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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.

Unsuspect, adj. Also: unsuspek, wnsuspect, -suspek, -pec, on(e)suspect, onsuspectt, -suspeck. [ME and e.m.E. unsuspect (Wyclif); Suspect adj.]

1. Of persons: Beyond suspicion; honest, of good repute; unbiased, impartial. Also absol.(a) 1402 Dundee Chart. No. 22.
The saidez parties submyttit thaim of frewil … til vs & til oure consaillie vnsuspect apon the saide cause 14.. Acts I 331/2.
Efter that salbe callit all the playntis and tharupon to be vpraysit ane gude assise and unsuspect of the best and the worthiest 1429 Cal. Doc. IV 405.
That thar sal be chosin on aithir side thre trew and unsuspect persouns 14.. Quon. Attach. c. 5.
Vnsuspek 1471 Acta Aud. 17/1.
That … outher souueran lord outher tak the said principale actioune befor him & his counsaile & minister justice tharin or ellis schaw ane vther vnsuspect juge tharto a1500 Henr. Fab. 2689.
I oblis me rycht heir, That I sall byde ane vnsuspect assyis 1478 Acta Aud. 83/2.
To cheis a gret assise of xxv persons of the best & vnsuspect persons within the said burgh 1519 Montgomery Mem. 90.
Giff ony of the saidis tua jugis hapnys to disces ane odir to be … chosin … that luffis bayth the saidis erlis welis and honvris wnsuspect 1521 Fife Sheriff Ct. 273.
[To] charge our said schiref principale of Fife to deput ane wnsuspect deput in the said mater … because our said schiref principale is suspect to be juge to the said Dauid 1525 (1527) Reg. Great S. 97/1.
Quhill it be sene and understanding be the dekin and four maisteris unsuspect of the craft that he be sufficient werkman 1531 Prot. Bk. M. Fleming 25b.
Wnsuspec 1536 Prot. Bk. M. Fleming 103.
Wnsuspek 1545–6 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 543.
To cheis ane newtrale unsuspect man to be thair provest, … nothir favorand the Lordis Ruthven nor Gray nor nane of thair assistaris(b) 1544 Prot. Bk. J. Cristisone 88.
One suspect 1554 Corr. M. Lorraine 384.
Till haif ane onsuspect juge … that the men suffir nocht gif thai be saiklesabsol. 1569–70 Inverness Rec. I 185.
Ane inqueist of the best and wortheast onsuspect to be vpchosin 1622-6 Bisset II 251/21.
Gif any beis knawin … nocht abill to do quhilk they tuik upoun hand; the same may be provin be twa or thrie unsuspect of the schip

b. Not an object of suspicion to or of (another); not suspected of having (something).(1) 1488 Acts II 210/2.
Prelatis, erlis [etc.] … of gud disposicioune & vnsuspect to his hienes & evinly to all his liegis(b) a1578 Pitsc. II 14/11.
The ȝoung quein sould be delyuerit to four lordis newtrall vyse honest and onsuspectt of bayth the pairteis(2) 1584 Reg. Privy C. III 680.
Declaring thame to be unsuspect of the said infectioun, and to have reparit fra clene and unsuspect pairtis of the cuntrey

2. Of a place: That is not suspected of harbouring infection, disaffection or partiality between parties.(a) 1519 Acta Conc. MS XXXII 185.
Gif thai knaw ony danger of pestelence … thai sall … convoy [the king] … to … ony … unsuspect castell 1571 Bann. Trans. 186.
I sall meit thé in neutrall and vnsuspect place 1584 Reg. Privy C. III 680 (see 1 b (2) above). 1593 Acts IV 16/1.
[The earls of Angus, Huntly, etc.] to pas … to sic vnsuspect places as his hienes … sall prescriue … and incais thay will nather conforme thame selffis … to the religioun presentlie professit [etc.](b) 1543–4 Corr. M. Lorraine 67.
That he ples cauis ane conventioun … of the maist nobill men of this realme in onsuspeck place quhair my innocence may be tryit

b. Of things: Not suspected of harbouring infection. 1545 Stirling Ant. IV 204.
That the gudes and merchandise perteining to thame sic as lynt, irne, &c., to be loissit at this instant tyme, sal be unsuspect and without simote or falt of pest