undern-time Obs. exc. dial. and arch.
Also 4–6 vnder-, 5 vndyrtime.
[OE. undernt{iacu}ma: see undern n. and time n.]
= prec.
| α c 1000 in Bouterwek Cædmon (1854) p. ccxiv, On undern⁓timan Crist wæs þurh þara Iudea dom to deaþe fordemed. c 1200 Ormin 19458 An daȝȝ att unnderrn time I fir þeȝȝ sæȝhenn Godess Gast. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 2269 It was vndren time or more, Om cam ðat riche louerd ðore. a 1300 Cursor M. 25538 Suet iesu, at vndrin time [c 1375 vnder-time]..Sufferd..Dintes sare and smert. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) VII. 421 In þat book he radde priveliche in þe underne tymes [L. meridianis horis]. |
| 1853 Rock Ch. of Fathers III. x. 473 St. Beda died a little after undern-time or tierce-song hour. 1887 Suppl. Jamieson s.v. Andrum, The afternoon or early evening repast;..called also..anterin-time. |
| β c 1375 [see a 1300 above]. a 1450 Le Morte Arth. 2807 Hys strength shulld wex in suche a space, From the vndyr⁓tyme tylle none. 1495 Trevisa's Barth. De P.R. xviii. xxiv. 783 Whan gete ben meuyd after the vnder tyme they drynke the more water. 1590 Spenser F.Q. iii. vii. 13 He comming home at vndertime, there found The fairest creature, that he euer saw. |