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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Unhonesté, n. Also: unhonesti(e, -y, wnhonesté, -ie. [Late ME and e.m.E. unhoneste (a1470), vnhonestie (1526); Honesté n.] Reprehensible action or behaviour; (a) scandal, shame; misconduct; dishonesty. Cf. Dishonestee n. c1420 Wynt. iii 194.
Gyff thai ware … Tyll fest callyd, that thai sulde be Dyspoylyt, it war wnhoneste [W. vnhoneste] 14.. Reg. Maj. c. 48.
Gif … his wif fra him be departed & disseueryt be ony cause of hir vnhoneste or of blame 1540 Acts II 370/2.
The vnhonestie and misreule of kirkmen baith in witt knawlege and maneris 1582 Douglas Corr. 179.
Gif I wald deill vnhonestlie in ony mater … that may haif apperance to tend to ony vnhonestie 1588 King Cat. 141.
Mair greuouslie … thay sinne quha … giue lodging … to murtherars and vthers of notorious vnhonestie or sedition 1629 Bk. Carlaverock II 113.
To have putt such a commentar upon what was in hand, … wnder the sencur of follie or wnhonestie, was a bad recompance for my goodwill 1687 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII 115.
She knowes not M^cCarter the theiff, and … she never saw any unhonesty about her master's house 1690 Acts IX App. 48/2.
Laws and Acts of Parliament, whereby judges are punishable for doing wrong or unhonesty

b. Moral or sexual depravity; immorality. 1490 Irland Mir. III 26/7.
Quhen the saule … lufis the turpitude and the wnhoneste of the flesch c1508 Ch. & M. Prints i 18.
The hert set in nobilnes … sulde despise all filth and vnhonesti 1596 Dalr. I 250/9.
All vnhonestie of a … filthie lyfe had he imbracet

c. specif. Immodest display of nakedness. c1420 Wynt. iv 2324.
He held downe The nethir lape … off his gowne Behynd lauch, that nane suld se Spot, fylth or wnhoneste [W. vnhoneste]