unthank

See also: Unthank

English edit

Etymology 1 edit

From Middle English unthank, from Old English unþanc (“displeasure, anger, ill-will”), from Proto-Germanic *unþankaz, equivalent to un- +‎ thank. Cognate with West Frisian ontank, Dutch ondank, German Undank, Danish utak.

Noun edit

unthank (uncountable)

Lack or absence of thanks or thankfulness; thanklessness; unthankfulness; ill-will.^[1]
- 2000, Francis G. Snyder, The Europeanisation of Law:
  It is always by this unthank that things are given to the observer that we pretend to have access to the truth of the word.

Etymology 2 edit

From un- +‎ thank.

Verb edit

unthank (third-person singular simple present unthanks, present participle unthanking, simple past and past participle unthanked)

(transitive) To recant; unsay, as what has been said by way of acknowledgement.
(transitive) To undo or retract one's thankfulness; negate, cancel, or revoke one's thanks.

References edit

^ “unthank”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

Middle English edit

Noun edit

unthank

harm; injury; misfortune
- 1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Reues Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:
  Unthank come on his hand that bound him so.
  (please add an English translation of this quotation)

[1] “unthank”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

[1]