[ME. unfre (UN-1 7.), = MDu. onvri (Du. onvrij), OHG. unfrî (MHG. unvrî, G. unfrei), WFris. on-, ûnfrij, MDa. and Da. ufri, MSw. and Sw. ofri.]
† 1. Ignoble, base. Obs.–1
c. 1320. Sir Tristr., 2727. Þou slouȝ his breþer þre In fiȝt: Vrgan and morgan vn-fre And moraunt, þe noble kniȝt.
2. Characterized by want of freedom.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1129. So if folk be defowled by vnfre chaunce,… he may polyce hym at þe prest, by penaunce taken.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 120. The election beyng vnfree,… eche of them almost of necessitie must hate the other.
1849. Kemble, Saxons in Eng., I. 203. Serfs by reason of unfree birth.
1882–3. Schaff’s Encycl. Relig. Knowl., 2206. The State … must be invested with all power over industry, which thus may be called practically unfree.
† 3. Not at liberty to do something. Obs.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 284. Ȝif lordis myȝte ȝeue here heritage to clerkis … þei were vnfree to helpe here soulis.
4. Not possessed of personal liberty; destitute of freedom.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., I. 363. And so, as myche as in hem is, þei have maad Crist unfree.
1587. Golding, De Mornay, xii. 207. If it be demaunded why God created man free, and not vnfree.
1602. J. Davies (Heref.), Mirum in Modum, Wks. (Grosart), I. 28/1. Better vnfree (saist thou) then be so ill, But ’tis not ill at libertie to bee.
1849. Kemble, Saxons in Eng., I. 203. The children … of parents who are both unfree, or … of one unfree parent.
1865. Kingsley, Hereward, xx. All the folk, free and unfree, man and woman, were out on the streets.
1882. Weeden, Soc. Law Labor, 40. The savage is the most unfree man in the world.
absol. 1864. Kingsley, Roman & T., 54. The custom of chiefs choosing … their companions-in-arms, from among the most valiant of the unfree.
1874. Green, Short Hist., i. § 2 (1882), 13. A slave class, a class of the unfree.
5. Not holding the position of a free or privileged member of a corporation. Obs. or arch.
1442. Extr. Aberd. Rec. (1844), I. 8. Item, that al the communytie, alsweile vnfree as free men, be sworne to rise … in the defence of the toune.
1459–60. Cal. Anc. Rec. Dublin (1889), 303. Thay be put out of ther franches and ymad unfre.
1574. in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 423. None of the inhabitance of Galway, free or onfree, yonge or old.
1608. in Gross, Gild Merch. (1890), I. 150, note. Anie Englishe borne subiect beinge vnfree or no member of this ffellowshippe.
1687. Luttrell, Brief Rel. (1857), I. 407. The lord mayor might drink to one as sherif free or unfree of the citty.
1717. in J. J. Vernon, Par. & Kirk Hawick (1900), 205. Payd … for the bells tolling at the buriall of every unfree person within the said toun.
6. Not free of duty, tax, or impost; not exempt from commercial restrictions.
1678. Sir G. Mackenzie, Crim. Laws Scot., I. xxvi. § ii. (1699), 130. The Customers Officers were about to poynd some unfree goods.
1684. Lond. Gaz., No. 1916/1. No such Clause or Provision as makes Free Goods to become Unfree when Laden and taken in Unfree Ships.
