† unˈwry, v. Obs.
[OE. onwréon, unwréon (un-2 3). Cf. OHG. intrîhan, inrîhan ‘revelare’.]
1. trans. To reveal or expose to sight by the removal of a covering; to uncover, lay bare.
| α c 825 Vesp. Psalter xvii. 16 Onwriᵹen werun steaðelas ymbhwyrftes eorðan. c 1000 Ags. Ps. (Thorpe) cxviii. 18 Onwreoh þu mine eaᵹan. c 1290 Beket 2278 in S. Eng. Leg. I. 172 Þe Cardinales nolden nouȝt is bodi al on-wreo [c 1300 unwreo]. 1340 Ayenb. 58 Hi onwriþ þane pot, and þe uleȝen vlyeþ þerin. |
| β c 975 Rushw. Gosp. Mark ii. 4 He..unwreoᵹon þæt hus..þær he wæs. c 1000 ælfric Hom. II. 334 Ða licmen his neb þærrihte unwruᵹon. a 1225 Ancr. R. 328 Þo he schulde unwrien his wunden. 13.. K. Alis. 336 (Laud MS.), His aristable he gan vnwriȝene [v.r. vnwreone]. c 1374 Chaucer Troylus i. 858 To hym byhoueth first vnwre [v.rr. onwrye, vnwry] his wounde. c 1430 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 85 Unwrey al þe bon, in kuttynge awey al þe flesch. c 1440 Jacob's Well 197 He ros out of his graue,..& vnwryed þe munkys in here beddys. |
b. refl. To uncover (oneself); to make naked.
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 56 Bersabee..unwreih hire ine Dauies sihðe. Ibid. 58 Þurh þet heo unwrien ham ine monne eih sihðe. |
2. fig. To reveal, disclose, make known (some hidden thing or fact, sin, etc.); to communicate or divulge (a matter).
| a c 825 Vesp. Psalter xxxvi. 5 Onwrih dryhtne weᵹ ðinne. c 1000 Ags. Gosp. Luke xvii. 30 æfter þysum þingum bið on þam dæᵹe þe mannes sunu onwriᵹen bið. 1340 Ayenb. 88 Uor hyer ne zyþ non onwryȝe þe uayrhede of god, bote ase hit by ine ane ssewere. Ibid. 174 Þe zike ssel onwri his ziknesse. |
| β c 950 Lindisf. Gosp. Matt. x. 26 Nowiht forðon [bið] ᵹedeᵹled þæt ne se unwriᵹen. c 1055 Byrhtferth's Handboc in Anglia VIII. 334 Griphia..byð ᵹesett þær þa deopan þing beoð unwroᵹene. a 1200 Moral Ode 160 in O.E. Hom. I. 169 Al scal þer bon þanne unwron, þet men wruȝen her. a 1225 Leg. Kath. 1769 Þer me unwreah me þe wei, Þet leadeð to liue. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 10457 God wot wuch is herte was, vor he nolde him noȝt vnwre. Þe erchebissop him asoilede. c 1330 Amis & Amil. 783 When þe douke com in to þat won, Þe steward oȝain him gan gon, Her conseyl for to vnwrain. c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 1849 Y wil her, as y can, my message to þe ounwrye. c 1407 Lydg. Reson & Sens. 18 Or [= ere] I do specifye Myn entent for to vnwrie, Or ferther in this boke procede. |
Hence
† unwrye(n) ppl. a. Obs.| a 1225 Ancr. R. 58 Ȝif eni unwrie put were, & beste feolle þer inne, he hit schulde ȝelden þet þene put unwreih. 1340 Ayenb. 88 Hyer ne zyþ non onwryȝe þe uayrhede of god. Ibid. 112, 244. |