A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1499-1578, 1630-1641
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Ignorant, n. Also: ingnoran. [f. Ignorantadj.; e.m.E. ignoraunt (1563).] An ignorant person. Chiefly in pl. a1500 Henr. Fab. 149.
Quha is innemy to sciens & cunnyng Bot ignorantis that wnderstandis nocht? c1500-c1512 Dunb. ix. 34.
To ignorantis nocht gaif I my teiching 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 9/18.
Par chance maye be ingit be inuyful ignorantis that I condampe my self 1549 Ib. 82/11.
The vulgar ignorans c1550 Rolland Court of Venus i. 579.
Thow furthschawis as ane daft ignorant 1562-3 Winȝet I. 9/18.
Ȝoure forbearis ... to haue bene ignorantis off God and ydolatouris a1578 Pitsc. I. 131/18.
How … wngodlie ane thing it is … to place ane ignorant in … regement of ane contrie 1630 Stirling's Royal Lett. II. 435.
Persones … hath latelie … bene promitted … to be herauldis … , whoe for the most pairt being ignorantis [etc.] 1641 Acts V. 498/2.
That … they be provydit with skilfull … men and not lefte to the … ignorantes
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"Ignorant n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/ignorant_n>
