a. (and sb.). Obs. Forms: 1–3 unwræst (3 -wærste), -wreast, 1, 3–5 -wrest, 3–4 -wreste (3 Orm. -wresste); 2–3, 5 unwraste, 4–5, Sc. 6 -wrast. Also 3–4 on- (4 oun-), 4–5, Sc. 6 vn-. [OE. unwrǽst, unwrést (UN-1 7.).]
1. Of a poor, worthless, or vile quality or condition; sorry, miserable; of little account: a. Of persons.
c. 893. K. Ælfred, Oros., III. i. § 5. Hi Læcedemonie … to þon ʓedydon þæt hi hi selfe leton æʓþer ʓe for heane ʓe for unwræste.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 29. Vnwreste þu best ȝef þu wreche ne secst hwanne þu time siest.
c. 1205. Lay., 26450. Cuðeð eower kinge, [Bruttus beoþ bolde] ac heo beoð unwræste italde.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 1260. Hwet nu, unwreste men & wacre þen eni wake!
c. 1350. Lybeaus Disc., 2118. The menstrales … Hadde ryche yftes wythalle, And they that weryn unwrest.
b. Of things.
a. 1122. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1052. And ʓewendon heom on an to Ealdulfes næse, & wearð him þær on anon unwræste scipe.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 29. Ful mai þe þinke, þat forcuðer haueð faire weden and þu unwreste.
c. 1205. Lay., 16307. Þenne þat hæfd is unwræst þe hælp is þæ wurse.
c. 1300. Havelock, 2821. Him to binden faste Vp-on an asse swiþe un-wraste.
2. a. Of persons: Addicted to evil, wickedness, or vice; wicked.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 124. Þenc hu þe gode holi mon … blescede þe unwreste hond þet hefde ihermed him.
a. 1240. Wohunge, in O. E. Hom., I. 283. And tu … was unwreste folk of world to hoker lahter.
13[?]. K. Alis. (W.), 878. What dostow here, unwrast gome?… He! fyle ateynte horesone! To misdo was ay thy wone.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 2905. Þys schrewede Sarsyns þat wern ounwraste.
c. 1535. M. Nisbet, N. T. in Scots (S.T.S.), III. 349. He … schawis how menn augtht to behaue thaim towart sick as be vnwrast.
absol. and as sb. a. 1225. Ancr. R., 68. Me ileueð þet vuel sone, & te unwreste bliðeliche lieð on þe gode.
c. 1320. Castle of Love, 335. Heo him made a-gulte, þulke vn-wreste, And bi-swikide him.
c. 1330. Arth. & Merl., 6964 (Kölbing). It were ille, Ȝif eueriche vnwrest hadde his wille.
b. Of actions, etc.: Characterized by wickedness or evil; iniquitous.
a. 1122. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1135. ʓif þær wære hure an unwreste wrenc.
a. 1175. Cott. Hom., 235. Ac si laȝe sone adiliȝde þurh unwreaste leahtrum.
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 178. Suche wordes beoþ vnwreste.
c. 1275. Lay., 7033. For þisse onwreste [laȝe] al men him hatede.
c. 1315. Shoreham, I. 1581. Þanne aȝte … wyues nauȝt aȝens men Non on-wrestnesse werche, Ac þolye, And nauȝt onwrest op-sechen hy.
13[?]. Seuyn Sages (W.), 1917. For mine thre unwrast dede.
c. 1400. St. Alexius (Laud 622), 738. Sergeauntz … despised hym fast. Þe wasshyng of her vessel þai cast on hym euerydel, þat was swiþe vnwrast.
c. 1425. Cursor M., 9475 (Trin.). Þis foule synne was so vnwrast.
3. Untrustworthy, unreliable. Const. of. rare–1.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. XXI. 313. He were [= would be] vnwrast of hus worde, þat witnesse is of trewþe.
Hence † Unwrastness; also † Unwrastship, wickedness. Obs.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 304. Min owune unwrestschipe hit dude.
c. 1315. [see prec. 2 b].
c. 1320. Castle of Love, 1143. For vre vnwrestschupe here Þe coroune of þornes on his hed he beere.
