v. Obs. Forms: 1 -ʓytan, 3 -ȝiton; 2 -ȝeite, 3–4 -ȝete; 3rd sing. 2–3 -ȝit. Pa. t. 1 -ʓeat, -ʓet, 3 -ȝeat, -ȝæt, 3–4 -ȝat, -ȝet, 5 -yate, -gat; pl. 1 -ʓeaton, -ʓeton, 3–4 -ȝete(n. Pa. pple. 1 -ʓiten, 3–4 -ȝite, -ȝete. [OE. underʓietan: see UNDER-1 8 a and GET v.]

1

  1.  trans. To get to know, to become aware of, to ascertain, to observe (a fact).

2

c. 893.  K. Ælfred, Oros., III. vii. 112. Þa Crece þæt þa underʓeaton,… hic þa ealle wið hiene ʓewin up ahofan.

3

c. 1065.  O. E. Chron. (MS. C), an. 1066. Þa Eadwine eorl and Morkere eorl þæt underʓeaton, þa coman hi þyder.

4

a. 1250.  Owl & Night., 1055. Þe louerd þat sone vnderȝat.

5

c. 1290.  Beket, 1194, in S. Eng. Leg., I. 140. Seint thomas it vnder-ȝat and þare-with ne paid him nouȝt.

6

a. 1300.  Floriz & Bl. (Camb. MS.), 556. Ac longe ne miȝte hi hem wite Þat hi neren vnderȝete.

7

c. 1330.  Otuel, 1351. Þo garsie it vnder-ȝat, He was swiþe sori for þat.

8

  b.  With clause as object.

9

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Saints’ Lives, xxxi. 762. Þa underʓet se halʓa wer þurh haliʓne gast þæt hit se sylfa deofol wæs.

10

a. 1175.  Cott. Hom., 231. Him a þance befell to underȝeite wa … him were frend oðer fend.

11

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 197. Wanne þe neddre hit underȝit þat hie sechen after hire, hie warneð hire wið hem.

12

c. 1205.  Lay., 15028. Nu vnder-ȝat Uortimer his sune, Þet he hefde atter inomen.

13

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 2227. Þe londes abouten vs abbeþ wel under ȝite Þat þer nis no volc bileued þat lond vor to wite.

14

13[?].  Sir Beues (A.), 1514. Þat hors wel sone vnder-ȝit, Þat Beues nas nouȝt vpon is rigge.

15

  2.  To perceive, observe (a person or thing); to catch sight of.

16

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Judges xvi. 3. Hwæt, þa Samson heora syrwunga underʓeat.

17

c. 1205.  Lay., 1811. Brutus & his gode folc under-ȝeten þeos feondes.

18

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 150. Helle muchares, þet robbeð al þe gold-hordes þet heo muwen underȝiten.

19

c. 1305.  Pilate, 200, in E. E. P. (1862), 116. Whan þu vnderȝete … þe gywene falshede, Whi naddestou ispeke þer aȝe?

20

13[?].  Sir Beues (A.), 4354. Beues at þe mete sat. He be-held and vnder-ȝat Al is fon, þat were þer oute.

21

  3.  To learn or know the character of; to understand the meaning of.

22

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Matt. vii. 16. Fram hyra wæstmun ʓe hi underʓytað.

23

a. 1240.  Lofsong, in O. E. Hom., I. 215. Me ne hit underȝit nout or þen me hit leose.

24

13[?].  Seven Sag. (P.), 3151. The child was wys,… And nadde wyt of the Holy Gost, And wat thay sayden he undirgat.

25