v. Obs. exc. dial. Forms: α. 3 ummbeþennkenn, 5 umbethenke; 4 vmbethynk(e, 4–6 vmbe-, umbethink (5–6 Sc. wmbo-); 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 Vmbethynke, 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. trans. 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), II. On then I unbethowt meh o me Sawt.
1788. W. H. Marshall, Rur. Econ. Yorks., II. s.v., I unbethought myself on’t.
1892. Sarah 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 un-beknown 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. Miss 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. trans. 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 Umbethinking vbl. sb.; Umbethought ppl. a.
1422. trans. 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.
