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

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

Wik(k)itnes, -nes(s)e, n. Also: wikytnes, -etnes, -ednes, vikitnes, vik(k)idnes, vikkidnas, wyk(k)ytnes, wykitnes, wickit(t)nes, -ytnes, -etnes, -nais, -ednes(s, -idnes, vickitnes, wyckitnes, -etnes, -ydnes, wychkitnes, witkitnes, vykgytnes, weikitnes, wekednes. [ME and e.m.E. wikcudnes (Cursor M.), wickidnes (a1340), wikkednesse (Chaucer), wickedness (c1400).] a. Wickedness as a state or attribute, evil, malicious or immoral disposition. b. An act of wickedness; wrongdoing. Also applied to something spoken.a., b. (1) 1375 Barb. i 559.
For all his gret valour … his syster son him slew, And gud men als … Throw tresoune and throw wikkitnes
1375 Barb. iii 566.
To rehers thar auld disese Dois thaim oft-sys confort and ese, With-thi thar-to folow na blame Dishonour wikytnes na schame
a1400 Leg. S. ii 516.
Stewene for thame … can pray, Bot it mowcht nocht on thame lycht For thar gret wikitnese and plycht
a1400 Leg. S. iii 179.
Vikitnes
a1400 Leg. S. iii 603.
Fore thu dwellis in wikitnes, And wenis nocht-the-les, That I suld [etc.]
c1420 Wynt. v 5704.
Constantyne … A man all gyvyne to wykkytnes [C. wickytnes, W. wickitnes]
c1420 Ratis R. 282.
Wykitnes
a1450 Fifteen Ois 369.
Defend me, Jesu … fra all wrachitnes And fra all fais wickitnes
1456 Hay II 22/16.
Wikkitnesse
c1460 Wisd. Sol. (STS) 503.
Syne … sal al the dochtiris of wykitnes al worth deife and al that trowis in thare enchantmentis
a1500 Henr. Fab. 705 (Bann.).
In south thow art a schrew. Sen thow can nocht forthink thy wicketnais
c1475 Wall. iii 344.
Causer of wer, wyrkar of wykitnes
a1500 Quare Jel. 240.
The wikkitnes that lyis In jelousy and false ymagynyng
1513 Doug. i vi 74.
Bot of Tyre the cuntre In heretage held Pigmalyon hir brodir, In wikkitnes cruel abufe all othir
a1538 Abell 11*a.
Theodorik rang in wykkytnes
1551 Hamilton Cat. 23.
Thow art fylit be reson of thi wyckitnes
1565–6 St. A. Kirk S. 258.
Quhar wycketnes is voluntaryelye committit
1567 Anderson Collect. Mary I 142.
Wickittnes
a1568 Wedderburn in Bann. MS 279b/55.
Wicketnes
1581 Burne Disput. 135.
Quhen the deuil sal be loused, quhilk laxation vil be knauin be vniversal vickitnes
1596 Dalr. I 164/33.
Ane auaritious persone, repleit of al wickitnes, addicted til al vice
c1600 Montg. Suppl. xxix 11.
Frome wiketnes I can nocht ceis
1609 Crim. Trials III 5.
Being tranet vp in all maner of crewall barbaritie and wiketnes
(b) 1375 Barb. xx 556 (C).
It is als [ill] to ger hym be Turnyt fra way of richtwisnes Or to consent till vikidnes
c1400 Troy-bk. ii 838 (C).
O felloune traytoure in-to deid How myght such wyckydnes proced Of so rytht felloune cruelte
?1438 Alex. ii 1441.
Wickednes thame followis all, And thay it follow, great and small
a1487 Gud Wyf & D. 268.
Quhen thai … lettis thame follow thair vantownes And favouris thame in thair vikkidnes, Of all thair ill thai haue the vit
a1487 Gud Wyf & D. 306.
Vikkidnas
1548 Corr. M. Lorraine 245.
I meyn nocht this be your grace bot be my lord governour quhom unto I haif writin his wikednes
a1578 Pitsc. I 101 heading.
Flatteraris ever raddie to comand wickidnes
1666 S. Ronaldshay 54.
If any wickedness might be brought to light concerning them
(c) 14.. Reg. Maj. c. 18.
Outher mone the warand hym essonȝe or nocht & gif he may nocht than salbe deniyt til him the power of the benefice of law that one til other is grauntid the quhilk is inconuenient to pur witkitnes [Skene Reg. Maj. i 16, for it is ane vnsemelie thing and ane iniquitie; L. iniquum]
1562-3 Winȝet II 79/25.
He affirme the cursit wychkitnes of Nestorius nocht to hef bene iustelie condemnit
(d) 1568 Chron. Fortirgall 136.
Vykgytnes
(e) c1568 Lauder Minor P. ii 7.
Thay ar so bent to weikitnes How lang, Lord, wyll this warld indure
(f) c1590 Fowler I 285/92.
Wekednes
(2) c1420 Ratis R. 1507.
Thow lufyt malice atour gudnes, Wykitnes to spek mar than evynnes

c. Lack of valour, cowardice, moral falling short. 1375 Barb. xii 280.
I ȝow requer and pray That with all ȝour mycht … ȝe pres ȝow at the begynnyng But cowardys or abaysing To mete thaim … Sa stoutly that [etc.] … In [ȝour] handys with-out faile Ȝe ber honour … Fredome [etc.] … Gyff ȝe contene ȝow manlely And the contrar … Sall fall giff ȝe lat cowardys And wykytnes [C. vikkidnes] ȝow suppris

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

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