# Is unvied a known word? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 9, 2026, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-unvied-a-known-word/1033705 "2026-10-09T18:21:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2026, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-unvied-a-known-word/1033705/1 "2026-10-09T18:21:52Z")
For random reasons I looked up the origin of Tom, Dick, and Harry. Google AI gave good answers, but I hit a bump at this one. > **First Recorded Use:** The earliest known written use of the exact phrase appears in 1657 by English theologian **John Owen** , who used it while speaking to the governing body at Oxford University to describe how common or unvied people discussed critical affairs. Unvied people? AI couldn’t find another example or any meaning. It’s not in the dictionaries I searched, like Mirriam-Webster or the online OED. Unvied sounds like a 17th century word. Un-vied, literally untested, figuratively unqualified, not certified. An AI hallucination? ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2026, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-unvied-a-known-word/1033705/2 "2026-10-09T18:36:20Z")
It means people who aren’t covered in ivy. [![](https://i.ibb.co/MxQjBHF6/Screenshot-20261009-143359.jpg) ](https://i.ibb.co/MxQjBHF6/Screenshot-20261009-143359.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2026, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-unvied-a-known-word/1033705/3 "2026-10-09T18:38:42Z")
Unvied does NOT mean “not covered in ivy.” That would be “univied,” just mistyped. I searched Google Books, and all the hits were OCR misreads for “untied.” ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2026, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-unvied-a-known-word/1033705/4 "2026-10-09T18:40:56Z")
In 1657, English theologian John Owen used the term idiotai (derived from the Greek _ἰδιῶται_, historically translated as idiots or laymen) to describe how common, unlearned, or private citizens discussed critical public and theological affairs without formal academic or ecclesiastical training, so I presume that it was a misspelling (or at least that’s what Google says). ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2026, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-unvied-a-known-word/1033705/5 "2026-10-09T18:45:44Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > the Greek _ἰδιῶται_ Please note that it did not mean “incredibly stupid” in Greek. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2026, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-unvied-a-known-word/1033705/6 "2026-10-09T19:07:15Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Unvied sounds like a 17th century word. Un-vied, literally untested, figuratively unqualified, not certified. Well, “vied” is a real word. It means that you’ve strived to accomplish something. You hear it all the time in discussions of contests; “Multiple people vying for the top prize.” [Merriam-Webster:](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vie) > **vie** > > **vied; vying** [ˈvī-iŋ](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vie?pronunciation&lang=en_us&dir=v&file=vying001 "How to pronounce vie (audio)") > > _[intransitive verb](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intransitive)_ > > **:** to strive for superiority **: [contend](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contend)**, **[compete](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compete)** So, to be “unvied” would be the inverse; someone who never tries or competes. It would be like calling someone lazy and/or complacent. Now, I don’t know that the word “unvied” is a legitimate word in common use, but it’s not too difficult to determine what a person would mean by that term since “un-” is a common prefix that just means something that isn’t done or is reversed (undone). ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2026, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-unvied-a-known-word/1033705/7 "2026-10-09T19:20:08Z")
I don’t find in in my OED, nor in Webster’s 2nd nor 3rd Unabridged, nor Funk & Wagnall’s, nor Colliers. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2026, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-unvied-a-known-word/1033705/8 "2026-10-09T20:10:28Z")
Hm, Exapno\_Mapcase’s AI hallucinates a word that’s not in any dictionary, and Darren\_Garrison’s AI gives a definition for it. I think the AIs are colluding to build a new language so they can talk to each other without us knowing what they’re planning. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2026, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-unvied-a-known-word/1033705/9 "2026-10-09T20:23:08Z")
Does what they are planning involve a lack of ivy? ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2026, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-unvied-a-known-word/1033705/10 "2026-10-09T20:25:32Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > I think the AIs are colluding to build a new language so they can talk to each other without us knowing what they’re planning. _Bot Pidgin_ Or maybe they’re just trying to make up their own slang. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2026, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-unvied-a-known-word/1033705/11 "2026-10-09T20:27:46Z")
Well, now, just pat yourself on the back for having just coined a new perfectly cromulent word. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2026, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-unvied-a-known-word/1033705/12 "2026-10-09T23:16:38Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > So, to be “unvied” would be the inverse; someone who never tries or competes. It would be like calling someone lazy and/or complacent. The problem that arises here is that “un-” is attached to transitive verbs, very rarely to intransitive verbs. “Vie” is an intransitive verb (its subject is adverbial, using “for \”). ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2026, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-unvied-a-known-word/1033705/13 "2026-10-09T23:21:55Z")
I got a real live Ivy. Not a climbing plant, a human bean. Some days(like this one) she’s climbing up my last nerve. Yeah, don’t piss Ivy off. Please. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2026, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-unvied-a-known-word/1033705/14 "2026-10-09T23:38:30Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Some days(like this one) she’s climbing up my last nerve. So you’re not a member of the Ivy League? ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2026, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-unvied-a-known-word/1033705/15 "2026-10-09T23:53:52Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > > **John Owen** , who used it while speaking to the governing body at Oxford University to describe how common or unvied people discussed critical affairs. > > Unvied people? AI couldn’t find another example or any meaning. [The Wikipedia article on this phrase](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom,_Dick_and_Harry) says it is “a placeholder for **unspecified** people” [emphasis added]. I think that might be the word that the chatbot garbled in constructing its answer. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2026, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-unvied-a-known-word/1033705/16 "2026-10-10T00:36:58Z")
I’ll try it on Scrabble. They never challenge my words at home. Because I’m usually(always) right. But I’m playing app called Scrabble GO! They will bust you out quick for an invalid word. Not that Scrabble is all knowing. I’ve questioned(in my head) some words I’ve seen played. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2026, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-unvied-a-known-word/1033705/17 "2026-10-10T00:51:05Z")
[The Simpsons play Scrabble™](https://youtu.be/BljA7e_tu7E). ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2026, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-unvied-a-known-word/1033705/18 "2026-10-10T04:03:18Z")
I think that would be “unvying” people not “unvied” people. Because of the whole transitive/intransitive issue. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2026, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-unvied-a-known-word/1033705/19 "2026-10-11T12:54:49Z")
I looked up "unvie, “unvied,” and “unvying” in the online Oxford English Dictionary and found nothing ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2026, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-unvied-a-known-word/1033705/20 "2026-10-11T14:28:31Z")
In post #4, I speculate that it has something to do with a talk that John Owen gave to the governing body of Oxford University in 1657. I speculated that it’s a misspelling of the word he actually used. He did give such talks to them. At one point I was able to find a copy of that talk online. I can’t find it now, probably because I’ve forgotten how I searched for it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-unvied-a-known-word/1033705.md?page=2)