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.
Quotation dates: 1581-1639
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Unproper, adj. Also: unpropre, wn-, onproper. [ME and e.m.E. unpropre (Wyclif), vnproper (a1568); Proper adj.]
1. Unsuitable, inappropriate (for (doing) or to do something). = Improper adj.(a) 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. 144.
He proponis … tua markes maist captious and vnpropre to knau the same 1627 Fam. Innes 215.
I hope to gett the king to deale for it bot the time as yet is wnproper. Therefor … you must resolve patience a little 1639 Haddington Mem. II 174.
The times lately haue beene, … somewhat vnproper for acting any priuate businesse(b) c1615 Chron. Kings 37.
Judging the tyme to be onproper for the weiris
2. Of language or meaning: Not literal; metaphorical. 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 27.
Albeit in historicaall narrations … sik forme of speiche, oftymes figuratif, and vnproper loquutions hes place, ȝit quhen God instructis vs … in ony cheif heid of doctrine … ve aucht to tak the vordis of the scripture in ane proper signification 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 27.
All figuratif loquutions … ar verie obscure and difficill becaus the vordis ar tane in ane vnproper signification
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"Unproper adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 12 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/unproper>
