Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

ILL-TA'EN, adj. Also -taken, -teen. See Tak.

1. Taken amiss or in bad part, resented (Mry., Kcd., m. and s.Sc. 1958).Ayr. 1786 Burns Cotter's Sat. Night viii.:
A strappan youth, he takes the Mother's eye; Blythe Jenny sees the visit's no ill taen.Kcb. 1814 W. Nicholson Poems 33:
Syne tauld his erran' plat and plain, An' saw it wasna that ill ta'en.Sc. 1827 Scott Highland Widow i.:
When pressed to drink doch-an-dorroch to my ladyship's good health, it would have been ill taken to have refused the pledge.

2. Appar. a misusage = ? perverse, wrong-headed, mistaken.Kcd. 1934 L. G. Gibbon Grey Granite i. 23:
Aye on the riot about something or other, stirred up by those ill-ta'en . . . Socialists.

3. With up: untidy, carelessly dressed (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.); keeping bad company (Abd. 1948, -teen).