v. Obs. Forms: Inf. 1 unnan, 3 unnen. Pres. indic. 1 ann, onn, 1, 3 an, 3 on (also 3 unne, unnest), pl. 1 unnon, 3 unnen (unneð). Pres. subj. 1, 3 unne (3 hunne). Pa. t. 1, 3 uþe, uðe (3 ouþe); pl. 1 uþon, uðon, 3 uðen. Pa. pple. 3 i-unnen, unen, unned. Cf. I-UNNE v. [OE. unnan, = OS. unnan, OHG. unnan, unnen (MHG. unnen), MDu. onnen, ON. unna (Icel., Norw., Swed. unna, Da. unde), one of the class of preterite-present verbs. The stem ann- is the base of Goth. anst-s, OE. ést ESTE sb.]
1. trans. To grant, allow, give (freely).
In OE. construed with the genitive.
Beowulf, 1225. Ic þe an tela sincʓestreona.
a. 900. O. E. Chron., an. 755 (Parker MS.). Þa ʓebead he him hiera aʓenne dom feos & londes, ʓif hie him þæs rices uþon.
c. 1000. Ags. Ps. (Thorpe), cxxxi. 4. ʓif ic minum eaʓum unne slæpes.
a. 1122. O. E. Chron., an. 1041 (Laud MS.). Eall folc ʓeceas Eadward to cynge … healde þa hwile þe him God unne.
c. 1205. Lay., 14851. Habbe alc god mon his rihte, ȝif godd hit an.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 90. Ase quite ase ȝe beoð … weren alle þe oðre, ure Louerd hit vðe.
c. 1275. Sinner’s Beware, 272, in O. E. Misc., 81. Loke, seyde god nuþe, Hwat ich for ou ouþe.
2. To wish or like (one) to have (something).
c. 893. K. Ælfred, Oros., III. i. 98. Næs na for þæm þe hie him æniʓra goda uþen.
c. 1000. Ags. Psalter (Thorpe), xxxix. 17. Ondrædon him þa þe me yfeles unnon.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 79. Ne wile [he] naðemore haten him þe … him iuel unnen.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 2344. Beoð bliðe, ich biseche ow, Ȝef ȝe me blisse unnen.
a. 1310. in Wright, Lyric P., xi. 40. Ich unne hire wel ant heo me wo; Ycham hire frend ant heo my fo.
c. 1320. Sir Tristrem, 1928. Meriadok was a man Þat tristrem trowed ay; Miche gode he him an.
3. To grant, permit, or allow that. Also const. with inf.
Beowulf, 2874. Hwæðre him God uðe,… þæt he hyne sylfne ʓewræc.
c. 897. K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., 349. Ðat is ðæt hwa … him unne ðæt he to ryhte ʓecierre.
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Matt., Int. 4. Ic onn [L. opto] ðæt in crist ðu ʓetreow-fæstniʓ.
a. 1200. Moral Ode, 314. Ac drihte crist … of alle vre gultes unne us come bote.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 380. Ȝe nowen nout unnen þet eni vuel word kome of ou.
a. 1225. Gen. & Ex., 2249. God hunne him eði modes ben, And sende me min childre agen.
1258. Charter Hen. III. We willen and unnen þæt þæt vre rædesmen … habbeþ idon … be stedefæst.
ellipt. a. 1250. Owl & Night., 1739. Ich an [v.r. vnne] wel, cwað the niȝtegale.
Hence † Unnung vbl. sb. Obs.
a. 1225. Ancren R., 282. Ondes salue, ich seide, þet was feolaulich luue, and god vnnunge: & god wil, þer ase mihte of dede wonteð.
