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

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Mischev(o)us, a. Also mischewous, -es, -ch(e)ivous, -wous, -chievous, -cheevous, myschev(o)us, -os, -chewus, -os, -is, -chews, -cheivous; mischefus, -cheaffus, myscheiffus. [ME. (c 1330) and e.m.E. mis-, myschevous (14th c.), -us, -es, mischuos (c 1330), meschevous (15th c.), e.m.E. mischievous, mischivous, AF. meschevous (c 1400).]In verse the main stress generally falls on the second syllable.

1. Of events or circumstances: Fraught with misfortune or disaster; unfortunate, calamitous, disastrous.Common in Douglas. 1513 Doug. ii. x. 30.
And … cruel vengeans take Of my cuntre for this myschews wrake
Ib. v. xi. 51.
To quhat myschews end
Ib. viii. ix. 83.
Ony myschewos [v.r. myschevos] cace
Ib. xi. vi. 131.
Our ald stryfe … That so myschews was and bad to se
Ib. xi. xiv. 7.
Amyd the ful myschewos [Sm. myschewus] fyght The gret slauchter and rowtis takand the flycht
Ib. 82.
Onto myschewos [R. myscheuus] ded predestinate
1533 Boece i. iii. 37.
All … suld … haue ane trublous life and myschevous end
1540 Lynd. Sat. 4294. 1549 Compl. (1801) 126.
Mischeivous
1560 Rolland Seven S. 7408. c1568 Lauder Minor P. i. 453. a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. civ. 26.
This plaig … And this mischeuous tyme
c1475 Wall. (1570) iv. 748.
In this mischeuous [MS. myschefull] chance
c1600 Montg. Suppl. xxx. 13.
Quhairhe maid ane mischefus end

2. Of persons or their dispositions: Tending to wreak harm; baleful, maleficent, malignant, evil, wicked. c 1500 Justiciary Rec. I. 154.
Suffir not the pure sempill pipill to be … reft be strang mischewes tyranttis
1513 Doug. xi. x. 59.
Ȝon detestabill and myschews [Sm. myschewis] Enee
Ib. xii. xiii. 194.
O ȝe myschewos fowlis … Do me na mair agrys
Ib. 134, xiv. 65. 1531 Bell. Boece II. 297/11.
[The] officiall … lede proces of cursing apoun ane myschevous lymmare namit Twynane becaus he was dilatit sindry tymes of adultery and [etc.]
Ib. I. 177. 1535 Stewart 17587.
Mischeuous murtherar of his awin blude
c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5178.
That myscheuous man [sc. the Antichrist]
1562-3 Winȝet II. 33/28.
Quhen that mischeuous Nestorius … began to ryue the flok of Christe
? 1572 Sat. P. xxxvi. ii.
We ar … repute of sa fals mischevous naturis
a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. civ. 1.
Mair mischeuous and wickit warld Nor thair is now
a1578 Pitsc. I. 24/29.
The mischewous companie of harlottis and flatteraris
Ib. 52/15.
All mischevous tyrans
Ib. 123/19. 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. (S.T.S.) 84/9.
Mischiuous
1596 Dalr. I. 109/15.
Mischieuous
1657 Balfour Ann. IV. 322.
Lett non be so vnhappie and mischiwous [etc.]

b. Of actions or behaviour; Harmful, evil, wicked.(a) 1567 Anderson Collect. Mary I. 142. 1568 Hosack Mary Q. of Scots 537.
The said erle continuand in his mischivous wickittnes
1572 Reg. Privy C. II. 140.
The authouris of all thir tressonable mischevus and barbarus crewelteis
? 1572 Sat. P. xxxvi. 121. 1574 Elgin Rec. I. 216.
Takand the grittar occasioun of his mischevous interprysis
a1570-86 Maitl. F. lxxii. 54. a1578 Pitsc. I. 40/6. 1591 Reg. Morton I. 172.
Sic persones as hes ettellit mischewous prakteceis aganis his majesties awin estait and persoun
1597 Misc. Spald. C. I. 174.
Christen Reid … quhom thow imployit … to execut … thy mischevous and devilische devyssis
1678 Calderwood II. 391.
The devisers of that mischeevous and unworthie fact
(b) 1525 St. A. Formulare I. 269.
In thare evil and myscheiffus deidis
c1615 Chron. Kings 49.
His mischeaffus deidis

c. transf. 1604-31 Craig III. 21.
Fair marks are hit with shots and shafts mischivous

d. Applied by Knox to the Catholics and their beliefs and practices. — 1558-66 Knox II. 291.
For upoun allhallow day thai blended up thair messe with all myscheivous solempnite
1550 Ib. III. 69.
But in the mischevous masse ane man did eat and drink all
Ib.
The maist abominabill abussis, as of bying and selling, useit … by the mischevous preistis

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"Mischevus adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 29 Mar 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/mischevous>

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