Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Undern
Un′dern
,Noun.
[AS.
undern
; akin to OS. undorn
, OHG. untarn
, untorn
, Icel. undorn
mid afternoon, mid forenoon, Goth. undaúrnimats
the midday meal. Cf. Undermeal
, Undertime
.] The time between; the time between sunrise and noon; specifically, the third hour of the day, or nine o’clock in the morning, according to ancient reckoning; hence, mealtime, because formerly the principal meal was eaten at that hour; also, later, the afternoon; the time between dinner and supper.
[Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
Betwixt
undern
and noon was the field all won. R. of Brunne.
In a bed of worts still he lay
Till it was past
Till it was past
undern
of the day. Chaucer.
Webster 1828 Edition
Undern
UN'DERN
,Noun.
Definition 2024
undern
undern
English
Alternative forms
- underne, undirn
Noun
undern (uncountable)
- (obsolete) The third ecclesiastical hour of the day, at around nine o'clock in the morning; tierce. [10th-15thc.]
- 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, chapter ij, in Le Morte Darthur, book XI:
- wete yow wel that sir launcelot was glad and soo was that lady Elayne / that she had geten sir launcelot in her armes / […] / and soo they lay to gyders vntyl vndorne on the morn / and alle the wyndowes and holes of that chamber were stopped that no man ere of day myghte be sene
- 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, chapter ij, in Le Morte Darthur, book XI:
- (obsolete) The sixth hour of the day; midday. [14th-15thc.]
- (obsolete) The late afternoon; the evening. [15th-19thc.]
Old English
Etymology
From Proto-Germanic *undurniz (“interval”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁n̥ter, *h₁enter (“between”). Cognate with Old Norse undorn.
Noun
undern m
See also
The eight stunda:
|