Dictionary

und en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /ʌnd/

Etymology

From Middle English unde (“a wave”), from either the Old French unde or Latin unda (“wave”). Doublet of water, ultimately from the same Indo-European root.

Meanings

1. (obsolete, rare) A wave.
   • Lute, Unds, and Sands did long our March oppose, And asp'rous Rocks, the Bulwarks of our Foes. 1784, François Rabelais, The works of Francis Rabelais ... Now carefully revised, and compared throughout with the late new edition of M. Le du Chat, by Mr. Ozell, etc, page 309:
2. A billow- or wave-like marking.
   • A Devise may also be handsomely framed from two different Coats of Armes, as of the Husband and his Wife, of two friends, of two Kings, of two States united and confederate. Will you have an example of it, taken out of our Author Bargagli? A Husband bearing Vnde in his armes, and his Wife Roses, gave occasion to joyne them together in one Blazon, with these words, IRRIGATÆ VIVATIORES, i.e. they are more lively when they are watered. 1650, Henry Estienne, Thomas Blount, The art of making devises […] :
   • The house of Chedle yet after this diuiding it selfe into two branches, John Basset of new place (being of the yoonger house) left the Labell, and charged the blacke vnds with manie besants dispersed all ouer them. 1592, William Wyrley, The true vse of armorie, page 12:
   • My Noble Lord, / AFter a long inquiry about the Arms of your Lordships antient House, and the turning of sundry Books of Impresaes and Herauldry, I found your UNDES famous and very honourable. / In our neighbour Countrey of England they are born, but inversed upside down, and diversified. Torquato Tasso in his Rinaldo maketh mention of a Knight who had a Rock placed in the Waves with the Word Rompe ch'il percote. And other hath the Seas waves with a Syren rising out of them, the word Bella Maria, which is the name of some Courtezan. , William Drummond, letter "To the Right Honourable the Earl of Perth" in The history of Scotland, from the year 1423 until the year 1542 containing the lives and reigns of James the I, the II, the III, the IV, the V : with several memorials of state, during the reigns of James VI & Charls I
3. (alt-of, nonstandard) Nonstandard spelling of and, usually signifying a German accent, due to "und" meaning "and" in German..
   alt of and
   alt of due to
   alt of usually signifying a German accent

Forms

Relateds

undade · undated · undé · undulate · undulating