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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.

Inconvenient, n. Also: -yent, -iente, -iende, -wenient, -yent, -veinent. [ME. (c 1374).]

1. A trouble; a state or cause of difficulty or disturbance. c1420 Wynt. vii. 1802.
He gert gyve full thaire consentys Till mony inconwenyentys. That war all contrare to the lawe 1456 Hay II. 82/34.
It bringis in sa mony inconvenientes that all the realme … is put in … misgovernance 1520 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 196.
[Four] men … till pas … with halbertis for stanching of inconuenientis that may happin vithin this toun 1531 Bell. Boece I. 33.
Gif we desire to eschew the sprout of sedicioun, with innomerabill inconvenientis efter following 1533 Boece iv. v. 131 b.
Catus Romane procuratoure … of all thir inconvenientis was the cheif fortifiare 1560 Rolland Seven S. 196.
Inconuenients to eschew that micht be Sa scho desyrit Ib. 806.
Pansing alwayis … how Thay micht eschew this inconuenient 1580 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 178.
For avoyding of all suspitioun of pest and vther inconvenientis that may fall thairthrow c1590 Fowler II. 147/6.
He quha wald maist cairfullye studie to eschew an inconvenient incurreth oftentymes in another 1614 Highland P. III. 168.
This proclamatioune … migh draw some inconvenient vpon his sonne 1657 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 167.
For the eschewing of sindrie inconvenientis and abuses that may enschew

b. Trouble, difficulty, danger. 1535 Stewart 58346.
Scho dred richt soir, … His licht ȝouthheid … It suld him bring till inconvenient 1569 Reg. Privy C. I. 675.
My Lord Regentis grace … hes fund the saidis personis … unmeit to haif cure of the instructioun of the yowth, for the perrell and inconvenient bayth of thair bodiis and sawlis a1578 Pitsc. II. 129/24.
The thrie estaittis … concludit to the same … nocht knawand … quhat inconwenient was to come heirefter 1662 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. I. 241.
To … releive our cautioners … of all … danger or inconvenient that they may incurr by becoming cautioners for us

2. Personal inconvenience. 1453 Maxwell Mem. I. 174.
I and myn ayris than sal mak the said Huchone … als sekyr as thai can devyse for outyn inconueniende 1493 Ib. 205.
In the stratast forme of obligacioun that can be dewisyt, but inconuenient 1545 Corr. M. Lorraine 149.
I therfor can nocht get the money therof haistelie without I do my self gret inconvenyent and skayth 1584 Reg. Soltre 242.
The grete inconvenient throw wanting of the seill quhilk was in the handis of … our provest a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI 299.
To saif his freynd from inconvenient 1622-6 Bisset I. 136/18.
The pairtie … is brocht to sic inconvenient that quhither they have had the saidis evidentis or nocht, they man [etc.]

b. An instance or occurrence of this. 1490 Irland Mir. fol. 345 b.
The mutacioun of the persoune & linage is richt disconuenient, and may caus mony … inconuenientis 1512 Reg. Soltre 86.
We gat our new … mortificacioun of our landis … to keip it fra fewsetting till courteouris and vthir inconuenientis apperand for the tyme 1552 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 170.
Till eschew the greit inconvenientis that dailie cumis upoun your barnis efter your deceissis 1600 Colville Palinode 17.
If this statute … take place, then shall manie absurd inconuenients follow therupon 1622-6 Bisset I. 235/31.
Considering how that his maiesties subiectis … ar oftymes drawin in greit inconvenientis be sindrie charges direct against theme 1657 Balfour Ann. II. 233.
Preuenting aney inconwenient that may occur

3. A logical difficulty or stumbling block, an absurdity. 1490 Irland Mir. II. 86.
That is a gret inconuenient that God the ... creatur suld gif to his creatur to ... wnderstand ... a gretar thing na he is