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

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Incertane, a. Also: incertan, -aine, -ayne. [Late ME. incertayne (1491), OF. incertain.] Uncertain, in various senses.

1. a. Subject to doubt or open to question, unreliable, ambiguous. b. Not known with certainty, obscure.a. 1490 Acta Aud. 141/1.
That the said summondis wes incertane becaus it specifyit nocht quham fra the gudis … wes takin 1513 Doug. x. ix. 2.
Nane incertane rumour nor demyng Bot sovyr boydword 1533 Boece ix. viii. 305 b.
The … geistis feneȝeit of Arthure and his knichtis be incertane authouris 1543 Acts II. 437/1.
Quhilk … libell is … inepte and incertan 1562-3 Winȝet II. 53/21.
Thai thingis also quhilkis apperis incertane thai appreue 1624 Buccleuch Mun. II. 348.
Ane incertan bruiteb. 1533 Boece i. vii. 48 b.
That pepill … of obscure and incertane origine Ib. ii. v. 64 b.
Thir lawis … gif be consuetude of the pepill thai began, and syne incressit, it is incertane 1651 Blairs P. 43.
The eldest [son] incertayne if killed or taken prisoner

2. Indeterminate, unpredictable. b. Unsteady, variable. 1533 Boece ii. xii. 82.
The victorie ȝit incertane a1568 Scott xxxii. 16.
Incertane is the dyis 1580 Prot. Bk. J. Robertsone 2 b.
The deth certane, the tyme and hour thairof incertane c1590 J. Stewart 88/302.
His course na les incertaine … Than schip but rudder 1606 Melrose P. ii.
During the incertane euent thairof 1651 Blairs P. 60.
Ane incertane fashious ague

3. Of persons: In a state of indecision or doubt; without sure knowledge; without assurance. 1533 Boece vi. ii. 187 b.
Thare freyndis … incertane quhat … best was to be done 1562-3 Winȝet II. 53/22.
Incertane quhat way thai suld pas 1569 Inverness B. Rec. I. 173.
Being incertan quhom at to craiff 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Annuell.
I … am incertaine quhat they do signifie 1602 Colville Parænese 59.
Vee sall be … maid incertane in the cheif points of our fayth