† underˈnim, v. Obs.
Forms: (see under-1 8 a and nim v.).
[OE. underniman (f. under- under-1 8 + niman nim v.), = OS. undarniman (to interrupt), MDu. and Du. ondernemen, OHG. untarneman (MHG., MLG. undernemen, G. unternehmen).]
1. trans. To take into the mind (or sense): a. To understand, comprehend, perceive; to feel. Also const. that.
| c 1000 Ags. Gosp. Matt. xix. 12 Ne underfoð ealle menn þis word... Undernyme, se þe undernyman mæᵹe. a 1023 Wulfstan Hom. lviii. (1883) 305 Man mæᵹ swiðe eaðe witan, se ðe hit underniman wile, þæt hit eallunga riht nis [etc.]. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 11 Ac ich wile seȝen, undernimeð hit, hwat makeð swilch letten. c 1230 Hali Meid. 19 Ne underneomeð nawt, quoð he, þis ilke word alle. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 1553 Quan ysaac it under-nam ðat esau to late cam. 13.. E.E. Allit. P. C. 213 He ossed hym by vnnynges þat þay vnder-nomen, Þat he was flawen fro þe face of frelych dryȝtyn. c 1386 Chaucer Sec. Nun's T. 243 Whan that he the sauour vndernoom, Which that the Roses and the lilies caste. c 1400 St. Alexius (Laud 463) 199 Sone he it vnder⁓nom, þat he to a borugh com, þat mychel was. |
b. To receive by instruction; to learn.
| c 1000 ælfric Saints' Lives xxix. 76 He..folᵹode paule..and deoplice under-nam drihtnes lare æt him. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 83 For þat þe hie undernomen þe wise lore of ionan þe prophete. a 1225 Leg. Kath. 117 Hire feder hefde iset hire earliche to lare, & heo..undernom hit se wel þet nan nes hire euening. |
2. To take upon oneself; to undertake.
| c 1000 ælfric Hom. I. 590 Ᵹif þu leornian wille hu þæt ᵹewurðan mæᵹe, þonne undernim ðu leorning-cnihtes hiw. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 55 Bute weo hes [= them] halden we doð sunne, and uwilc mon hes undernim to halden wel. c 1205 Lay. 26734 We..þis feht habbeoð under-numen buten Arðures rede. a 1225 Ancr. R. 202 Pusillanimitas, þet is, to poure iheorted..eni heih þing to undernimen. 1340 Ayenb. 83 Non ne is aryȝt preus..þet ne ys hardy and zyker to greate þinge ondernime. c 1425 Seven Sages (P.) 2858, I am comen For were that thou havest undirnome, For to helpe the. |
b. absol. To undertake a journey; to travel.
| c 1205 Lay. 8067 Al þat freoliche folc..þene daie heo vnder⁓nomen, & to Lundene heo comen. c 1325 Orfeo 441 With ryght gode wille they can out gon... So long they have undernome, That to Crassens they were ycome. |
3. To reprove, rebuke.
Occas. miswritten or misprinted undermyn(e, -mine.
| c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 2727 Ðis on wulde don ðe toðer wrong; And moyses nam ðer-of kep,..And vndernam him ðat it aȝte awold. a 1325 Prose Psalter xxxiv. 19 Hij vndernimmeden me wyþ vnder-nyminge, & gnaisted vp me wyþ her teþe. c 1380 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 292 Ech man schulde bi þe lawe of þe gospel vndirnyme ech broþer þat synneþ aȝens him. c 1425 Orolog. Sapient. vi. in Anglia X. 373/21 Wheþer þy seruaunte..dorste be so bolde forto reprehende & vndirnime..his lorde. c 1449 Pecock Repr. i. xvii. 97 He comith not to liȝt, that hise werkis ben not vndernome. |
| absol. a 1400 New Test. (Paues) 2 Tim. iv. 2 Vndernyme þou, & byseche, & blame þou in eferich pacyence & in techynge. c 1449 Pecock Repr. Prol. 2 Wherbi he canne schewe and proue it to be a defaute for which he vndir⁓nymeth and blameth. |
b. Const. of (a fault, etc.).
| c 1320 Cast. Love 1420 He among hem com, And of misbileue he hem vndernom. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. v. 115 Who-so vndernymeth me here-of I hate hym dedly after. 14.. Hoccleve Min. Poems 126/455 What art thow now presumptuous become, And list nat of thy mis been vndir⁓nome? a 1450 Knt. de la Tour (1868) 87 As the wiff of Amon, that undernam not her husbonde of his foly. a 1470 H. Parker Dives & Pauper (W. de W. 1496) iv. vii. 169/1 Byfore all the monkes he undername the cellerer of his pryde. |
c. refl. To convict (oneself).
| 1502 Arnolde Chron. (1811) 208 If otherwise he can not the lawe of the Lorde he reproueth and vndernymeth himself to be noo priest of his Lorde. |
4. To take or catch, esp. secretly or unawares; to surprise.
| c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 151 Monie kunnes men foleȝeden ure drihten,..summe to kunnen if heo mihten him mid sunne undernime. a 1225 Leg. Kath. 122 Modie meistres & feole fondeden hire ofte..for to underneomen hire. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 2135 Ic rede ðe..To..gaderen coren, ðat ðin folc ne wurð vnder-numen, Quan ðo hungri ȝere ben forð-cumen. 13.. Guy Warw. (A.) 613 And he of mi loue vnder-nome were..Me þenke y no myȝt it him nouȝt werne. 1340 Ayenb. 173 Þe dyeaþ ssel come þet ofte ondernimþ þane zeneȝere huer he ne nimþ none hede. |
b. To take away by stealth. (Also OE.)
| 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 45 He supplanted me of my patrymonye and now..he hath undernome from me my blessyng. |
5. To receive into one's hands or charge.
| 13.. St. Gregory 174 in Herrig Archiv LVII. 61 Þe kniȝt þat leuedi vnder nom And ladde hire forþ wiþ moche honour. c 1325 Orfeo 306 To his owne lady wel ny he come, And hur wel ny had undernome;..His owe lady, dam Erodysse. |