Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

(Uncersabill,) Uncersabile, adj. Also: uncerssabil, -cersiabyll, -cercheabile, -sercheabile, wnchersiabill. [ME and e.m.E. vnserchable (Wyclif); Cers(e v., Serch(e v.] a. That cannot be searched into and understood; inscrutable. b. ? Unaccountable, ? recalcitrant. —a. c1520-c1535 Nisbet Ephes. iii 8.
To me, leest of al sanctis, this grace is gevin to preche amang hethin men the vnsercheabile [P. vnserchable] richessis of Crist c1520-c1535 Nisbet Rom. xi 33.
How incomprehensibile ar His domes, and His wayis ar vncersabile [P. vnserchable] c1520-c1535 Nisbet Ep. Ald Test. xlii 9.
The hart of man is schrewit and vncercheabile (or may nocht be soucht) 1551 Hamilton Cat. 167.
Evil is the hart of man and uncerssabil, quha sall ken it? c1552 Lynd. Mon. 6100.
Vncersiabyll —b. 1461 Peebles B. Rec. I 141.
Geif the said Andro worthis vanton and wnchersiabill in his common seruis, and vyl nocht mak gud seruis and to be obedient to the gud town