† underfov.
Obsolete.
1.
a. transitive. To receive (a thing); to have (something) given to one; to come to have or possess.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > acquisition > receiving > receive [verb (transitive)] > be given
underfoc888
afangOE
underfongc1175
getc1300
latchc1300
undertake1393
receivea1400
to take up1639
to come into ——1672
to fall in for1788
c888 Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. xiv. §3 Eala þæt hit is god..þæt mon micelne welan hæbbe, nu se næfre ne wyrð orsorg þe hine underfehð.
962–3 Laws Edgar Suppl. 1 Þa Godes þeowas, þe þa sceattas underfoð þe we Gode syllað.
c1040 Bidding Prayer in Eng. Hist. Rev. Jan. (1912) 10 For ealle þa saula þe fulluht under-fengan.
c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 97 Þis dai is bicumelich time husel to underfon.
c1275 Sinners Beware 317 in Old Eng. Misc. 82 To day ye schuleþ y-frede And vnder-fo luþre mede.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 101 Alle oure broþren..þet byeþ children of holy cherche, be þe byleaue þet hi onderuinge ine cristnynge.
c1400 Brut 13 And Guentolen..vndirfonge feautes & homages of all þe men of þe land.
a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) I. Prol. f. iii Of the peas that hath ben vnderfonge Bothe by great othes and eke by maryage.
b. To receive willingly; to accept.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > approve of, accept, or sanction [verb (transitive)]
loveeOE
underfoc1000
underfong?c1225
undertakea1250
provec1300
allowa1325
favour1340
approvec1380
seem?c1450
conprovec1503
avow1530
rectify1567
annuate1585
to be for1590
sancite1597
improve1603
applauda1616
acclamate1624
resenta1646
own1649
comprobate1660
sanction1797
likea1825
approbate1833
to hold with (arch. of, on, for)1895
agree1900
endorse1914
condone1962
c1000 Ags. Psalter vi. 9 Drihten gebed min he underfeng.
c1175 Pater Noster in Lamb. Hom. 65 God wule hit underfon, Wenne ic forȝeue min hating.
a1225 Leg. Kath. 982 Þu..underfest þe an half & dustest adun þe oðere.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 5057 For þe king wolde wel don & Cristes laȝen vnder-fon [c1300 Otho vnderfange].
a1300 Cursor Mundi 2700 His fader [was] nineti and nine þat day Þai vnder-fang þis neu lai.
c. To admit into a receptacle; to conceive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > biology > biological processes > procreation or reproduction > conception > conceive [verb (transitive)]
onfangOE
underfoa1100
afanglOE
understandc1200
underfonga1300
conceptionc1350
conceivea1400
concept1603
the world > space > relative position > condition of being internal > containing or having within > contain or have within [verb (transitive)] > admit into a receptacle
underfoa1100
receivea1400
entertain?1608
take1791
a1100 in A. S. Napier Old Eng. Glosses i. 3819 [Cadaver]receptet,..underfo.
c1175 Lamb. Hom. 77 Þu scald underfon an child in þi wombe.
c1275 XI Pains of Hell 236 in Old Eng. Misc. 153 Vurþer, þer his on oþer put... Seoue duren þer beoþ on, Þe saulen for to under-fon.
1379 MS Gloucester Cathedral 19 No. 1. i. iii. f. 2 Whenne thy duodene hath vnder~fongyng & receyved the fode out froo the mawe gutte.
d. To have understanding of or skill in.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > be skilled or versed in [verb (transitive)]
witOE
knowOE
underfoa1300
practa1513
skill?1529
to be au fait in or ata1743
a1300 Cursor Mundi 1519 Cubal [v.r. Tobal] þer broþer first vnderfang Music, þat es þe sune o sang.
2. To take in hand; to undertake.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > undertaking > undertake [verb (transitive)]
underfoc893
fandOE
onfangOE
undernimc1000
takec1175
to take tillc1175
to take toa1250
underfongc1330
undertakea1340
to take in (also on) handa1350
undertakec1385
attamec1386
to take in (also on) handc1390
embrace1393
emprisec1410
to put to one's hand (also hands)c1410
to go upon ——c1450
enterprise?1473
to set (one's) hand to1477
go?a1500
accept1524
assume1530
to hent in (also upon) handc1540
to swallow up1544
to take to task1546
to go into ——?1548
to set in hand1548
to fare about1563
entertain1569
undergo1606
to set about ——1611
to take up1660
to come at ——1901
c893 tr. Orosius Hist. ii. ii. 66 Romulus æfter þiosan under~feng Cirinensa gewinn.
c897 K. Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care xxi. 161 Ðonne hie ðara eorðlicra monna heortan underfoð to læronne.
c1000 Ælfric Numbers xi. 17 Hig underfoð þis folc mid þe, þæt þu ne si ana gehefegod.
1399 J. Gower In Praise of Peace 264 The heved above hem hath noght undirfongen To sette pes, bot every man sleeth other.
3.
a. To receive (a person); to admit to one's presence, society, or friendship; to accept.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > love > friendliness > make friends with [verb (transitive)] > accept (a person) as a friend > receive or admit (someone) to society or friendship
underfo924
underfonga1175
to take upc1384
adopt1757
society > leisure > social event > visit > visiting > visit [verb (transitive)] > receive as visitor
underfo924
afangOE
underfonga1175
fangc1275
upfoa1300
seec1500
entertain1559
924–5 Laws Edward 10 Ne underfo nan man oðres mannes man butan þæs leafe þe he ær fyligde.
c1000 West Saxon Gospels: Matt. (Corpus Cambr.) x. 40 Se þe eow underfehð, he underfehð me.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 12936 Þatt godd iss rædiȝ tunnderrfon. Þatt follc þatt rihht himm follȝheþþ.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 1679 A maiden was hire bi-tagt, Zelfa bi name... Iacob gan hire under-fon.
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Rom. 1st Prol. The Lord..not onli ȝee wolden not resceyuen, but also ȝee slowen; whom we vnderfongen.
a1400 K. Alis. (Laud) 7046 Þise vnderfongen þe Emperoure, And duden to hym al honoure.
b. To receive in a specified manner.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > social event > visit > visiting > visit [verb (transitive)] > receive as visitor > in specific manner
to make semblant?c1225
underfoc1425
a1122 Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) ann. 1022 Æðelnoð biscop for to Rome & wæs under-fangen þær fram Benedicte..myd mycclum wurðscipe.
c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 141 Ure drihten underfeng eadmodliche ane sinfulle wimman and forgiaf hire hire sinnen.
c1230 Hali Meid. 41 He vnderfeð bliðeliche, & bicluppeð swoteluche, þe alre laðlukest.
c1290 Beket 1367 in S. Eng. Leg. I. 145 Þo seint thomas to Rome cam, faire he was onder-fonge.
a1330 Roland & V. 87 Þemperour was glad y-wis, & vnderfenge wiþ miche blis Sir charls þe king.
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1865) I. 239 At his comynge he schulde wiþ þre manere worschippe be vnder~fonge.
c1400 Brut 9 And when Brut wyste whens þei were, he þo vndirfong hem with mychel ioy in-to his Shepys.
c1425 Eng. Conq. Ireland 8 Þe bisshop well wyrshipfully vndre~fynge [v.r. vndyrfonge] Macmorgh.
c. spec. To receive at baptism.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > sacrament > baptism > baptize [verb (transitive)]
fulloweOE
ChristeOE
dipc975
fulghtOE
fulghtenlOE
baptize1297
washa1300
christen1340
underfo1362
superfuse1657
1362 W. Langland Piers Plowman A. i. 74 Holi church Icham... Ich þe vndurfong furst and þi feiþ þe tauȝte.
1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. xi. 113 On holicherche I þouȝte, Þat vnderfonge me atte fonte.
4. To receive by way of hurt or harm; to undergo, suffer.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > adversity > suffer (adversity or affliction) [verb (transitive)]
thave835
i-dreeeOE
tholec897
abeareOE
underbearc950
adreeOE
dreeOE
driveOE
i-tholeOE
throwOE
underfoc1000
bearOE
bidec1200
suffera1250
abidec1275
drinka1340
endure1340
underfong1382
receivec1384
abyea1393
sustain1398
finda1400
undergoa1400
get?c1430
underganga1470
ponder?a1525
a dog's lifea1528
tolerate1531
to stand to ——1540
to feel the weight of?1553
enjoy1577
carry1583
abrook1594
to stand under ——a1616
to fall a victim to1764
the mind > emotion > suffering > suffer mental pain [verb (transitive)]
thave835
i-dreeeOE
tholec897
underbearc950
adreeOE
dreeOE
driveOE
i-tholeOE
throwOE
underfoc1000
bearOE
takec1175
bidec1200
suffera1250
leadc1330
drinka1340
endure1340
wielda1375
underfong1382
receivec1384
sustain1398
finda1400
undergoa1400
underganga1470
ponder?a1525
tolerate1531
to go through ——1535
to feel the weight of?1553
enjoy1577
carry1583
abrook1594
c1000 Ælfric Numbers xiv. 34 On feowertigum gearum ge underfoð eowere unrihtwisnissa, þæt ge witon mine wrace.
c1175 Lamb. Hom. 119 Vre drihtnes..þrowunge þe he for moncunne underfeng.
a1225 Leg. Kath. 2234 Streche forð þine swire scharp sweord to underfonne.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 480 Lamech droge is arwe ner, And letet flegen of ðe streng. Caim unwarde it under-feng.
a1325 Statutes of Realm (2011) xli. 108 Þat he þat hat vnderfonge þe harmes habbe bref of wast.
5. To reprove, rebuke. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > rebuke or reproof > rebuke or reprove [verb (transitive)]
threac897
threapc897
begripea1000
threata1000
castea1200
chaste?c1225
takec1275
blame1297
chastya1300
sniba1300
withnima1315
undernima1325
rebukec1330
snuba1340
withtakea1340
reprovec1350
chastisea1375
arate1377
challenge1377
undertake1377
reprehenda1382
repreync1390
runta1398
snapea1400
underfoc1400
to call to account1434
to put downc1440
snebc1440
uptakec1440
correptc1449
reformc1450
reprise?c1450
to tell (a person) his (also her, etc.) own1450
control1451
redarguec1475
berisp1481
to hit (cross) one over (of, on) the thumbs1522
checkc1530
admonish1541
nip1548
twig?1550
impreve1552
lesson1555
to take down1562
to haul (a person) over the coals1565
increpate1570
touch1570
school1573
to gather up1577
task1580
redarguate?1590
expostulate1592
tutor1599
sauce1601
snip1601
sneap1611
to take in tax1635
to sharp up1647
round1653
threapen1671
reprimand1681
to take to task1682
document1690
chapter1693
repulse1746
twink1747
to speak to ——1753
haul1795
to pull up1799
carpet1840
rig1841
to talk to1860
to take (a person) to the woodshed1882
rawhide1895
to tell off1897
to tell (someone) where he or she gets off1900
to get on ——1904
to put (a person) in (also into) his, her place1908
strafe1915
tick1915
woodshed1935
to slap (a person) down1938
sort1941
bind1942
bottle1946
mat1948
ream1950
zap1961
elder1967
c1400 Brut 138 Þe Erchebisshope..vnderfonge [v.r. vndir~toke] him of his Wickednesse.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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