Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
UNWITTINS, adv. Also -ens, onwittens; awittens. Unwittingly, inadvertently, unknowingly; “used in conjunction with the pron. me, him, her, etc. as denoting what is without the privacy of the person referred to” (Dmf. 1825 Jam., awittens). Construed as an adj. in 1791 quot. See also Onwittins and etym. note s.v. Obs. exc. liter.ne.Sc. 1791 Caled. Mercury (29 Sept.):
An' mair outowr, [whisky] 'till gar them gang, An' stoiter stively throw the thrang Onwittens futher richt or wrang.Abd. 1824 G. Smith Douglas 14:
Have I unwittens hurt my lady's ear?Sc. 1928 J. G. Horne Lan'wart Loon 13:
An' than, unwittens, cam' upon, In's oxter-pooch, his mither's scone.
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"Unwittins adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 7 Nov 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/unwittins>
