† unwieldn.

Forms: In Middle English unwelde, vnweilde.

Etymology: un- prefix¹ 6.

Obsolete. rare.

Feebleness, weakness, impotence.

ΘΚΠ

the world > health and disease > ill health > [noun] > weakness

faintise1297

weaknessa1300

faintc1320

feebleness1340

languishingc1384

lamea1400

unferea1400

unferenessa1400

unwielda1400

impotence1406

imbecility?a1425

languisha1425

languoringa1438

unwieldness1437

faintnessa1440

impotency1440

infirmityc1440

debility1484

unlustiness1486

resolution1547

unwieldiness1575

languishment1576

infirmness1596

weakness1603

prostrationa1626

exolution1634

languidness1634

prosternation1650

faintingnessa1661

debilitude1669

flaccidity1676

atony1693

puniness1727

faintishness1733

adynamia1743

asthenia1802

adynamy1817

weakliness1826

tonelessness1873

atonicity1900

a1400 Early Compl. Eng. Prose Psalter lxx. 9 (V.) Ne for-werpe me in un-welde, In time when I am of elde.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 3563 And haue man ben neuer so bald, Quen þat he bicomis alde, Til vnweild [he] bigines to falle.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1926; most recently modified version published online December 2020).

† unwieldadj.

Etymology: un- prefix¹ 1.

Obsolete.

1. Feeble, weak, impotent; = unwieldy adj. 1.Frequently from c1400 to c1450.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > the body > bodily constitution > bodily weakness > [adjective]

wokec897

unstronga900

unmightyeOE

feeblec1175

strengthlessc1175

unwieldc1220

weaka1300

frailc1384

unwieldyc1386

unthendec1425

dissolutec1450

unsure?a1475

feyc1475

simple1477

unfirm1483

unsinewed?1541

wash1548

weakling1557

ladylike1566

silly1567

water weak1592

washya1631

wankle1686

foible1715

unmuscular1725

nerveless1792

wankly1795

shilpit1813

wankya1825

sinewless1829

weedy-looking1835

queachy1859

insubstantiala1861

paper-backed1888

weak-fleshed1967

the world > health and disease > ill health > [adjective] > in state of ill health or diseased > weak

unmightyeOE

unferea1060

unwieldc1220

fade1303

lewc1325

weak1340

fainta1375

sicklyc1374

unwieldyc1386

impotent1390

delicatea1398

lowa1398

unmighta1450

unlustyc1450

low-brought1459

wearyc1480

failed1490

worn1508

caduke?1518

fainty1530

weak1535

debile1536

fluey1545

tewly?1547

faltering1549

puling1549

imbecilec1550

debilitate1552

flash1562

unable1577

unhealthful1595

unabled1597

whindling1601

infirm1608

debilitated1611

bedrid1629

washya1631

silly1636

fluea1645

tender1645

invaletudinary1661

languishant1674

valetudinaire?c1682

puly1688

thriftless1693

unheartya1699

wishy-washy1703

enervate1706

valetudinarian1713

lask1727

wersh1755

palliea1774

wankle1781

asthenic1789

atonic1792

squeal1794

adynamic1803

worn-down1814

totterish1817

asthenical1819

prostrate1820

used up1823

wankya1825

creaky1834

groggy1834

puny1838

imbeciled1840

rickety-rackety1840

muscleless1841

weedy1849

tottery1861

crocky1880

wimbly-wambly1881

ramshackle1889

twitterly1896

twittery1907

wonky1919

strung out1959

c1220 Bestiary 57 Siðen hise limes arn unwelde.

a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 347 Vn-welde woren and in win Here owen limes.

?a1366 Romaunt Rose 359 Al woxen was her body vnwelde, And drie,..for elde.

14.. Sir Beues (L.) 34 He..Wexed febull and vn-welde.

c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Reeve's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) Prol. l. 32 Oure lymes mowe wel been vnweelde.

c1480 Bk. of Brome (1886) 106 Hys body gane vax on-wylld.

absolute.a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 10539 Sal naman negh þat vnweild.

2. Difficult or cumbrous to manipulate or handle; unwieldy. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > inconvenience > [adjective] > unhandy

unwield1390

unhandsome1548

unwieldy1552

wieldy1588

awk1593

unmanageable1600

uneasy1611

unhandy1664

awkward1695

1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 312 The reyni Storm fell doun algates And al here takel made unwelde.

a1440 Sir Eglam. 309 A clobb of yron..That was mekylle and fulle unwelde.

Derivatives

† unˈwieldness n. Obsolete

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