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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.

Unlik(e)ly, -lykly, adj. Also: unlik(e)lie, -licklie, wnlik(e)ly, -liklie, onlikly, -lykly, onelleikllei. [ME and e.m.E. vnlikly (Chaucer), onlykly (c1440), vnlykly (c1450), vnlickly (1535), unlikely (Shakespeare); Likly adj., Likely adj.]

1. That has little chance of coming about; improbable; unpromising. b. compar. In absol. use: The less likely chance of success.(a) 1375 Barb. ix 639.
Lo how hardyment … May ger oftsys wnlikly [C. vnlikly] thingis Cum to rycht fayr and gud endingis 1590 Welwod 63.
As giff hee [sc. the master] haue tane on money to bett her & hes na commissioun … or that utherwaies the borrowing of the money bene plainely unlikely c1641–54 J. Gordon in Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II 553.
Neither is the one or the uthir any unlicklie conjecture 16.. Herries Mem. 33.
Unlicklie(b) 1513 Doug. xi viii 119.
Tyme … Reducit hes full mony onlykly [Sm. onlikly, Ruddim. vnlykly] thyng To bettir fyne than was thar begynnyng 1602 Dundee Shipping P. 75.
He … makis ane maynner to frawcht hir to go to the Straytis quhilk was ane wayrei onelleikllei thing to go with seik ane nayket bark among the Torkis gaylleisb. 1456 Hay I 269/14.
Gif it befallis that the juge may nocht gett be rycht knaulage quha has the better quha the unlykliar on the first day … quhethir … thai aw to cum agayn apon the morne to fornys the remaynand of the bataill

2. Unsightly; unprepossessing; distasteful or repellent in appearance, etc. Also absol. as noun, in proverb. use. b. ? Dishevelled, discomposed. 1456 Hay II 104/14.
I requere thé that thou despise never lawar personis na thyself na mare unlikly na mare symple creature, for thou watis nocht quhen God may mak … a foule unlikly quhilum full mychty 1456 Hay II 134/34.
[To] slepe on hard bedding in foule clathis, have evill clething on his body and unlikly 1460 Hay Alex. 12197.
Thai war baith richt vnlikly quhare thai stude And syne thai lap baith on vnlikly as On quhilk ane pellane sadill girdit was 1460 Hay Alex. 17805.
A ferly cais … in mannis liknes … to the myddill and syne fra that place doun Like lioun, dragoun, serpent, scorpioun And hede and body deed was vpwart And richt vnlikly was the nether part a1500 Henr. Fab. 2052 (H).
As he wer deid he feinȝeit him … And than vpoun lenth vnliklie lay [Ch. vpon ane lang vnliklie bray] c1475 Wall. ix 1425.
Thow semys a Scot wnlikly ws to spy 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1502.
This auld tre is far mair And fra the ȝoung takis all substance and air … Sa the ȝoung plant is sa vnliklie maidproverb. a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 592.
Likelie lies in the myre, and unliklie goes by itb. 1596 Breadalbane Ct. Bk. 141b.
The nicht the chalmer wes brokin ȝe wer absent … and come hame in the morning vnlikelie as ȝe had bene eftir trauell

3. Unseemly, unbecoming; inappropriate, unacceptable. b. absol. Something wrong or out of order. 1456 Hay I 190/23.
And he saw [another man] … mak grete repaire till his hous, and unlyklynes [sic] he mycht mak him inhibicioun and exhortacioun to nocht mak sik unlikly repaire, and gif he come thare atour, he mycht sla him c1475 Wall. ii 263.
On a caar wnlikly thai him cast a1578 Pitsc. I 52/3.
It is werie wnliklie to commit thame selffis to the present danger quhilk they knew perfytlie to come in 1607 Melrose P. I 37.
In respect of his confident and vnliklie speaches, I will … rather refer it to … your maiestie … nor to enter into foulish contestation with himb. 1667 Urie Baron Ct. 87.
Johne Brabner inactis himselfe to remowe from the ground of Vrie at Witsonday nixt, and in caice any wnlikely be found off thift or disobedience ether to his maister or the officer off the ground, his haill guides and gear is to be confiscat