it into fewe handes and afterward sell it oute of the…Citee, the saide Citee being unserved.
2.
Not worshipped, not properly revered; not propitiated with due rites or behavior.
Associated quotations
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.85 : Þese feyned goddes…beeþ i-serued…Lauerna wiþ þefte…Proteus wiþ falshede and gyle; Þan is Pluto not vnserued.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.2277 : The cherche is brent, the priest is slain…The lawe is lore and god unserved.
3.
Law Of a writ: not delivered or presented officially, not served.
Associated quotations
- (1465) Paston (EETS)1.306 : I send Richard…to speke wyth the vndershyrf, requyryng hym that he shold serue the replevyn…and the shyrf sayd playnly that he wolnot…serue it…so it ys yet vnservyd.