Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Unhonest, adj. Also: unhonnest, wn-, onhonest. [ME and e.m.E. vnhonest (Wyclif), vnhoneste (Trevisa); Honest adj.]

1. Of persons: Lacking in honour or virtue; of bad character, disreputable; dishonest.(a) c1420 Wynt. ii 702.
Thai that duelt in to that yle Wnhonest [W. Vnhonest] was and inutyle [And] … thai that come to spy … sum … thai slewe … sum thai dang c1420 Ratis R. 1789.
Bettir is to be vertwis ay Than vnhonest or vicious 1456 Hay I 190/14.
Gif a man fyndis ane unhonest foule creature hafand conversacioun with his wyf a1578 Pitsc. I 170/29.
Ȝoung consall and wnhonest companie quhilk tuike na thocht of the kingis honour and commone weill of the cuntrie 1640 Kirkcudbr. Min. Bk. 35.
George cryit—unhonest beoche and adulterous beoche a1658 Durham Commandments (1675) 256.
Such who generally are called, neer, hard, rigid men … though they be not properly unhonest, are guilty of this sin of covetousness 1694 Stitchill Baron Ct. 111.
For scandelizing the said Robert Hogart in his good name and reputation by saying that he was ane knave and unhonest man(b) a1578 Pitsc. II 9/23.
It was bot fallowis and lownis and onhonest smaikis that knew nocht quhat thay did for the honest men and weomen of the towne knew nocht sic thingis

2. Of things, actions, conditions, etc.: Dishonourable; immoral; lewd; shameful. = Dishonest(e adj.(a) 1456 Hay I 142/10.
Thair undertaking was in the begynnyng unhonest, unlefull, wrangwis and condampnyt c1460 Thewis Gud Women 181.
Kep hir … Fra foul wordis and wnhonest c1490 Irland Asl. MS 68/11.
I haue offendit God, gangand to placis vnhonest 1490 Irland Mir. III 25/3.
The corrupit natur that discendit of Adam be full wnhonest and libidinuse generacioun a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 432.
Unhonest [Ch. & M. wnhonest] wayis all … that thou wirkis 1531 Bell. Boece (M) II 222.
He had na sycht to honest nor vnhonest accionis, bot alanerlie … to thair proffite 1533 Boece 384b.
Exhorting that be vnhonest cowardice nor flicht thai suld nocht fyle nor degrade the glore quhilk thai had won a1538 Abell 98b.
Thai tuik him & put him in presone and eftir … be command of his sone he wes slane a wnhonest way 1551 Hamilton Cat. 118.
We suld … keip … our eyne fra wantone sychtis, our eris fra … hering of vile talk … unhonest talis 15.. Clar. iv 156.
The King … tuik from them [sc. the executioners] thair The vyle unhonest office that thay baire 1567 Reg. Privy C. I 520.
The said erll seducit be unlesum wayis oure said soverane to ane unhonest mariage with himself 1571 Bann. Memor. 142.
Ony persone … that hes … vsed sic unhonest language of me … he hes vnhonestlie, falshlie … lyed in his throat c1575 Balfour Pract. 379.
All persounis that ar of vile and unhonest office or vocatioun, as clengar of drauchtis 1585 Inverness Rec. I 299.
The fyilthie wyild and vnhonest chryme of … adultre 1586 Reg. Privy C. IV 84.
Unhonnest 1603 Dundonald Par. Rec. 38.
Adam Wallace … and Agnes Craig … convict of vnhonest strugling … in tym of catecheising 1600-1610 Melvill 803.
Thai of that assemblie wer unhonnest and perjurit(b) 1569 Warrender P. (SHS) I 66.
Na man had occasion to suspek me off ony onhonest cryme 1598 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 167.
For the better forderance of the said divorcement for the comfort of the poor vomane, quha hes keipit hir selff swa honestlie, nochtwithstanding of his onhonest dealing