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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.

Unwit(t)and, -wit(t)ing, ppl. adj. Also: -uittyng, -wittin, -wytting, -wyttyn, -wetand, wnwittand, -witting, -wyttand, onwittand, -wytting, -yng. [ME and e.m.E. vnwit(t)and (both Cursor M.), onwytinde (Ayenbite), wnwyttyngge, vnwitynge (both Wyclif), vnwiting (c1400), onwyttyng (a1450); Witting ppl. adj.]

1. Without (one's, etc.) knowledge, unknown to (another, oneself). a. Const. possess. or of. b. Const. indirect object or to. c. Without construction.a. (1) a1400 Leg. S. xxi 81.
Hyre barnis, hyre vnwitand … ware fletand One a burd a1400 Leg. S. xxv 232.
Julyane … fadyr & modir bath sleucht, His vnwitting a1400 Leg. S. xxix 534.
Nere-by, his vnwittand, His sonnis twa ware duelland 14.. Acts I 342/1.
[Actions against] ridaris of vther menis horsis thar vnwitting 1498 Bk. Carlaverock II 451.
Has causit the saide landis to be resignit, myn vnwitting, contrare myn will 1552 Glasgow Test. I 88.
Jonet Guttre left in hir tastament that scho had geuin to Jhone Brownyng hir sone vij scoir of merkis of geir hir housbandis vnvittyng(b) 1513 Doug. iv vi 51.
Wenyt thou … Thou mycht … myne onwyttyng, steill furth of my land?(2) ?1438 Alex. ii 1410.
He luffit hir with all his mycht, Wnwittand ȝit of that sueit wycht [F. Qui de ce ne savoit encor] 14.. Acts I 342/1.
[Actions against] all corne etaris in Nythtdale with ther catall vnwitting of thaim that aw the corne 1492 Myll Spect. 282/23.
This Stella … vnwytting of ony persone stall out of the tovne 1509 Thanes of Cawdor 121.
At the command of Dauid Dunbar unvitting of me c1517 Acta Conc. MS XXIX 211.
He dystrwyt the castell and heryt the landis unwyttyn of ws 1535 Stewart 16542.
He … Come on … With greit power wnwittand of this kingb. (1) a1400 Leg. S. xxxiv 278.
Away scho stal Be the nycht, vnwittand al, And to the hil of Olywete Went priuely 1456 Hay I 227/2.
Unwittand his ost, he passis fra his company in the woddis c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 20/138.
I schrif me of all cursit cumpany In all tyme witting and unwiting [B., M. vnwitting, BD wnwitting] me 1533 Boece 84a.
The nuris of Eder … putting the seik barne in ane bote vnwitting ony persoun convoyit him in Argathele 1533 Boece 223a.
Victoryne … convoyit his armye to Pichtland vnwitting the king or his ȝong consell 1533 Boece 544a.
Vnwittin 1560 Rolland Seven S. 6794.
Sic ane thing can not be, Without ȝe serue the same vnwittand me(2) a1586 Maitland Ho. Seytoun 28.
Ane dochter of the erle of Merches, quhom he mareit vnwitting to his faderc. 1535 Stewart 27527.
Ilk ane of thame out throw him thrang a knyfe, On wittand syne tha passit all awa

2. Not, or without, knowing; unaware. Const. direct or clause obj., or adverbial complement.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xxvii 227.
Of the menȝe in come ane Vnwitand the barne wes thare c1400 Troy-bk. ii 596 (C).
Pryame … Wnwittand he dissaved was, … swore the pees c1400 Troy-bk. ii 712 (C).
Pryame the kyng … wnwittand thar purposing 14.. Reg. Maj. c. 46.
Gif the lorde chalangis the clerc that is ordanit his lordis wnwyttand him til haf bene ordanit 1456 Hay II 8/13.
And wanderit sa in this wildernesse, unwittand quhare(b) 14.. Edinb. Univ. MS No. 27 fol. 288.
Unwetand qwen or in qwat stede

3. quasi-adv. a. Unwittingly, without realising it. = Unwittandly adv. b. ? Carelessly, unheedingly.a. 1513 Doug. iii ix 53.
My falloschip onwytting forȝet me heir … And in the Ciclopes huge cave tynt meb. a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 1131 (Wr.).
Promitting, unwitting, Your heghts yee never hooked