Obs. or arch. Forms: (see quots.) [OE. unéaðe, -íeðe, etc.: see UN-1 7 and EATH a.] Difficult, hard, troublesome, distressing.
a. 900. Andreas, 205. Nis þæt uneaðe eallwealdan gode to ʓefremmanne on foldweʓe.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Saints Lives, xiii. 247. Þa cwæð dauid him to: Uneaðe me is ðis.
c. 1050. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 444. Molestus, unyþe.
a. 1200. Moral Ode, 181. Nis na sullic þech hom bo wa and hom bo uneade [v.r. uneaðe].
c. 1205. Lay., 2259. Corineus wes un-eðe, & wa on his mode.
1570. Levins, Manip., 213. Vneathe, difficilis.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., IV. x. 39. An altar of some costly masse, Whose substance was vneath to vnderstand.
1629. H. Burton, Truths Triumph, 210. The hare makes many doubles, that vneath it is for the most sagacious pursuer to finde her out.
1647. H. More, Song of Soul, II. liii. But whats within, uneath is to convey To narrow vessels that are full afore. Ibid., lxxxv.
1714. Croxall, Another Orig. Canto Spenser, xii.
Where Freres and Monks swarm round, that it uneath | |
May seem mongst them to live and draw in vital Breath. |
1767. Mickle, Concubine, II. xxxvii. Uneath it is long Habits to expell.
1799. Scott, Covenanters Fate, xxii. I fear me, quoth he, uneath it will be To match thy word with deed.