Obs. exc. dial. and arch. Also 4–6 vnder-, 5 vndyrtime. [OE. underntíma: see UNDERN sb. and TIME sb.] = prec.
α. c. 1000. in Bouterwek, Cædmon (1854), p. ccxiv. On underntiman Crist wæs þurh þara Iudea dom to deaþe fordemed.
c. 1200. Ormin, 19458. An daȝȝ att unnderrn time I fir þeȝȝ sæȝhenn Godess Gast.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 2269. It was vndren time or more, Om cam ðat riche louerd ðore.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 25538. Suet iesu, at vndrin time [c. 1375 vnder-time] … Sufferd … Dintes sare and smert.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VII. 421. In þat book he radde priveliche in þe underne tymes [L. meridianis horis].
1853. Rock, Ch. of Fathers, III. x. 473. St. Beda died a little after undern-time or tierce-song hour.
1887. Suppl. Jamieson, s.v. Andrum, The afternoon or early evening repast;… called also … anterin-time.
β. c. 1375. [see a. 1300 above].
a. 1450. Le Morte Arth., 2807. Hys strength shulld wex in suche a space, From the vndyrtyme tylle none.
1495. Trevisa’s Barth. De P. R., XVIII. xxiv. 783. Whan gele ben meuyd after the vnder tyme they drynke the more water.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., III. vii. 13. He comming home at vndertime, there found The fairest creature, that he euer saw.
