† unˈwrast, a. (and n.) Obs.
Forms: 1–3 unwræst (3 -wærste), -wreast, 1, 3–5 -wrest, 3–4 -wreste (3 Orm. -wresste); 2–3, 5 unwraste, 4–5, Sc. 6 -wrast. Also 3–4 on- (4 oun-), 4–5, Sc. 6 vn-.
[OE. unwrǽst, unwrést (un-1 7).]
1. Of a poor, worthless, or vile quality or condition; sorry, miserable; of little account: a. Of persons.
| c 893 K. ælfred Oros. iii. i. §5 Hi Læcedemonie..to þon ᵹedydon þæt hi hi selfe leton æᵹþer ᵹe for heane ᵹe for un⁓wræste. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 29 Vnwreste þu best ȝef þu wreche ne secst hwanne þu time siest. c 1205 Lay. 26450 Cuðeð eower kinge, [Bruttus beoþ bolde] ac heo beoð un⁓wræste italde. a 1225 Leg. Kath. 1260 Hwet nu, unwreste men & wacre þen eni wake! c 1350 Lybeaus Disc. 2118 The menstrales..Hadde ryche yftes wythalle, And they that weryn unwrest. |
b. Of things.
| a 1122 O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 1052, And ᵹewendon heom on an to Ealdulfes næse, & wearð him þær on anon unwræste scipe. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 29 Ful mai þe þinke, þat forcuðer haueð faire weden and þu unwreste. c 1205 Lay. 16307 Þenne þat hæfd is unwræst Þe hælp is þæ wurse. c 1300 Havelock 2821 Him to binden faste Vp-on an asse swiþe un-wraste. |
2. a. Of persons: Addicted to evil, wickedness, or vice; wicked.
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 124 Þenc hu þe gode holi mon..blescede þe unwreste hond þet hefde ihermed him. a 1240 Wohunge in O.E. Hom. I. 283 And tu..was unwreste folk of world to hoker lahter. 13.. K. Alis. (W.) 878 What dostow here, unwrast gome?.. He! fyle ateynte horesone! To misdo was ay thy wone. c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 2905 Þys schrewede Sarsyns þat wern ounwraste. c 1535 M. Nisbet N.T. in Scots (S.T.S.) III. 349 He..schawis how menn augtht to behaue thaim towart sick as be vnwrast. |
| absol. and as n. a 1225 Ancr. R. 68 Me ileueð þet vuel sone, & te unwreste bliðeliche lieð on þe gode. c 1320 Castle of Love 335 Heo him made a-gulte, þulke vn-wreste, And bi-swikide him. c 1330 Arth. & Merl. 6964 (Kölbing), It were ille, Ȝif eueriche vnwrest hadde his wille. |
b. Of actions, etc.: Characterized by wickedness or evil; iniquitous.
| a 1122 O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 1131, Ᵹif þær wære hure an unwreste wrenc. a 1175 Cott. Hom. 235 Ac si laȝe sone adiliȝde þurh unwreaste leahtrum. a 1250 Owl & N. 178 Suche wordes beoþ vnwreste. c 1275 Lay. 7033 For þisse onwreste [laȝe] al men him hatede. c 1315 Shoreham i. 1581 Þanne aȝte..wyues nauȝt aȝens men Non on-wrestnesse werche, Ac þolye, And nauȝt onwrest op-sechen hy. 13.. Seuyn Sages (W.) 1917 For mine thre unwrast dede. c 1400 St. Alexius (Laud 622) 738 Sergeauntz..despised hym fast. Þe wasshyng of her vessel þai cast on hym euerydel, þat was swiþe vnwrast. c 1425 Cursor M. 9475 (Trin.), Þis foule synne was so vnwrast. |
3. Untrustworthy, unreliable. Const.
of.
rare—1.
| 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. xxi. 313 He were [= would be] vn⁓wrast of hus worde, þat witnesse is of trewþe. |
Hence
† unˈwrastness; also
† unˈwrastship, wickedness.
Obs.| a 1225 Ancr. R. 304 Min owune unwrestschipe hit dude. c 1315 [see prec. 2 b]. c 1320 Castle of Love 1143 For vre vnwrestschupe here Þe coroune of þornes on his hed he beere. |