prefix, app. ad. ON. umb- (earlier form of um- UM-), corresponding to MLG. and MHG. umb-, OE. ymb-, emb- (see UMBE-). In ME. this form of the prefix is much rarer than the reduced UM- or the extended UMBE-, and occurs only in the following verbs:—umbcast, to surround; umbclose, to enclose; umbfold, to embrace; umblay, to wrap round; umblook, to look round; umbset, -stead, to surround; umbthink, to bethink (oneself of something).
The OE. ymb- was extensively employed in compound verbs, as ymbelippan, -lócian, -settan, sníðan, -standan, þencan, etc., and although not the phonetic antecedent of ME, umb- may have had some influence on its use.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 10420. Achilles … meuyt to his Mirmydons in maner before, Þe kyng to *vmbcast, & close hym with-in.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 4080. Lud … *vmb-closed it [sc. London] wyþ a walle.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 8496. Sho braid with the barne to þe bare erthe, *Vmbfoldyt his fete, felle vnto swone.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 22069 (Edinb.). And als it in ur leuedi liȝte, Þe hali gaste þurȝ godis miȝte, And *umblaide hir wiþ his leme To brede þate blisful barneteme. Ibid. (c. 1375), 26406 (Fairf.). Þer-of saltow þe *vmbloke, of cases iiij, I finde in boke.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 10433. Þe Mirmydons to Menon myghtily þronge, *Vmbset hym on yche side, sesit hym onon.
c. 1450. Mirk’s Festial, 64. Techyng his good chyldryn, forto haue yn mynde how hard he ys *vmbstad wyth deth on yche syde.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 21667 (Edin.). Qua wil *umbþink him in his mode Mai finde fele takins of þe rode. Ibid. (c. 1375), 19891 (Fairf.). Quiles saint peter him vmbþoȝt of þis siȝt quat hit takin muȝt.
