v. Obs. [OE. onwréon, unwréon (UN-2 3). Cf. OHG. intrîhan, inrîhan ‘revelare.’]
1. trans. To reveal or expose to sight by the removal of a covering; to uncover, lay bare.
α. c. 825. Vesp. Psalter xvii. 16. Onwriʓen werun steaðelas ymbhwyrftes eorðan.
c. 1000. Ags. Ps. (Thorpe), cxviii. 18. Onwreoh þu mine eaʓan.
c. 1290. Beket, 2278, in S. Eng. Leg., I. 172. Þe Cardinales nolden nouȝt is bodi al on-wreo [c. 1300 unwreo].
1340. Ayenb., 58. Hi onwriþ þane pot, and þe uleȝen vlyeþ þerin.
β. c. 975. Rushw. Gosp., Mark ii. 4. He … unwreoʓon þæt hus … þær he wæs.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., II. 334. Ða licmen his neþ þærrihte unwruʓon.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 328. Þo he schulde unwrien his wunden.
13[?]. K. Alis., 336 (Laud MS.). His aristable he gan vnwriȝene [v.r. vnwreone].
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, I. 858. To hym byhoueth first vnwre [v.rr. onwrye, vnwry] his wounde.
c. 1430. Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 85. Unwrey al þe bon, in kuttynge awey al þe flesch.
c. 1440. Jacob’s Well, 197. He ros out of his graue,… & vnwryed þe munkys in here beddys.
b. refl. To uncover (oneself); to make naked.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 56. Bersabee … unwreih hire ine Dauies sihðe. Ibid., 58. Þurh þet heo unwrien ham ine monne eih sihðe.
2. fig. To reveal, disclose, make known (some hidden thing or fact, sin, etc.); to communicate or divulge (a matter).
α. c. 825. Vesp. Psalter xxxvi. 5. Onwrih dryhtne weʓ ðinne.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Luke xvii. 30. Æfter þysum þingum bið on þam dæʓe þe mannes sunu onwriʓen bið.
1340. Ayenb., 88. Uor hyer ne zyþ non onwryȝe þe uayrhede of god, bote ase hit by ine ane ssewere. Ibid., 174. Þe zike ssel onwri his ziknesse.
β. c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Matt. x. 26. Nowiht forðon [bið] ʓedeʓled þæt ne se unwriʓen.
c. 1055. Byrhtferth’s Handboc, in Anglia, VIII. 334. Griphia … by ʓesett þær þa deopan þing beoð unwroʓene.
a. 1200. Moral Ode, 160, in O. E. Hom., I. 169. Al scal þer bon þanne unwron, þet men wruȝen her.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 1769. Þer me unwreah me þe wei, Þet leadeð to liue.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 10457. God wot wuch is herte was, vor he nolde him noȝt vnwre. Þe erchebissop him asoilede.
c. 1330. Amis & Amil., 783. When þe douke com in to þat won, Þe steward oȝain him gan gon, Her conseyl for to vnwrain.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 1849. Y wil her, as y can, my message to þe ounwrye.
c. 1407. Lydg., Reson & Sens., 18. Or [= ere] I do specifye Myn entent for to vnwrie, Or ferther in this boke procede.
Hence † Unwrye(n) ppl. a. Obs.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 58. Ȝif eni unwrie put were, & beste feolle þer inne, he hit schulde ȝelden þet þene put unwreih.
1340. Ayenb., 88. Hyer ne zyþ non onwryȝe þe uayrhede of god. Ibid., 112, 244.
