Obs. Also 3–4 unfer, 3 onver, -viere, vnueren. [OE. unfére (= ON. and Icel. ú-, ófœrr, Norw. ufør, MSw. and Sw. oför): see UN-1 7 and FERE a.] Infirm, weak, unfit for or incapable of exertion. Also absol.
a. 1060. O. E. Chron. (MS. C), an. 1055. Tremerig se Wylsca biscop … wæs Æþelstanes biscopes ʓespelia syððan he unfere wæs.
c. 1205. Lay., 6780. Þa iwærð þe king vn-fere [c. 1275 on-ver]. Ibid., 11079. Þa iwærð his fader vnueren [c. 1275 onviere].
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 2810. In hise bosum he dede his hond, Quit and al unfer he it fond.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 3507. His fader þat old was and vnfere. Ibid. (13[?]), 13262 (Gött). Þe vnfer fast tille him þai soght.
c. 1325. Metr. Hom. (MS. Ashm. 42), fol. 158 b. A man vnfere þat nouther might speke ne here.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 1357. Childer … of chere febill, Wyth olde ffolke vnfere. Ibid., 13618. I am febyll and vnfere, fallyn into elde.
Hence † Unfereness, infirmity. Obs.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 20744. He on hir bere laid his hand, Þarof vnfernes son he fand.
