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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.

Uncertane, adj. Also: un-, wn-, on-, oun- and -certan, -certain(e, -certayne, -cartane, -serten, (uncert). [ME and e.m.E. vncertain (Cursor M.), vncerteyne, on-certeyn (both Manning), vncertayn (Rolle); Certane adj. Cf. Incertane adj.]

1. Of an event, state of affairs, report or opinion: Unsure or unclear in some respect, unverifiable. c1420 Wynt. ii 1238.
In tyll a buk that Palafat Off hys wncertane [W. vncertane] ferlyis wrate
1513 Doug. iv i 25.
I trow, sistir, and … Myne opinion is nane oncertane [Sm. vncertane, Ruddim. vncertayne; L. vana] thing Thai beyn [etc.]
1531 Bell. Boece II 109.
This king fell in ane … maledy, uncertane quhidder it come be bit of the wolf or be ony othir occasioun
1543 Acts II 440/2.
The quhilk caus ressoun and libell in it contenit was alluterlie generale inept & vn certane nocht expremand the tyme and maner how the saidis … assistences allegit gevin [etc.] … tharfor the said decret … as vncert inept and generale & following and promulgat vpoun ane vncert inept & generale libell … suld be … annullit
1572 Buch. Detect. 45.
Quhen there be extant sa many causes of hatrit, and sa many taikens thereof do offer thamselues to knawlege, as may well be able to bryng thyngis vncertain to be beleuit
a1578 Pitsc. I 15/16.
Money gret dissentiounis rais … bot it is wncertaine quha was the mowar
a1578 Pitsc. I 68/15.
The Earle of Saillisberrie … was slaine be the schot of ane goun wncertane hou or be quhat way
c1590 J. Stewart 17/89.
It is vncertan to my toung to tell Quhilk of the tuo maist feruent ȝelus beine
1631 Justiciary Cases I 193.
Ȝit the pannell … did … turne the uncertaine repoirt … to ane positiue speich schowing that the bussines was a tressone [etc.] … speciallie seing the pannell be his depositione of the 20 of Junii … declaires that the loird Reay grantit that he had no certane ground for the tressone alledgit be him
1656 Chron. Perth 43.
Ane wnquhencheabill fyre … how it came wncertaine

b. Of a person: Unknown. 1513 Doug. xi vii 109.
Hys fader was oncertane [Ruddim. vncertane] and onknaw
1600-1610 Melvill 623.
The … syse or jurie wes callit; againes the quhilk thair wes no exceptioune usit, because they wer all uncertain [Adv. MS unknown] to the … advocattis

2. Of a future time or occasion: Indeterminate, unknowable. Also transf. a1500 Henr. Thre Deid Pollis 12.
The hour of deth and place is vncertane
1549 Compl. 36/28.
The terme of Cristis cumming is schort, ande the day oncertane
1644 11th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. vi 55.
Sens I sei thair is nothing heir serten bot deith and nothing moir ounserten then the tyme
transf. 1513 Doug. Concl. 7.
Quhen that onknawyn day … endis the dait of myn oncertan [Ruddim. vncertane] eld

b. Of the outcome of a situation or the possibility of an occurrence in the future: That cannot be determined, unpredictable. 1490 Irland Mir. III 153/2.
To the tothir that sais that thai [? thar] wauld neuir be chosin ane sa inutil as he that may cum be successioun, this is wncertane
1513 Doug. viii ix 87.
Quhil hope oncertane [Sm. oncertain, Ruddim. vncertane] is of thing tocum
1531 Bell. Boece II 256.
Edmond … thocht better to succeid to the half of Ingland but ony mair dangeir, than to jeoperd himself to uncertane chance of battall
c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2048.
Thay faucht … with vncertane victorie: No man mycht juge … Quho gat the better
1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 41.
In respect of maist extreme & dangerous diseis, with frequent uncertane mutatioun of the pacient
1570 Leslie 176.
It wes crewellie fochin … with uncartane victorie, and gret slauchter on boith the sydis; Bot at last the victorie inclyned to the governour
a1578 Pitsc. I 199/6.
Hareis wangard … faucht tham stoutlie ane lang quhyle with oncertaine victorie bot at last [etc.]
a1578 Pitsc. II 26/24.
Vncertaine

3. Of a person: Unsure as to the occurrence of an event or the outcome of an action. c1490 Irland Asl. MS 5/19.
The first thing to move thé to pennance is perrell of deid and that thow art vncertane quhen it cummis
1513 Doug. iii i 14.
Schippis we graith … Oncertane [Sm., Ruddim. vncertane] quhidder the fatis wald we suld ga
1570 Sat. P. xxiv 92.
His freinds ar … Baneist and slaine, vncertane of ane gyrth
1584 Cal. Sc. P. VII 210.
At my arryvel heir … hering of the estait of our cuntre and oncertane of ony veritie
1612 Brechin Test. II 239.
Vncertane of the tyme of my naturall daythe

4. Of a state of affairs: Not secure, unsettled; subject to chance. c1460 Wisd. Sol. (STS) 417.
Al thinge that cumis in this warld … to wysman & to full al is kepit wncertane, to the end that na man wat quhethir he be worthy to joy or to payne in the warld to cum
a1570-86 Maitland in Maitl. F. 431/67.
The lordis hes our lytill feyis Bot off vncertane casualiteyis Off quhilk thai neuer gat payment compleitlie

b. Of a woman: Capricious, fickle. 1603 Philotus 681.
O sex vncertaine, frayle and fals, … With honie lips [etc.]

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

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