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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.

Unhappy, -hap(p)ie, adj. Also: unhapey, -hopie, wnhappy, -hap(p)ie, -hapé, onhappy, -happie. [ME and e.m.E. vnhappi (Cursor M.), vnhappy (Chaucer), on-happy (Prompt. Parv.), vnhappie (1585); Happy adj.]

1. a. Of persons: Unfortunate, unlucky, ill-fated; passing into wretched, miserable. Also proverb.(a) 1375 Barb. iii 291.
Bot he the mar be wnhappy He sall eschew it in party a1400 Leg. S. vii 691.
Vnhappy sone arte thu Of mare vnhappy modir now 1535 Stewart 29166.
Into presoun this curst vnhappie king Throw greit dispair … him awin self thair he slew(b) 1513 Doug. i xi 109.
Onhappy [Sm. vnhappy, Ruddim. unhappy] Dido … The langsum lufe drynkand inwart ful caldproverb. a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 241.
Ane vnhappie mannis cairt is eath to tumble

b. transf. Of things or conditions: Redolent of, or afflicted by, misfortune or calamity; inauspicious, ill-omened.(a) 1513 Doug. v xi 71.
Thir fey onhappy [Sm. wnhappy, Ruddim. vnhappy] schippys al bedene Lat ws go byrn 1513 Doug. vii xii 29.
Quhar the onhappy [Sm., Ruddim. vnhappy] flude of Allya Flowis throw the boundis a1570-86 Maitland in Maitl. F. 333/4.
Bot now in this onhappie tyme Sa mony smittit with that cryme(b) 1533 Bell. Livy I 47/20.
Numa schewe in his calendar sic dayis as wer happy and sic dayis as war unhappy 1533 Bell. Livy I 61/4.
Than sall his hede be coverit, his body … hingit on ane vnhappy tre 1533 Bell. Livy II 10/17.
Lamentand … the vnhappy bewtie of this virgine, and the necessite that inforsit the handis of the fader in his douchteris slauchter 1535 Stewart 40220.
Quhilk wald nocht faill … To bring me sone to ane vnhappie end 1560 Rolland Seven S. 4159.
God hes me send sa vnhappie ane weird, That I can get na solace in this eird a1570-86 Arbuthnot in Maitl. F. 49/2.
O heich vnhappie O cruell destanie … quhat alis ȝow at me 1581 Burne Disput. 164b.
The Gentiles … beleuit that sum dayis of thair auin nature var vnhappie for ane coniunctione of noysum planetis 1645 Rutherford Tryal Faith (1845) i 3.
It is unhappy if, in the nick of the first breaking of the morning sky, the night watch fall fast asleep

2. Misguided, ill-advised; troublesome, objectionable; base, wicked. a. Of persons. b. transf. Of things.a. a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi 736.
For cowaitise A man, vnhappy & wnwyse, Dalf vpe his graf ?1438 Alex. ii 1429.
Of gude father suld cum gude sone. Gif he be nocht gude but vnhappy … Men will him hait 1490 Irland Mir. III 70/29.
He that will nocht forthink his syn and confes it is rycht wnhappy and wourthi tobe punyst tharfor 1540 Lynd. Sat. 963 (B).
Swyth, pas thé hence, vnhappy vnsale 1572 Bann. Memor. 271.
That vnhappy, devilise, and terrible counsall of Trent a1578 Pitsc. I 21/17.
Thair is na thing mair plesand to me nor to heir of weir and discord betuix thay twa wnhappie tyranttis a1578 Pitsc. I 44/7.
Wnhapie a1605 Birrel Diary 20.
Ane unhappy fellow lifted upe his jack taill and shot him through the body 1613 Denmylne MSS in Highland P. III 127.
Of new strenthned withe a fresche grouth of this wnhappie weid [sc. the Macgregors] 1613 Hist. Clan Gregor I 411.
Unhopie 1649 Misc. Spald. C. V 381.
Wnhape 1666 Laing MSS 349.
Lorn knows not this nor I hop non will be so unhapie as to tell him itb. c1536 Lynd. Compl. Bagsche 42.
Quhen to the King the cace was knawin Of my vnhappy hardines … How euerilk dog I did oppres 1622 Crim. Trials III 512.
The hanting … of the vnhappie socieatie and companie of the said witches 1639 Baillie I 200.
Thir were the perplexities wherewith a good prince was inthorned at Yorke, by the unhappie vollies of ane angrie … clergie 1657 Balfour Ann. III 41.
Ther hath beine nothing so displeassing to me, as thosse vnluckie differences … betuix me and my subiects, and … I houpe … to setle thesse vnhapey mistakinges 1681 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds II 166 (18 Feb.).
[The said apprentice] … shall not … spend his money at cards and dice or ony vther unhappie games