unconninge

Middle English

Etymology 1

Adjective

unconninge

1. not knowing; ignorant

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Chaucer to this entry?)

Etymology 2

Noun

unconninge (uncountable)

1. ignorance
   • late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Tale of Melibee, The Canterbury Tales, section 78, line 3064-3070:

     And whan the day cam that hise adversaries sholde apperen in his presence, / he spak unto hem ful goodly, and seyde in this wyse: / ‘al-be-it so that of your pryde and presumpcioun and folie, and of your necligence and unconninge, / ye have misborn yow and trespassed un-to me; / yet, for as much as I see and biholde your grete humilitee, / and that ye been sory and repentant of your giltes, / it constreyneth me to doon yow grace and mercy.’

     And when the day came that his adversaries should appear in his presence, / he spoke unto them very goodly, and said in this manner: / ‘Although it be so that of your pride and high presumption and folly, and of your negligence and ignorance, / you have misbehaved yourself and trespassed unto me; / yet forasmuch as I see and behold your great humility, / and that you are sorry and repentant of your guilts, / it constrains me to do you grace and mercy.’

References

• “unconning”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.