† uncunningn.
Obsolete.
Lack of knowledge; ignorance. Common in 14–15th centuries.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > want of knowledge, ignorance > [noun]
unwisdomc825
nutelnessa1200
ignorance?c1225
uncunningc1290
uncunnessa1300
unwittingnessa1300
unknowledging1357
lewdness1362
unsciencec1374
mislearninga1382
simplenessa1382
unknowinga1382
ignorancec1384
unwittingc1384
simplessec1391
rudenessc1400
unweeting14..
lewdhead1401
misknowing?a1425
simplicityc1450
unknowledge1470
discognisancec1475
unknowingness1486
non-knowledge1503
ignorancy1526
simplehead1543
unlearnedness1555
ignoration1563
rusticity1571
ignorantness1574
ignoring1578
inscience1578
ignoramus1583
ingramness1589
lack-learning1590
idiotism1598
ignoramus1598
idiocy1605
nesciencea1625
nescio1637
inerudition1685
unawareness1847
agnosia1879
moronism1922
cluelessness1960
c1290 Beket 1028 in S. Eng. Leg. I. 136 For euere ich dradde for oncunninge mi soule forto spille.
1338 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 256 I wite þis no man, Bot myn vnconyng, þis folie my self bigan.
c1380 J. Wyclif Sel. Wks. II. 394 Þerfore trewe men in Crist shulden be wel paied of þis uncunnyng.
c1412 T. Hoccleve De Regimine Principum 325 Myn vnkonyng of þat me schal excuse, Of whiche matere knowleche haue I non.
c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 156 At whiche men mowe lawȝe and take bourde for her symplenes or her vnkunnyng as of folis.
a1470 Dives & Pauper (1496) i. lvii. 99/1 They wolde excuse them by unconnynge yf they dyde amys.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
uncunningadj.
Now archaic.
1.
a. Of persons: Ignorant, unlearned, unskilful.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > want of knowledge, ignorance > [adjective]
unlearedeOE
untowenc1000
unwittyc1000
skillessc1175
uncouthc1220
lewda1225
lorelessa1300
simplea1325
layc1330
uncunning1340
untaughtc1340
unknowingc1350
rudea1382
roida1400
unquainta1400
ignorant?c1400
unlearnedc1400
misknowing?a1425
simple-hearted?c1425
unknownc1475
unkenningc1480
unweeting1483
nescienta1500
craftlessc1530
misliterate1532
sillya1547
ingram1553
gross1561
inscient1578
borowe1579
plain-headeda1586
empirical1588
rudeful1589
lack-learning1590
learnless?1593
wotless?1594
ingrant1597
untutored1597
small-knowing1598
uninstructed1598
unlearnt1609
unread1609
unware?1611
nescious1623
inscious1633
inscientifical1660
uninformed1702
unaware1704
unable1721
unsuspecting1776
inerudite1801
ill-informed1824
incognoscent1827
unminded1831
unknowledgeable1837
knowledgelessc1843
parviscient1862
clueless1943
α.
β. c1374 G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (1868) i. pr. i. 7 Any vnkonnyng and vnprofitable man.1387–8 Petition London Mercers in R. W. Chambers & M. Daunt Bk. London Eng. (1931) 36 Owre lyge lordes comaundement to symple & vnkonnyng men.c1420 Chron. Vilod. 4 Þys werke, þat y, so vnconnynge, Presumpswysly haue vndere~take.c1450 Mirk's Festial 213 Lest any vnconyng man take on for anoþir, I will tell you þes woymen.1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende 287/1 The bisshop repreuyd hym sore as unconnyng and an ydeote.1549 T. Chaloner tr. Erasmus Praise of Folie sig. Fiv The rasher, the uncunnynger, and lesse circumspect,..the more yet is he regarded.1583 Sir T. Smith's De Republica Anglorum iii. viii. 112 Some vncunning Law[y]ers that would make a newe barbarous latine worde to betoken lande giuen in fidem.1601 A. Munday & H. Chettle Death Earle of Huntington sig. M2 Thus is Matildaes story showne in act, And rough heawen out by an vncunning hand.1791 J. Wolcot Ode to my Ass ix But I'm a modest, not unconnyinge elf.1792 J. Wolcot Odes to Kien Long v. 33 This, to my simple and unconnying mind, Seems economical and very kind!] 1828 K. H. Digby Broad Stone of Honour: Tancredus xv. 280 A theme which requires a far less earthly and uncunning tongue than mine.1340 Ayenbite (1866) 59 Hi..ziggeþ þet hi byeþ..zuo zenuol and zuo onconnynde.
c1340 R. Rolle Pricke of Conscience 152 Bot som men has wytte to understand, And yhit þai er ful unkunand.
c1400 Rowland & O. 293 Unconnande Sarazene,..in þis place þi wykkednes es ȝare.
c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Law of Armys (2005) 208 Quhasa did the contrair, he war vngentill vncurtas and vnconnand.
b. absol. (chiefly as plural).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > want of knowledge, ignorance > [noun] > person > collectively
learned and lewedc1175
uncunning1338
rudea1350
unknowinga1400
unlearnedc1450
ignorant?a1513
simplec1535
ignorati1817
1338 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 244 Wardeyns gode he sette,..Justise þat þe lawe gette to vnkonand þei kende.
1477 Earl Rivers tr. Dictes or Sayengis Philosophhres (Caxton) (1877) lf. 36v A wyseman ought not to exalte him self byfore the vnconning [printed vucoñing].
1495 Festivall 186 b The fyrst is teche the vnconnynge that he sauour rightfully.
1511–12 Act 3 Hen. VIII c. xi Many of the Kynges liege people..cannot descerne the uncunnyng from the cunnyng.
c. Const. in, of, or with infinitive.
ΚΠ
a1340 R. Rolle Psalter cxviii. 92 He is vnkunand in gastly batayle.
1357 Lay Folks Catech. (Lamb. MS.) 1146 To teche men þat be vncunnynge of goddys lawe.
1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. xii. 185 Person or parisch prest,..Vnconnynge to lere lewed men.
c1440 Gesta Romanorum (Harl.) xliii. 170 They coude fynde noon, but that they wer corrupte,..or vncunnynge in the mystery.
a1450 Knt. de la Tour (1868) 159 That is gret pite, as in youthe to be vncunnynge and vnknowynge of hym selff.
1888 C. M. Doughty Trav. Arabia Deserta I. 278 But ye be also uncunning in many things, which the Aarab ken.]
2. Of actions, etc.: Arising from, indicative of, ignorance or unskilfulness.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > want of knowledge, ignorance > [adjective] > arising from
uncunning1387
ignoranta1425
the world > action or operation > ability > inability > unskilfulness > [adjective] > displaying lack of skill
uncunning1387
unskilfula1586
unskilled1833
1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Rolls) VII. 245 William put þat knyȝt out of þat chivalrie, for he hadde i-doo an unkonnynge dede.
c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 51 The wanton and vnkunnyng bering of hem whiche wolen not allowe eny gouernaunce to be the lawe..of God.
?1534 L. Cox tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Epist. Paule vnto Titus Titus iii. f. xxxiv Folyshe and vnconnyng questions, and entangled genealogies.
a1652 R. Brome City Wit i. i. sig. A7, in Five New Playes (1653) If my uncunning Disposition be my only vice.
Derivatives
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > want of knowledge, ignorance > unfamiliarity with, inexperience > [noun]
unwitc1175
uncunningnessa1325
uncunninghead1340
uncunningshipa1400
rawness1548
unskill1565
disacquaintance1589
inexperience1595
inacquaintance1597
unacquaintance1598
unaccustomedness1611
unacquaintednessa1617
illiteracy1660
greenness1740
griffinishness1850
unfamiliarity1880
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 33 Efterward comþ slacnesse;..hit comþ of onconnyndehede, and of fole hete.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 40 Be hare kueadnesse, oþer uor onconynghede.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > want of knowledge, ignorance > unfamiliarity with, inexperience > [noun]
unwitc1175
uncunningnessa1325
uncunninghead1340
uncunningshipa1400
rawness1548
unskill1565
disacquaintance1589
inexperience1595
inacquaintance1597
unacquaintance1598
unaccustomedness1611
unacquaintednessa1617
illiteracy1660
greenness1740
griffinishness1850
unfamiliarity1880
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 26306 I wat not quar-on it es lang, Queþer on mi plight or on þin,..Or min vnconanscipe [Fairf. 14 unkunnandeshepe] mai fall.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.c1290
adj.1338