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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Miscontentment, n. Also: miscontentement, -contenment. [e.m.E. (1579): cf. 16th c. F. mescontentement.]

1. Discontent, displeasure, resentment. Also const. of (the cause).Also plur. 1559 Corr. M. Lorraine 431.
To byde at haim with your grace miscontentment 1568 Buch. Indict. 35.
Bot litill apperit of hir miscontentement quhen as [etc.] 1582 Bk. Univ. Kirk II. 552.
To the great miscontentment of many c1590 Fowler II. 140/36.
A miscontenment and disconceate of the precedent goverment 1597 Moysie xxiv.
Freindis mislykis your lang absence frae court, sum suspecting your miscontentment thairof 1597–8 Crim. Trials II. 30.
To dispose the haertis of the nauchtiest … peopill to miscontentment and rebellion 1600-1610 Melvill 135.
My uncle, Mr Andro, could nocht consent thairto, nor the Kirk, with his miscontentment, command 1603 Melrose P. 3. 1606 Reg. Privy C. VII. 498. c1610 Melville Mem. 17. 1612 Misc. Maitl. C. III. 117.
The noblemen being in great miscontentment for the quantitie of the taxatioun 1613 Haddington Corr. 123.
To my gret gref and miscontentment 1614 Highland P. III. 157. 1635 Dickson Wr. I. 70.
Ye can neither read, pray, nor confer, but fret and fume in your miscontentment 1638 Henderson Serm. 504. a1650 Row 362. a1651 Calderwood VII. 538.
The tounclerk … testified his miscontentment by a creinge of his shoulders c1650 Spalding I. 225. 1651 Johnston Diary II. 58.
Whereas now tho upon miscontentment they deteane them, yet [etc.]plur. 1628 Fraserburgh Kirk S. II. 30 Apr.
The elderis … harde the perturbatioune & noys of hir, to thair miscontentmentis & all the parochneris

2. Mutual bad feeling, discord, disagreement. 1628 Fam. Innes 217.
In Elgin I hard of mis-contentment amangis frendis c1650 Spalding I. 20.
Ye haue befoir … of sum miscontentment betuixt the Marques of Huntlie and the Erll of Morray Ib. II. 296.
Throw miscontentment betuixt his father and him

3. An occasion of discontent or resentment, a grievance. 1605 in Wodrow's Life of Bruce 123.
Fostering … divisions in the Kirk, private grudges and miscontentments against the present government 1613 Crim. Trials III. 262.
For removeing of the quhilk impediment vpone a pretendit miscontentement consauet be him and his thre sisteris 1613 Misc. Maitl. C. III. 32.
The marquis … having some uthir miscontentmentis aganis Allane c1650 Spalding I. 220.
It pleissit his majestie to send thir miscontentmentis in paper … to Edinbrugh Ib. II. 6.
Lues Gordone … vpone sum alledgit miscontentment left his fatheris company