umbeˈthink, un-, v. Obs. exc. dial.
Forms: α. 3 ummbeþennkenn, 5 umbethenke; 4 vmbethynk(e, 4–6 vmbe-, umbethink (5–6 Sc. wmbe-); 4 vmby-, 4–5 vmbithynk(e. β. 4–7 vnbethink (4 vnbi-; 6 -thynk), 7, 8–9 dial., unbethink (9 dial. on-).
[See umbe- and bethink v.1 and cf. umthink v.]
† 1. trans. (with objective clause). To think about, to consider; to remember (how, that, etc.). Obs.
| c 1200 Ormin 2953 Ȝiff þatt icc..mikell ummbeþennke, Whillc gate icc muȝhe cwemenn Godd. c 1340 Hampole Psalter lxxxvi. 13 Londe of forgettinge is in þas þat vnbethinks not þat þai salbe demed rightwisly. c 1380 Wyclif in MS. Bodl. 288 fol. 250/1 Makiþ knowen in þe folk þe fyndingis of him: vmbiþinkiþ for his name is hiȝ. 1483 Cath. Angl. 403/1 To Vnbethynke, recogitare. 1501 Douglas Pal. Hon. i. lxx, I vmbethocht how Joue and auld Saturne, Intill ane wolf thay did Lycaon turne. |
2. refl. To bethink (oneself); to call to mind:
a. With
obj. clause or inf.
| α a 1300 Cursor M. 2999 For I me vm-bithoght Yee war men þat godd duted noght. c 1340 Hampole Prose Tr. 10 Vmbethynke the þat thou halowe þi halydaye. 1375 Barbour Bruce v. 613 ‘A! schir, vmbethinkis ȝow,’ said he, ‘How neir to ȝou that I suld be’. c 1400 Ywaine & Gaw. 1583 Sir Ywaine umbithought him than He had forgeten his leman. c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. iv. ii. 130 He..wmbethoucht [v.r. (c 1520) vnbethocht] hym inkyrly Withe qwhat turmentis men mycht be Punyst for þar iniquite. c 1460 Towneley Myst. i. 123 Therfor, felow, hold thi peasse, and vmbithynke the what thou saysse. |
| β c 1520 [see 2 α]. 1685 Cotton Montaigne (1711) I. xii. 60 The Lacedæmonian Foot..unbethought themselves to disperse and retire. Ibid. II. xii. 365 Nicetas of Syracusa unbethought him to maintain, that it was the Earth that mov'd. 1703 A. de la Pryme Short View Hist. Winterton in Archaeol. XL. 234 William the Conqueror haveing the whole Nation at Command begun to unbethink himself, how he might gratify his Favourites. 1863 Mrs. Gaskell Sylvia's L. vii, They'll prize what I leave 'em if I could only onbethink me what they would like. |
b. Const.
of or
on. Also
intr.| α c 1375 Cursor M. 1325 (Fairf.), Of steppis he vmbe-þoȝt him þan þat falowed for syn of man. 1375 Barbour Bruce iii. 352 The king umbethocht him off a thing. 1422 tr. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv. 150 Vmbethynke vs of the moste noble lordis as to worthely lorshuppe that afor this tymes weryn. 1456 Sir G. Haye Govt. Princes (S.T.S.) 164 Will thou umbethink the wele of all that I have said. 1513 Douglas æneid i. x. 32 Quharfore I vmbethink me of ane trane, This quene first for to caucht in luvis lace. 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 87 He vmbethocht him self of ane consait. |
| β ? a 1500 Chester Pl. xxiv. 430 How durst you euer doe amysse, when you vnbethoughte you of this? ? a 1600 Sir Lionel 35 in Percy Folio, Ball. & Rom. (1867) I. 76 He..vnbethought him of a while [= wile], how he might that wilde bore beguile. 1630 W. Freake Doctrines Jesuites ii. 59 The Iesuites vnbethought themselues further of this Stratagem. 1686 G. Stuart Joco-Ser. Disc. 4 When I unbethink me of thae frights and fears This poor auld grey beard hangs dreeping with tears. c 1746 J. Collier (Tim Bobbin) View Lanc. Dial. Wks. (1862) 11 On then I unbethowt meh o me Sawt. 1788 W. H. Marshall Rur. Econ. Yorks. II. s.v., I unbethought myself on't. 1892 S. Hewett Peas. Sp. Devon 139 Well, I'm baggered ef I ant ajist unbethowted o' 't. |
c. Without
const.| α a 1300 Cursor M. 3622 A wyel sco hir vmbithogt. 1375 Barbour Bruce xvii. 40 Quhen the marschall the letteris saw, He vmbethoucht him than a thraw. c 1440 Alph. Tales 17 Sho satt still & vmbethoght hur, & knew his falssett well enogh. Ibid. 237 Als oft sithes as I se a tade, I vmbethynk me, & thankis God þat gaf me so fayr a form. a 1500 in Ratis Raving, etc. 13 Quhen I wmbethocht me, and turnyt my mynd in my self, thinkand of al my warldly werkis. |
| β 1535 Coverdale 2 Sam. xiv. 14 And God will not take awaye the lyfe, but vnbethynketh himselfe. 1603 Philotus lxxvi, Quhen I haue vnbethocht me thryse, I can na better way deuyse. a 1666 C. Hoole School-Colloquies (1688) 190 Let me unbethink myself a little. c 1800 Pegge Anecd. Eng. Lang. (1814) 250 Similar to this word unbeknown is an expression used in some parts of England, where people say, ‘I un-bethought myself’: i.e. I recollected. 1857 Waugh Lanc. Life 207 He's the very mon for yo! Aw've just unbethought mo! 1879 G. F. Jackson Shropsh. Wordbk. 460, I should a done that wrung, if I 'adna jest unbethought me in time. |
3. In
pa. pple. After reflection.
| 1422 tr. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv. 138 If hit happe a kynge to do any thynge vnawyssely, he owyth hit repel vmbethoght avysely, and wyth reyson know his defaute. |
Hence
umbeˈthinking vbl. n.;
umbeˈthought ppl. a.| 1422 tr. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv. 155 The more ryche man be and manaunt, the more hym be-howyth that he be vmbethoght. Ibid. 157 Whoso wyse is and vmbethoght, he wille not begyle, ne begilid he nel not be. c 1440 Alph. Tales 293 To restrene hur wepyng sho lefte thynkyng of þe manhede of Criste & toke hur to vmbethynkyng of His godded. 1548 Udall Erasm. Par., Luke xii. 115 To take folie and unbethinking to be of his counsayle. |