shunn.1
/ʃʌn/, U.S. /ʃən/ rare.
The action of shunning; in upon the shun.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social relations > lack of social communication or relations > separation or isolation > [noun] > detachment or non-participation > action of
dissociation1611
disengagement1650
upon the shun1823
non-participation1832
self-dissociation1893
opting-out1924
1823 W. Scott Peveril I. Pref. Let. p. xvi Our friend is so much upon the shun..that it will be no light temptation which will withdraw him from his incognito.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
'shunn.2
/ʃʌn/, U.S. /ʃən/ Military colloquial.
= attention n. 5.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military organization > orders > order [interjection] > attention
'shun1888
1888 R. Kipling Madness of Private Ortheris in Plain Tales from Hills 242 Stan'at—hease, 'Shun 'Verse—harms. Right an' lef'—tarrn. Slow—march.
1915 ‘I. Hay’ First Hundred Thousand i Squoad—'Shun!
1918 E. A. Mackintosh War, the Liberator 121 Party, 'shun! Left-turn! You will parade again at 2.15 in full equipment. Party dis-miss!
1922 J. Cannan Misty Valley 41 Claire's newly recruited loyalty sprang, metaphorically speaking, to the 'shun.
1928 Granta 2 Nov. 76/1 Prisoner! 'Shun. Move to the right in fours.
1955 W. Faulkner Fable (U.K. ed.) 108 ‘Bridesman,’ he said but at that moment the major said ‘'Shun!’
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
shunv.
/ʃʌn/, U.S. /ʃən/ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > hatred > loathing or detestation > loathe [verb (transitive)]
shun1023
loathea1200
uga1340
wlatea1340
horrec1430
irka1500
loathly?1507
to hate like poison1530
detesta1535
detestate1548
execrate1553
hugge1570
to hold in detestation1576
distaste1599
nauseate1627
detaste1637
fastidiatea1650
absonate1775
skeeve1991
1023 in Thorpe Dipl. Angl. Sax. (1865) 318 Of eallan ðan mannan ðe ðær gehænde beoð mid ane mode wurð he gescunned.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 2549 Drihhtin shuneþþ alle þa Þatt unnclænnesse follȝhenn.
a1200 Vices & Virtues 7 Þat ȝie hatien and scunien, ouer alle þing, ðes awerȝhede senne.
a1250 Owl & Nightingale 229 For vych þing þat schonyeþ riht, hit luuyeþ þuster & hateþ lyht.
a1250 Owl & Nightingale 792 Vor myne crafte men me luuyeþ Vor þine strengþe men þe schunyeþ.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 7419–21 Mi uader..scunede [c1300 Otho sonede] þene Cristindom. & þa hæðene laȝen luuede..þa we sculleð sceonien [c1300 Otho hatie].
a. To seek safety by concealment or flight from (an enemy, his pursuit, etc.). Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away from [verb (transitive)] > run away from
of-runOE
to show (a person) a (clean or fair) pair of heels (also one's heels)1370
to show (a person) the (or one's) backc1450
overrun1583
run1606
shuna1616
bail1775
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > hiding, concealing from view > a secret place, hiding place > put in secret place [verb (transitive)] > seek safety
shuna1616
a950 Prose Life Guthlac (1848) xix. 159/7 And hine Ceolred se kyning hider and þider wide aflymde, an he his ehtnysse and his hatunge fleah and scunode.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) i. vii. 44 The Mouse ne're shunn'd the Cat, as they did budge From Rascals worse then they. View more context for this quotation
1638 W. Lisle tr. Heliodorus Hist. ii. 36 A liuing Greeke from dead Ægyptian ran, And long time that, which could not hurt him, shan.
b. To evade, elude (a blow, missile). Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > escape > escape from [verb (transitive)] > contrive to escape or evade > a blow, missile, or pursuit
waive1303
voida1500
devoid1509
avoid1530
shuna1586
shift1595
dodge1713
jinka1774
jouk1812
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) iii. xviii. sig. Ss5v But Amphialus seeing the blow comming, shunned it with nimble turning his horse aside.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene ii. v. sig. Q4v [He] lightly shunned it [sc. the stroke].
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ii. 810 I forewarn thee, shun His deadly arrow. View more context for this quotation
3. To avoid (in modern prose use always to avoid persistently or habitually) from repugnance, fear, or caution; to keep away from (a person or his society, a place, etc.); to avoid encountering or exposing oneself to (dangers, conditions), using or having to do with (a thing); to eschew, abstain carefully from (an action, an indulgence, etc.).absolute.1819 P. B. Shelley Lines Euganean Hills in Rosalind & Helen 70 The dreamer..Longing with divided will, But no power to seek or shun.absolute.1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. v. 169 Amonge monkes I miȝt be ac many tyme I shonye.
a. with object a person, his company, etc.
ΚΠ
c1175 Lamb. Hom. 79 Al se hwat se he forgulte wes al [animals] hit him ulel [? read uleh] and scunede.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 1864 Ðat folkes-kin god bad him sunen.
1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. xi. 427 Euery man hym shonyeth.
1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. xiv. 245 Ech man shoneþ hus companye.
a1400 K. Alis. (Laud) 6157 Aqueyntaunce of alle men hij shoneþ.
a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Hist. Holy Grail lv. l. 76 The kyng was A lepre..and so Orible..that Eche Man schoned his Compenye.
1600 W. Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream ii. i. 142 If you will patiently daunce in our Round,..goe with vs: If not, shunne me, and I will spare your haunts. View more context for this quotation
1609 S. Rowlands Famous Hist. Guy Earle of Warwick 13 Society he shuns, and keeps alone.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost iv. 319 So passd they naked on, nor shund the sight Of God or Angel. View more context for this quotation
1785 W. Cowper Task vi. 307 The tim'rous hare..Scarce shuns me.
1785 W. Cowper Task iii. 88 Then he that sharp'd..Was mark'd and shunn'd as odious.
1865 C. Dickens Our Mutual Friend II. iii. viii. 71 So..shunning human approach, this troublesome old woman hid herself.
1880 W. H. Dixon Royal Windsor (ed. 3) III. xxiv. 238 The nobler class of Catholics shunned him.
b. with object a thing, a place, external conditions or circumstances, dangers, an enemy, etc.
ΚΠ
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 9395 Ȝiff þatt tin eȝhe iss all unn hal..Itt shuneþþ..Þe sunness brihhte leome.
c1230 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Corpus Cambr.) (1962) 47 For ȝef ha hit [hare fulðe] stunken ham walde..speowen hit ut þer & schunien hit þrefter.
a1250 Owl & Night. (Jesus Oxf.) 590 Þar to þu draust..& oþer clene stude þu schunest.
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Lev. xi. 11 Ȝe shulen not eete the flesh of hem, and the faln to deeth ȝe shulen shonne [a1425 L.V. eschewe].
c1420 Chron. Vilod. 1548 Bot euery mon may well knowe & wyte What he was, by-cause þat he shynte & dred þe cresse.
1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry i. f. 18 Yf..you finde it sweete, it is a signe of riche grounde,..yf it be saltishe, it is to be shunned.
1611 M. Smith in Bible (King James) Transl. Pref. ⁋9 Neither is it the true man that shunneth the light, but the malefactour.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) i. iii. 78 Thus haue I shund the fire, for feare of burning. View more context for this quotation
1697 J. Dryden Ded. Æneis in tr. Virgil Wks. sig. e1 I have shun'd the Cæsura as much as possibly I cou'd. For wherever that is us'd, it gives a roughness to the Verse.
1717 M. Prior Alma i. 482 He hates the fight, and shuns the foe.
a1732 F. Atterbury Serm. Several Occas. (1734) I. 93 It is not supposed, that we should have Power always to Resist, unless we before-hand do what is in our Power to Shun Temptation.
1781 W. Cowper Charity 239 Thy lips have..Taught me what path to shun and what pursue.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. v. 616 They rode on all day, shunning towns and villages.
1853 Ld. Tennyson Princess (ed. 5) Prol. 3 O noble heart who,..Nor bent, nor broke, nor shunn'd a soldier's death.
1865 D. Livingstone & C. Livingstone Narr. Exped. Zambesi x. 204 A strange superstition makes them shun this sacred place.
c. with object a mode of action, expression, or behaviour, an occupation, employment, subject of conversation, a mental condition or the like (often expressed by infinitive or gerund).
ΚΠ
c1175 Lamb. Hom. 111 Þet clene wif scunað ȝitsunge.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 4502 Itt niss nohht lihht To betenn hefiȝ sinne. & forrþi birrþ þe shunenn aȝȝ To fallenn ohht tær inne.
c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 13 Þe man þe hit meðeð riht þe suneð aleð gestninge and idel wil.
1340–70 Alex. & Dind. 449 Wiþ us schineþ euery schalk in schippus for to saile.
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1871) III. 459 We schoneþ and forsakeþ foule slewþe and leccherie.
a1400 New Test. (Paues) Titus iii. 9 Bote schenye þou questyones of foly.
c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 227 The vce of thilk thing is to be shoned, eschewid, and avoidid.
1544 P. Betham tr. J. di Porcia Preceptes Warre i. cxl. sig. G vijv Commaunde your souldyours, that they shunne to spoyle and robbe temples.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. x. sig. K5v Thenceforth the suitt of earthly conquest shonne.
1617 F. Moryson Itinerary i. 16 I ever shunned to goe twice one way.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Pastorals ix, in tr. Virgil Wks. 42 Had not Phœbus warn'd me..To shun debate, Menalcas had been slain.
1742 G. Berkeley Let. in Wks. (1871) IV. 282 I would say, shun late hours.
1845 M. Pattison in Christian Remembrancer Jan. 79 The thorny subject which they were delicately shunning in their conversation.
1847 Ld. Tennyson Princess iii. 57 We touch on our dead self, nor shun to do it.
1868 J. T. Nettleship Ess. Browning's Poetry i. 40 The majority of those who are growing old..shun looking back at all.
d. transferred and figurative. Said poetically of things.
ΚΠ
c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness l. 1101 So clene was his hondelyng vche ordure hit schonied.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) iv. i. 116 Scarcity and want shall shun you. View more context for this quotation
1701 J. Addison Let. from Italy 56 See how the golden groves around me smile, That shun the coast of Britain's stormy Isle.
1813 P. B. Shelley Queen Mab iv. 50 The meteor-happiness, that shuns his grasp.
4. † b. To prevent the occurrence of (an action, event), to guard against (some inconvenience). Obsolete.
a. To escape (a threatened evil, an unwelcome task). Now rare or Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > escape > escape from [verb (transitive)] > contrive to escape or evade
fleec1175
shunc1275
forgoc1305
passc1330
escapea1340
beglidea1350
voidc1380
shuntc1400
missa1522
evade1535
delude1536
to dally out1548
illude1553
prevent1598
outruna1616
to fail of1624
elude1634
subterfugea1643
shoot1685
shift1724
to get out of ——a1817
win by…1816
c1275 Moral Ode 159 in Old Eng. Misc. 63 Eure he wolde..in godnesse wuyne Wiþ þat he myhte helle fur euer fleon and schonye.
1413–46 T. Hoccleve Min. Poems i. 193 How may we two, the deeth eschue or shone?
1614 A. Gorges tr. Lucan Pharsalia vii. 295 That thus repulst thou shunst the griefe To see the slaughtred heapes that lye?
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 3 (1623) ii. iii. 13 They follow vs with Wings, And weake we are, and cannot shun pursuite. View more context for this quotation
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost x. 1062 [He will] teach us further by what means to shun Th' inclement Seasons, Rain, Ice, Hail and Snow. View more context for this quotation
1784 S. Johnson in Boswell Life Johnson (1904) II. 537 If a man were to go by chance at the same time with Burke under a shed, to shun a shower.
1870 W. C. Bryant tr. Homer Iliad I. vi. 207 No man of woman born Coward or brave, can shun his destiny.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > hindrance > hindering completely or preventing > hinder completely or prevent [verb (transitive)] > obviate > prevent the occurrence of or avert
werec925
withsitc1300
shun1338
to turn awaya1382
forfend1382
declinec1430
stopa1538
divert1548
refract1563
withturn1563
antevert1583
avert1586
pervert1594
deprive1627
averruncate1663
stave1664
to stop off1891
1338 R. Mannyng Chron. (1725) 111 Bot Henry Dauid sonne,..Contek for to schonne, to Steuen mad feaute.
1613 E. Cary Trag. Mariam i. i. sig. A3 For hee by barring me from libertie, To shunne my ranging, taught me first to range.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 103 To shun this Ill, the cunning Leach ordains..To feed the Females, e're the Sun arise. View more context for this quotation
1796 T. Jefferson Writings (1859) IV. 154 I devoutly wish you may be able to shun for us this war.
1798 R. Bloomfield Spring in Farmer's Boy 159 Prowling Reynard..To shun whose thefts was Giles's evening care.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > physical symptoms of fear > exhibit physical symptoms [verb (intransitive)] > cower or flinch
wondec897
shuna1000
blencha1250
cowerc1300
scunnerc1425
cringea1525
to play couch-quaila1529
quail1544
winch1605
dwindle1612
blank1642
shy1650
scringec1700
funk?1746
flinch1883
curl1913
a1000 Durham Ritual 32/5 Giscynia, metuere.
a1325 Maudelein 24 in Horstm. Altengl. Leg. (1878) 163 For euer he schoneþ þat haþ misgilt.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 15173 Þe fleche was dutand for to dei,..It was ful sconand for þe sare.
c1440 York Myst. x. 244 It is goddis will, it sall be myne, Agaynste his saande sall I neuer schone.
c1480 (a1400) St. James Great 164 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 101 Þe bukis all he brocht..and prayt him to bryne þam sone. ‘na,’ said he, ‘for þat I schone þe rek of þame suld noyus be.’
a. To shrink back physically; to move or go aside (so as to escape or evade some person or thing); to fly (from an enemy, etc.); also with aside, away. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > backward movement > move backwards [verb (intransitive)] > retire, withdraw, or retreat > out of the way > to escape or evade something
shunta1250
shunc1330
c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. Wace (Rolls) 14128 Þey couþe nought fighte, ne to-gydere wone, Ne at tyme stande ne schone.
c1390 (?c1350) Joseph of Arimathie (1871) l. 496 Betere hit were douhtilyche to diȝen on or oune, þen wiþ schendschupe to schone and vs a-bak drawe.
?a1400 Morte Arth. 314 Ne no more schoune fore þe swape of theire scharpe suerddes.
14.. Sir Beues (O) 3591 Fro his stroke away they dyd shone.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 704/1 And I had nat shonned asyde, he had hyt me in the eye.
1574 A. Gilby tr. Test. Twelue Patriarches sig. Kviiv If ye be good doers, both uncleane spirites shal flee from you, and shrewd beastes shall shun for feare of you.
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) iii. vii. sig. Mm5 He shunned as much as he could, keeping onely his place for feare of punishment.
c1650 (c1515) Flodden Field (Percy) l. 168 in J. W. Hales & F. J. Furnivall Bp. Percy's Folio MS (1867) I. 325 Doubtlesse while your liues wold last you wold never shun [a1600 Harl. 367 schunte] beside the plaine.
b. To keep away, refrain from. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > abstain or refrain from (action) [verb (transitive)] > avoid or shun
overboweOE
bibughOE
fleea1000
forbowa1000
ashun1000
befleec1000
beflyc1175
bischunc1200
withbuwe?c1225
waive1303
eschew1340
refuse1357
astartc1374
sparec1380
shuna1382
void1390
declinea1400
forbeara1400
shurna1400
avoidc1450
umbeschewc1485
shewe1502
evite1503
devoid1509
shrink1513
schew?a1534
devite1549
fly1552
abstract1560
evitate1588
estrange1613
cut1791
shy1802
skulk1835
side-slip1930
to walk away from1936
punt1969
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Ecclus. iv. 23 Sone, waite tyme, and shone awei fro euel [L. devita a malo].
1578 W. Hunnis in R. Edwards Paradyse Daynty Deuises (rev. ed.) sig. Giii To shonn, from bralls, debate and strife.
7. transitive. To screen, hide. Now only dialect.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > hiding, concealing from view > hide, conceal [verb (transitive)]
heeleOE
forhelec888
i-hedec888
dernc893
hidec897
wryOE
behelec1000
behidec1000
bewryc1000
forhidec1000
overheleOE
hilla1250
fealc1325
cover1340
forcover1382
blinda1400
hulsterc1400
overclosec1400
concealc1425
shroud1426
blend1430
close1430
shadow1436
obumber?1440
mufflea1450
alaynec1450
mew?c1450
purloin1461
to keep close?1471
oversilec1478
bewrap1481
supprime1490
occulta1500
silec1500
smoor1513
shadec1530
skleir1532
oppressa1538
hudder-mudder1544
pretex1548
lap?c1550
absconce1570
to steek away1575
couch1577
recondite1578
huddle1581
mew1581
enshrine1582
enshroud1582
mask1582
veil1582
abscondc1586
smotherc1592
blot1593
sheathe1594
immask1595
secret1595
bemist1598
palliate1598
hoodwinka1600
overmaska1600
hugger1600
obscure1600
upwrap1600
undisclose1601
disguise1605
screen1611
underfold1612
huke1613
eclipsea1616
encavea1616
ensconcea1616
obscurify1622
cloud1623
inmewa1625
beclouda1631
pretext1634
covert1647
sconce1652
tapisa1660
shun1661
sneak1701
overlay1719
secrete1741
blank1764
submerge1796
slur1813
wrap1817
buttress1820
stifle1820
disidentify1845
to stick away1900
1661 C. Mageoghegan tr. Ann. Clonmacnois (BL MS Add. 4817) f. 1v Fintan..shunned himselfe from ye violence thereof [i.e. of the flood] in a Caue.
1661 C. Mageoghegan tr. Ann. Clonmacnois (BL MS Add. 4817) f. 2 All the foule..gathered themselues there to shunne themselues.
1890 J. D. Robertson Gloss. Words County of Gloucester Shun, to screen, e.g., a shrub planted to hide back premises.
8. dialect. To shove, push. [Perhaps another word.] Cf. shunt v. 3.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impelling or driving > pushing and pulling > push and pull [verb (transitive)] > push
thrustc1175
pilta1200
pingc1300
pote1340
pusha1350
beara1398
pokea1425
possa1425
pressc1425
shun1674
crowd1830
1674 J. Ray S. & E. Countrey Words in Coll. Eng. Words 76 To Shun: to shove. Suss.
1851 Notes & Queries 1st Ser. 3 205/1 In an assault case at Reigate, I heard the complainant say of a man who had hustled him, ‘He kept shunning me along: sometimes he shunt me on the road’.
1875 W. D. Parish Dict. Sussex Dial. at Shun He shunned me off the pavement.
1876 G. L. Gower Surrey Provincialisms (at cited word) They havn't made the hole large enough to get a stick in to shun the dung back.
Compounds
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > cowardice or pusillanimity > [noun] > skulking > skulker > one who avoids military service
askefisea1425
shun-field1675
bomb-proof1869
embusqué1916
1675 T. Hobbes tr. Homer Odysses xiv. 199 My vertue won her, I no shun-field [ϕυγοπτόλεμο] was.
shun-pike n. U.S. (see quot. 1911).
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > means of travel > route or way > way, path, or track > road > [noun] > main or major road > turnpike or toll-road > road constructed to evade
shun-pike1853
1853 Albany Evening Atlas 9 Apr. 4 The Oswego Canal..has been called a ‘shun pike’. Produce sent by Lake Ontario and the Oswego Canal, avoids tolls on the canals west of Syracuse.
1862 J. R. Lowell Biglow Papers 2nd Ser. i. ii. 35 Ef your soul Don't sneak thru shun-pikes so 's to save the toll.
1911 Encycl. Brit. XXVI. 1053/1 A shunpike, or road constructed to facilitate evasion of tolls on a turnpike road, may be closed by injunction.
shunpike v. (intransitive) to drive along minor roads, avoiding the toll on turnpikes, or for pleasure.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > transport > transport or conveyance in a vehicle > driving or operating a vehicle > drive a vehicle [verb (intransitive)] > on minor roads
shunpike1964
1964 Collier's Encycl. Yearbk. 70 Besides making long trips at high speed, motorists could take part in sports car rallies, chug about in antiques, ‘shunpike’ on quiet back roads.
shunpiker n.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > transport > transport or conveyance in a vehicle > driving or operating a vehicle > driver or operator of vehicle > [noun] > on roads > on minor roads
shunpiker1967
1967 Sat. Rev. (U.S.) 22 Apr. 55 (advt.) Smooth roads, beautiful scenery—what more could a shunpiker want?
shun-piking n.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > transport > transport or conveyance in a vehicle > driving or operating a vehicle > [noun] > on road > on specific type of road
shun-piking1961
1961 M. Beadle These Ruins are Inhabited (1963) iv. 41 George's reaction was to avoid all main roads—which is a good idea anyway if you're not in a hurry, the virtues of shun-piking being self-evident.
1972 Alberta Motorist (Edmonton) Apr. 6/3 There are, of course, many times when shunpiking is preferable for the traveller.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > gratitude > ingratitude > [noun] > ungrateful person
ungratec1540
shun-thank1593
ingrate1672
1593 Passionate Morrice in Tell-Trothes New-yeares Gift (1876) 81 But were not they shonne-thanks they would speake better of Honesties sonne.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.11823
n.21888
v.a950