v. Obs. Pa. t. 1–4 (5) -feng (4 -fenge), 3–4 -ueng, 4 -uinge, 5 -fynge; 4 -fang, -vong, 4–5 -fong(e. Pa. pple. 1–2 -fangen, 4–5 -fongen (4 -un, -yng), 3–6 -fonge, 4 -uonge, -venge. [OE. underfón, = MDu. ondervaen, OHG. untarfâhan, MHG. undervâhen. See UNDER-1 8 a and FANG v.1]
1. trans. To receive (a thing); to have (something) given to one; to come to have or possess.
c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., xiv. § 3. Eala þæt hit is god … þæt mon micelne welan hæbbe, nu se næfre ne wyrð orsorʓ þe hine underfehð.
962–3. Laws Edgar, Suppl. 1. Þa Godes þeowas, þe þa sceattas underfoð þe we Gode syllað.
c. 1040. Bidding Prayer, in Eng. Hist. Rev., Jan. (1912), 10. For ealle þa saula þe fulluht under-fengan.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 97. Þis dai is bicumelich time husel to underfon.
c. 1275. Sinners Beware, 317, in O. E. Misc., 82. To day ye schuleþ y-frede And vnder-fo luþre mede.
1340. Ayenb., 101. Alle oure broþren … þet byeþ children of holy cherche, be þe byleaue þet hi onderuinge ine cristnynge.
c. 1400. Brut, 13. And Guentolen … vndirfonge feautes & homages of all þe men of þe land.
a. 1513. Fabyan, Chron., 4. Of the peas that hath been vnderfonge, Both by great othes, and eke by maryage.
b. To receive willingly; to accept.
c. 1000. Ags. Psalter (Spelman), vi. 9. Drihten ʓebed min he underfeng.
c. 1175. Pater Noster, in Lamb. Hom., 65. God wule hit underfon, Wenne ic forȝeue min hating.
c. 1205. Lay., 10141. For þe king wolde wel don, & Cristes laȝen vnderfon.
a. 1225. Leg Kath., 982. Þu … underfest þe an half & dustest adun þe oðere.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 2700. His fader [was] nineti and nine þat day Þai vnder-fang þis neu lai.
c. To admit into a receptacle; to conceive.
a. 1100. in Napier, O. E. Glosses, I. 3819 [Cadaver] receptet,… underfo.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 77. Þu scald underfon an child in þi wombe.
c. 1275. XI Pains of Hell, 236, in O. E. Misc., 153. Vurþer, þer his on oþer put…. Seoue duren þer beoþ on, Þe saulen for to under-fon.
1379. Glouc. Cath. MS. 19, No. 1, Lib. I. iii. fol. 2. Whenne thy duodene hath vnderfongyng & receyved the fode out froo the mawe gutte.
d. To have understanding of or skill in.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 1519. Cubal [v.r. Tobal] þer broþer first vnderfang Music, þat es þe sune o sang.
2. To take in hand; to undertake.
c. 893. K. Ælfred, Oros., II. ii. 66. Romulus æfter þiosan underfeng Cirinensa ʓewinn. Ibid. (c. 897), Gregory’s Past. C., xxi. 161. Ðonne hie ðara eorðlicra monna heortan underfoð to læronne.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Numb. xi. 17. Hiʓ underfoð þis folc mid þe, þæt þu ne si ana ʓehefeʓod.
1399. Gower, Praise of Peace, 264. The heved above hem hath noght undirfongen To sette pes, bot every man sleeth other.
3. To receive (a person); to admit to one’s presence, society, or friendship; to accept.
924–5. Laws Edward, 10. Ne underfo nan man oðres mannes man butan þæs leafe þe he ær fyliʓde.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Matt. X. 40. Se þe eow underfehð, he underfehð me.
c. 1200. Ormin, 12936. Þatt Godd iss rædiȝ tunnderrfon Þatt follc þatt rihht himm follȝheþþ.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 1679. And a maiden was hire bi-tagt, Zelfa bi name … Iacob gan hire under-fon.
13[?]. K. Alis., 7046 (Laud MS.). Þise vnderfongen þe Emperoure, And duden to hym al honoure.
1382. Wyclif, Rom. 1st Prol. The Lord … not onli ȝee wolden not resceyuen, but also ȝee slowen; whom we vnderfongen.
b. To receive in a specified manner.
a. 1122. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1022. Æðelnoð biscop for to Rome & wæs under-fangen þær fram Benedicte … myd mycclum wurðscipe.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 141. Ure drihten underfeng eadmodliche ane sinfulle wimman and forgiaf hire hire sinnen.
c. 1230. Hali Meid., 41. He vnderfeð bliðeliche, & bicluppeð swoteluche, þe alre laðlukest.
c. 1290. Beket, 1367, in S. Eng. Leg., I. 145. Þo seint thomas to Rome cam, faire he was onder-fonge.
a. 1330. Roland & V., 87. Þemperour was glad y-wis, & vnderfenge wiþ miche blis Sir charls þe king.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), I. 239. At his comynge he schulde wiþ þre manere worschippe be vnderfonge.
c. 1400. Brut, 9. And when Brut wyste whens þei were, he þo vndirfong hem with mychel ioy in-to his Shepys.
c. 1425. Eng. Conq. Ireland, 8. Þe bisshop well wyrshipfully vndrefynge [v.r. vndyrfonge] Macmorgh.
c. spec. To receive at baptism.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. I. 74. Holi church Icham…. Ich þe vndurfong furst and þi feiþ þe tauȝte. Ibid. (1377), B. XI. 113. On holicherche I þouȝte, Þat vnderfonge me atte fonte.
4. To receive by way of hurt or harm; to undergo, suffer.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Numb. xiv. 34. On feowertiʓum ʓearum ʓe underfoð eowere unrihtwisnissa, þæt ʓe witon mine wrace.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 119. Vre drihtnes … þrowunge þe he for moncunne underfeng.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 2234. Streche forð þine swire scharp sweord to underfonne.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 480. Lamech droȝe is arwe ner, And letet fleȝen of ðe streng, Caim unwarde it under-feng.
a. 1325. MS. Rawl. B. 520, fol. 53. Þat he þat hat vnderfonge þe harmes habbe bref of wast.
5. To reprove, rebuke. rare–1.
c. 1400. Brut, 138. Þe Erchebisshope … vnderfonge [v.r. vndirtoke] him of his Wickednesse.
