Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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

Unreverent, -d, adj. Also: unreverende, -eand, -raverent, wnreverend, -t, wnrewrant, onreverent. [ME and e.m.E. vnreuerent (Wyclif); Reverent adj.] Irreverent; disrespectful: a. Of speech, actions, writings, etc. = Irreverent adj. b. Of persons, in respect of their speech.a. 1551 Hamilton Cat. 64.
Unreverent swering be His blude … quhilk wordis ar ugsum to ony gud Christin man or woman to heir 1593 Bk. Univ. Kirk III 806.
That no minister … vtter from pulpitt any rasch or vnreverent speaches aganis his majestie 1594 St. A. Kirk S. 794.
Unreverend 1596 Melvill 510.
To … answer for certain unrevereand unfamous and undecent speiches alledgit be me utterit in some of my sermones 1600 Crim. Trials II 248.
At which words he smyled, and talked with these that were about him, after his unreverent manner of behaviour at sermons 1600–1 State P. (Reg. H.) 108/10, 4.
Onreverent 1603 Shetland Sheriff Ct. MS 85.
Wnreverent 1608 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 136.
Kything the malice of my hart by the vttering of onreverent speiches 1627 Glasgow Trades House 122.
Wnrewrant 1641 Alyth Par. Ch. 69.
The foirsaid thre penitents behaluiour on the stoole wis unreverent ey casting downe stonis at the pepill 1648 Aberd. Council Lett. III 104.
The counsell having considerit the unreverend bill abovewreattin declairis … they … wold haiff wisched ye haid not maid them so mutch busines heirabout be your contemptuous behavior 1657 Cramond Kirk S. I 10 May.
The sessioun considering his long absence and his wnreverend ansuer think fit that he be looked wpon as ane deserter of the calling of God 1674 Hawick Ann. 79.
[Fined] for giving unraverent language to the present bailie, and calling him witches gaitb. 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 93/3.
For remead … of lauis that ualde be usid aganis unreuerende speakaris