† unnaitadj.adv.

Forms: chiefly northern early Middle English vnneite (west midlands), Middle English unait, Middle English unnait, Middle English unnayte, Middle English vnait, Middle English vnnait, Middle English vnnatt (perhaps transmission error), Middle English vnnayt, Middle English vnnayte.

Origin: Perhaps of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from early Scandinavian. Perhaps partly formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: un- prefix¹, nait adj.¹

Etymology: Originally < early Scandinavian (compare Old Icelandic úneytr useless, incapable) < the Germanic base of un- prefix¹ + the same Scandinavian base as Old Icelandic neyta (see nait v.²). In later use perhaps also partly < un- prefix¹ + nait adj.¹ Compare earlier unnut adj.

Obsolete.

A. adj.

Useless, unprofitable, vain.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > uselessness, vanity, or futility > [adjective]

idlec825

unnuteOE

bricklec1225

tooma1250

unnaita1250

vaina1300

waste1303

overvoida1382

voida1382

superfluec1384

daylessa1387

unbehovely1390

unprofitablea1398

unbehoveful1429

wastefulc1450

idleful1483

fruster1488

vainful1509

frustrate?a1513

superfluousa1533

addle1534

lost1535

fittle1552

futilea1575

nugatory1605

futilous1607

shiftless1613

tympanous1625

emptya1628

frustraneousa1643

pointless1673

futilitous1765

otiose1795

stultificatory1931

a1250 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Titus) (1963) 37 Hwen ȝe hauen wel idon..seis þat ȝe beon vnneite [?c1225 Cleo. unnute, c1230 Corpus Cambr. unnete, a1250 Nero vnnute] þrelles.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 23566 If þai a-noþer heuen wroght, It war vnnait and al for noght.

a1425 Rule St. Benet (Lansd.) (1902) 9 Wicke þohtis do oway..And gete yure muþes fra unait wordis.

a1500 (c1340) R. Rolle Psalter (Univ. Oxf. 64) (1884) xxviii. §7. 102 Tha that..gas agayn til besynes of the warld & vnnayte thynge.

B. adv.

Unprofitably, in vain.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > uselessness, vanity, or futility > [adverb] > uselessly or unprofitably

wastelya1382

unnaita1400

unnaitlikea1400

ungainfully1593

ungainsomely1662

profitlessly1832

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 5976 ‘Do wai,’ þai said, ‘þou speckes vnnait’.

Derivatives

unnaitlike adv.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > uselessness, vanity, or futility > [adverb] > uselessly or unprofitably

wastelya1382

unnaita1400

unnaitlikea1400

ungainfully1593

ungainsomely1662

profitlessly1832

a1400 Psalter (Vesp.) xxxviii. 15 in C. Horstmann Yorkshire Writers (1896) II. 171 Vnnaitlike to-droued ilke man is.

unnaitness n.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > uselessness, vanity, or futility > [noun]

vanityc1325

overvoidnessa1382

unnaitnessa1400

unnaitshipa1400

unprofitablenessc1400

voidnessa1425

vainness1567

futility1623

emptiness1632

idlenessa1650

insignificancy1720

futileness1727

pointlessness1845

a1400 Psalter (Vesp.) xl. 6 in C. Horstmann Yorkshire Writers (1896) II. 173 Vnnaitnes Spake he; his hert samened to him wicnes.

a1400 Psalter (Vesp.) cxxxviii. 19 in C. Horstmann Yorkshire Writers (1896) II. 266 (MED) Þar cites take þai in unnaitnesse.

unnaitship n.

ΘΚΠ