n. [ AS. undern; akin to OS. undorn, OHG. untarn, untorn, Icel. undorn mid afternoon, mid forenoon, Goth. undaúrnimats the midday meal. Cf. Undermeal, Undertime. ] The time between; the time between sunrise and noon; specifically, the third hour of the day, or nine o'clock in the morning, according to ancient reckoning; hence, mealtime, because formerly the principal meal was eaten at that hour; also, later, the afternoon; the time between dinner and supper. [ Obs. or Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
Betwixt undern and noon was the field all won. R. of Brunne. [ 1913 Webster ]
In a bed of worts still he lay
Till it was past undern of the day. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]
adv. [ OE. undirnepe. See Under, and Beneath. ] Beneath; below; in a lower place; under;
Or sullen mole, that runneth underneath. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]
prep. Under; beneath; below. [ 1913 Webster ]
Underneath this stone lie
As much beauty as could die. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. A want of niceness; indelicacy; impropriety. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. t.
He the savor undernom
Which that the roses and the lilies cast. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]