Now arch. Forms: (see CUNNING a.). (UN-1 10. Cf. OHG. unchunnênti, Goth. unkunnands.]
1. Of persons: Ignorant, unlearned, unskilful.
α. 1340. Ayenb., 59. Hi … ziggeþ þet hi byeþ … zuo zenuol and zuo onconnynde.
a. 1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 152. Bot som men has wytte to understand, And yhit þai er ful unkunand.
c. 1400. Rowland & O., 293. Unconnande Sarazene,… in þis place þi wykkednes es ȝare.
1456. Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 222. Quhasa did the contrair he war ungentill, uncurtas, and unconnand.
β. c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., I. pr. i. (1868), 7. Any vnkonnyng and vnprofitable man.
c. 1420. Chron. Vilod., 4. Þys werke, þat y, so vnconnynge, Presumpswysly haue vnderetake.
c. 1450. Mirk’s Festial, 213. Lest any vnconyng man take on for anoþir, I will tell you þes woymen.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 287/1. The bisshop repreuyd hym sore as unconnyng and an ydeote.
1549. Chaloner, Erasm. on Folly, F iv. The rasher, the uncunnynger, and lesse circumspect,… the more yet is he regarded.
a. 1577. Sir T. Smith, Commw. Eng., III. viii. (1584), 112. Some vncunning Lawyers that would make a newe barbarous Latine worde to betoken lande giuen in fidem.
1601. Munday & Chettle, Death Earl Huntington, V. ii. Thus is Matildaes story showne in act, And rough heawen out by an vncunning hand.
[1791. Wolcot (P. Pindar), Ode to my Ass, ix. But I’m a modest, not unconnyinge elf. Ibid. (1792), Odes Kien Long, V. ii. This to my simple and unconnying mind Seems œconomical.]
1826–7. K. Digby, Broadst. Hon., II. Tancredus (1828), 280. A theme which requires a far less earthly and uncunning tongue than mine.
b. absol. (chiefly as pl.).
1338. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 244. Wardeyns gode he sette,… Justise þat þe lawe gette to vnkonand þei kende.
1477. Earl Rivers, Dictes (1877), 36 b. A wyseman ought not to exalte him self byfore the vnconning.
1495. Festivall, 186 b. The fyrst is teche the vnconnynge that he sauour rightfully.
1511–2. Act 3 Hen. VIII., c. xi. Many of the Kynges liege people … cannot descerne the uncunnyng from the cunnyng.
c. Const. in, of, or with inf.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter, cxviii. 92. He is vnkunand in gastly batayle.
1357. Lay Folks Catech. (Lamb. MS.), 1146. To teche men þat be vncunnynge of goddys lawe.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XII. 185. Person or parisch prest,… Vnconnynge to lere lewed men.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., xliii. 170 (Harl. MS.). They coude fynde noon, but that they wer corrupte,… or vncunnynge in the mystery.
a. 1450. Knt. de la Tour (1868), 159. That is gret pite, as in youthe to be vncunnynge and vnknowynge of hym selff.
[1888. Doughty, Arabia Deserta, I. 278. But ye be also uncunning in many things, which the Aarab ken.]
2. Of actions, etc.: Arising from, indicative of, ignorance or unskilfulness.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VII. 245. William put þat knyȝt out of þat chivalrie, for he hadde i-doo an unkonnynge dede.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., I. x. 51. The wanton and vnkunnyng bering of hem whiche wolen not allowe eny gouernaunce to be the lawe … of God.
1549. Coverdale, etc., Erasm. Par. Titus iii. 31 b. Folyshe and vnconnyng questions, and entangled genealogies.
a. 1652. Brome, City Wit, I. i. Wks. 1873, I. 284. If my uncunning Disposition be my only vice.
So † Uncunninghead, -ship. Obs.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 26306. I wat not quar-on it es lang, Queþer on mi plight or on þin,… Or min vnconanscipe [v.r. unkunnandeshepe], mai fall.
1340. Ayenb., 33. Efterward comþ slacnesse;… hit comþ of onconnyndehede, and of fole hete. Ibid., 40. Be hare kueadnesse, oþer uor onconynghede.
