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Uncumber (St.)

,

formerly called St. Wylgeforte. “Women changed her name” (says Sir Thomas More) “because they reken that for a pecke of otys she will not faile to uncumber them of their husbondys.” The tradition says that the saint was very beautiful, but, wishing to lead a single life, prayed that she might have a beard, after which she was no more cumbered with lovers. “For a peck of oats,” says Sir Thomas More, “she would provide a horse for an evil housebonde to ride to the Devill upon.”

“If a wife were weary of a husband, she offered oats at Poules … to St. Uncumber.”—Michael Woode (1554).

 

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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

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Una Serranilla [a little mountain song]
Unaneled
Uncas
Uncial Letters
Uncircumcised in Heart and Ears (Acts vii. 51)
Uncle
Uncle
Uncle Sam
Uncle Tom
Unco
Uncumber (St.)
Under-current
Under-spur-leather
Under the Rose [sub rosa]
Under Weigh
Under which King, Bezonian?
Underwriter
Undine
Ungrateful Guest (The)
Unguem
Unhinged