a. and adv. Obs. [UN-1 7, 11 b + NAIT a. Cf. ON. úneyt-r useless, incapable.] Useless, unprofitable, vain.

1

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 130. Siggeð þet ȝe beoð unnute [Trin. MS. unneite] þrelles.

2

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 23566. If þai a-noþer heuen wroght, It war vnnait and al for noght.

3

a. 1340.  Hampole, Psalter, xxviii. 7. Þa þat … gas agayn til besynes of þe warld & vnnayte thynge.

4

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 29. Folk þat haþ foule lippis, foulid wiþ vein speche and unnayt.

5

c. 1400.  Rule St. Benet (Prose), 9. Wicke þohtis do oway…; and gete yure muþes fra unait wordis.

6

  b.  As adv. Unprofitably, vainly.

7

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 5976. ‘Do wai,’ þai said, ‘þou speckes vnnait.’

8

  Hence † Unnaitlike adv., -ness, -ship. Obs.

9

a. 1300.  E. E. Psalter xxxviii. 15. Vnnaitlike to-droued ilke man is. Ibid., xl. 6. Vnnaitnes Spake he, his hert samened to him wicnes.

10

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 10135. For-þi rede i þaim þat yee here … And leue your vnnaitschip a quile.

11