a. Now arch. [OE. unmihtiʓ (UN-1 7.), = OFris. un-, onmachtich, WFris. on-, ûnmachtig, MDu. onmachtich (Du. -ig), MLG. unmechtich, OHG. unmahtîg, -îk (MHG. unmehtec, -ic, G. unmächtich), Goth. unmahteig-s: cf. also ON. úmáttig-r, MDa. umægtug, early mod. Da. umægtig.] Devoid of might or strength; weak, feeble, powerless, impotent.
c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth, xxix. § 1. Ælc ʓesceadwis man mæʓ witan þæt hi bioð full earme & ful unmihtiʓe.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 35. He bicom unmihti & wreche & unhol.
a. 1310. in Wright, Lyric P., iv. 22. Middel-erd for mon wes mad, un-mihti aren is meste mede.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Boeth., IV. pr. ii. (1868), 114. Nedes goode folk moten ben myȝty, and shrewes feble and vnmyȝty.
1402. J. Upland (Skeat), § 63. He coude not make his rule so good as an other did his, (… and so were he unmighty and not god).
c. 1450. trans. De Imitatione, II. viii. 49. Whan þe grace of god … goþ away, þan shal he be poure & unmiȝty.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., C ij b. He was … so feble and so unmyghty that hys dysciples susteyned … hym in goyng to chirche.
1545. Raynald, Byrth Mankynde, 79. Yf the matryce be vnmighty and weakened.
1611. Florio, Impoderoso, vnmightie, vnpowerfull.
1876. Morris, Sigurd, II. 97. Myself a little fragment amidst it all I saw,… unmighty as the tempest-driven straw.
absol. c. 1400. Apol. Loll., 30. It is necesari to hem to visit þe sek, to pray for þe vnmiȝti.
1549. Allen, Jude’s Par. Rev., 33. Both masters and seruauntes,… hyghe and lowe, myghtie and vnmyghtie.
1587. Golding, De Mornay, Ep. Ded. The welbeloued Sonne of God … must stande for all:… the mightie for the vnmightie.
b. Const. to, usually with inf.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Saints’ Lives, x. 257. Hwi come þu mid · wæpnum … to anum mædene unmihtiʓum to wiʓe.
a. 1240. Sawles Warde, in O. E. Hom., I. 257. Nu is riht þenne þat we demen us seolf eauer unmihtie to werien ant to witen us … wið ute godes helpe.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 6706. Qua smites vte his thains eie, And mas him vn-mighti for-to seie.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter, cvi. 12. Þai ware vnmyghty, to stande agayn vicys.
1390. Gower, Conf., II. 177. Thei withoute lyves chiere Unmyhti ben to se or hiere.
1422. Yong, trans. Secreta Secret., 235. Who-so hath the paas litill and swyfte, he is suspeccious, of euyl will, on-myghty to werkys.
