a. Obs. [UN-1 7 b.]
1. Inappropriate, unsuitable, unfitting.
In the first quot. rendering L. importuna.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., IV. pr. vi. (1868), 141. Perauenture þe nature of som man is so ouerþrowyng to yuel and so vncouenable [etc.].
1382. Wyclif, 1 Tim. iv. 7. Forsothe schonye thou vncouenable fablis and veyn.
a. 1425. trans. Arderne’s Treat. Fistula, etc., 47. Oon aposteme come to a man … þat was hard to breke for vncouenable emplastres putte þer-to first.
c. 1450. trans. De Imitatione, I. xxi. 26. Yeue not þiself to uncouenable gladnes.
1477. Earl Rivers, Dictes, 41. Do not vncouenable werkis, take compaynie with wyse men and studie in their bookis.
2. Unseasonable.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., II. 121. We mai lerne, over þis, to fede not uncovenable axingis. Ibid. (1382), 1 Kings iii. 20. Risynge with silence of the vnkouenable niȝt, she took my sone fro myn syde.
Hence † Uncovenably adv. Obs.
1382. Wyclif, Ecclus. xxxii. 6. Vncouenabli wile thou not ben enhauncid in thi wisdam.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VI. 473. Sche was þerfore i-blamed of seint Ethelwold, and sche answerede noþer unkovenabeliche noþer ful curteisliche.
