Obs. [OE. unspéd (UN-1 12), = WFris. on-, ûnspoed, MDu. onspoet (Du. onspoed), OS. unspôd (MLG. unspôt), OHG. unspuot, -spuet, chiefly in sense 2. Cf. WANSPEED.]
1. Poverty. (OE. only.).
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Mark xii. 44. Ðios … of unspoed hire alle ða ðe hæfde sende.
c. 1000. Ags. Ps. (Spelman) lxxxvii. 9. Eaʓan mine sarʓodon for unspeda [L. inopia].
2. Lack of good speed or success; misfortune, detriment, harm.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 10468. If þou mai na barns brede, Quam wites þou þin aune vnspede? Ibid., 15420. Bot to þaim þat þe cheping did, it fel to mikel vnspede.
14[?]. Northern Passion (MS. I.), 1214. Ȝet þei maden at vnspede in his riht hand to halde a rede.
c. 1440. Lay Folks Mass Bk. (MS. C.), 88. To þe priest herken þan Hys office…, And answere þereto…, Or on a boke þy-selfe it rede, I wate þerfore nane unspede.
3. Unprofitable labor.
c. 1300. Cursor M., 4230. Bot al his quainning for to rede Or for to spek, it war vn-spede.
