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: 1399-1400, 1475-1599
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Unricht, Onricht, n. Also: unrycht, -right, wnrycht, onrycht. [ME and e.m.E. unriht (c1175), vnriȝt (1297), vnright (Cursor M.), OE unriht.] Wrongdoing; injustice, freq., to do (wyrk) unricht (to or contrar another, or with indirect obj.). Also personified. Also, an instance of wrongdoing, a wrong or injustice.(1) a1500 King Hart 715.
Dame Plesance sayis, schir, that ȝe do vnricht c1490 Irland Asl. MS 33/21.
God biddis thé nocht do vnricht na wrange 1535 Stewart 28455.
For sic wrang and wnrycht, The hand of God on him richt sone suld licht 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 173.
The clude … hypocresie Send from the prince of all vnrycht O Christ, for till obscure thy lycht(2) a1400 Legends of the Saints xlix 183.
He vald thole [hir] for to be Kepit in virginite, Na thole na man do hir vnrycht c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace iv 72.
I will byde at the Mernys all nycht So Inglismen may deyme ws no wnrycht c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace vii 1120.
Contrar Scotland thai wrocht full gret wnrycht 15.. Clariodus v 1219.
Ȝe sall promit … never againe doe ladies sik unright(b) 1513 Doug. iv Prol. 138.
Luf … thi nychtburris and wyrk thame nane onrycht [Sm., Ruddim. vnricht] 1533 Gau 14/24.
Supos thay dw to thaime onricht 1540 Lynd. Sat. 4238 (Ch.).
My wyfe with preists sho doith me greit onricht [B. vnricht](3) personified a1500 King Hart 32.
Vnricht, Dyme Sicht, with Slicht and Subtilitie Thir war the inwarde ythand seruitouris(4) 1528 Lynd. Dreme 262.
Dukis, merquessis, erlis [etc.] … wer punyst panefullie, Partycipant thay wer of thare vnrychtis
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"Unricht n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 20 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/unricht_n>
