adv. Obs. Forms: α. 3 uneðes, 4 uneþes, 4–6 unethes (5–6 -is), 5 onethes (-ys), anedes, 6 uneathes. β. 2–3 unneðes, 4 unneþes (-is, -ys, -us), 4–6 unnethes (4–5 -is, 5 -ys), 5 onnethis, γ. 4 uneths, 4–5, 7 unneths. δ. north. and Sc. 4 unees, 4–5 un(n)ese, 5 onnese, un(h)es, unnes, wnes, 5–6 uneis, 6 uneais. [f. prec. + -S.]
1. = UNEATH adv. 1.
α, β, γ. c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 179. Unneðes hie winnen ȝiet here louerdes rihttes.
c. 1220. Bestiary, 134. He … nimeð vnneðes ðurȝ, for his fel he ðer leteð.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 2341. He dede halle ut ðe toðere gon, And spac un-eðes, so e gret.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 12686. Hes knes war bolnd sua þat he ne moght vnnethes ga. Ibid., 20982. Vneths he bar lif a-way.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 1176. Byhinde, bifore, on þeym þei cam, Vneþes any a-wey þer nam.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 22. Þei wolen travaile … so bisily þat vnneþis may þei at reste seie metenes or masse.
1450. Paston Lett., I. 124. I … have soo wesshe this litel bille with sorwfulle terys, that on-ethes ye shalle reede it.
1482. Monk of Evesham, iv. (Arb.), 23. In a voyce onethys audybille and noo thyng intelligibille.
c. 1520. Barclay, Jugurth (1557), 7 b. Vnnethes coude he with moche paine induce him therto.
c. 1530. Ld. Berners, Arth. Lyt. Bryt. (1814), 135. Rockes … of suche heyght, that … the toppe of them myght vnnethes be sene.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., II. vi. 1. Vneathes it can refraine From that, which feeble nature couets faine.
1621. Bp. Mountagu, Diatribæ, 22. For unneths shall we finde a man … but hath a tang one of these two wayes.
1635. Heywood, Hierarchy, IX. 579. He lifts at juggs…, but they … Had been so well fill’d, that he vnneths may Aduance them … to his head.
δ. a. 1300. Cursor M., 1648. Al ar þai worthþi for to wite, vnnes es ani funden quite.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xix. (Christopher), 247. Þe lytil barne … wox [h]euiare mare & mare, þat vnese oure þe watir he wane.
c. 1400. Ywaine & Gaw., 342. There sal cum slik slete and rayne, That unnese sal thou stand ogayne.
c. 1450. St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 282. Þar was a grete clernes of lyght,… Vnnes þar on men luke myght.
c. 1475. Rauf Coilȝear, 157. He start vp stoutly agane—vneis micht he stand.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, lxxii. 45. Vneis with lyf he mycht sustene That croune.
2. = UNEATH adv. 2 a.
1388. Wyclif, Gen. xxxiii. 11. Vnnethis, while the brothir compellide, he resseyuede, and seide, Go we to gidere.
3. = UNEATH adv. 3.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 8159. Vnnethes [Gött. vnese] had he monid his mode, Þat a lem fra þe wandes stode.
c. 1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 476. For unnethes es a child born fully Þat it ne bygynnes to … cry.
1388. Wyclif, Gen. xxvii. 30. Vnnethis Isaac hadde fillid the word, and … Esau cam.
