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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.

Unité, -ie, n. Also: unitee, unyté, uneté, wnit(i)e, hwnyte. [ME and e.m.E. unite (Cursor M.), unyte (Wyclif), vnitye (c1425), vnitie (1535), OF unite, L. ūnitāt-.]

1. The state or condition of being united in sentiment, allegiance, etc.; mutual agreement, unanimity; harmony. Also, in(to) or at unité. Also, an instance of this.(1) 1416 Liber Melros 539.
It is … gude thing … to make frenschippe vnite and gude concorde betuix partyes discordand c1420 Wynt. ix 1016.
At Boloyngne … Wes a tretys off unyte Betwix the Frankis and Inglis men 1456 Hay I 71/2.
Gif that ony bischoppis … in quhilkis the faith remaynis help to bring agayne the kirk in unitee be sum gracious way 1490 Irland Mir. I 119/17.
Hevinly fadere, Thou … hauld concord betuix Thi Godheid and angellis, and caus vnite, luf and fauour betuix the hevinly court and humane linage 1490 Irland Mir. III 148/22.
Thar may be maid na continuacioun of the regimen the realme and crovne be mar vnyte na is it that is be successioun fra the fader to the sone 1513 Doug. xiii i 70.
All vnyte [Ruddim. vnite] Of confideratioun sworn and bund or now 1525 Douglas Corr. 100.
To help at my power for to put unyte concorde and pece betuix ther twa realmeis 1561 St. A. Kirk S. 138.
To caws hym obeye … the ordor of the kyrk … or ellis to exclud hym this citie, that na perturbacion of the unite and ordor be brokyn by hym 1562-3 Winȝet II 71/23.
He is nocht God of dissentioun, bot of peace … nocht God of him quha disseueris fra the vnitie of consent, bot of thame quha sal perseueir in peace of consent 1564 St. A. Kirk S.; 206.
The eldaris … sall resave hym … and embrace hym as thar brother to the unite of the kyrk a1570-86 Maitland in Maitl. F. 27/94.
And send ws peax and vnitie Now in to this new ȝeir 1582 Reg. Privy C. III 515.
Understanding the … trouble … betuix the merchandis and the craftis of Edinburgh … and … quhat prejudice it may import … to the unitie requisite in sic a burgh 1650 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 603.
By joyning his majesties subjects in the band of unitie(2) c1420 Wynt. iv 2455.
Octovyane … All hys tyme in to unyte The warld wes 1513 Doug. iii vii 64.
This sam lyge with our posterite Sal evir remane in faith and vnyte [Sm., Ruddim. vnite] a1538 Abell 37a.
And ten men duell to giddir in concord and wnite ane is ten and ten is ane 1567 G. Ball. 180.
I pray to God that thay and we Obey His word in vnitie a1570-86 Maitland in Maitl. F. 42/70.
Vnete a1578 Pitsc. I 154/10.
Wnitie(3) 1548 Corr. M. Lorraine 241.
Tha think mair souer is to tham that this realm be nevir at perfit hwnyte … for dreddour of thair pwnissioun(4) 1562-3 Winȝet I 136/3.
To the intent that ȝe may … leue with ws in a godlie vnitie a1585 Maitland in Maitl. Q. 178/42.
And for na privat proffeit that may be Stop not to mak ane perfyte vnitie

b. Uniformity. 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. in Cath. Tr. (STS) 77 marg.
Vnite of doctrin in all placis … in the Catholik Kirk, quhilk is not amangs the Caluinistis, Lutheriens and vther scismatiques

2. The fact or state of being one and undivided; oneness. Also, an instance of this.(1) a1500 Henr. Thre Deid Pollis 64.
The hie Fader … The Sone alswa, the Haly Gaist conding, Thre knit in ane be perfyt vnitie [M. vnite] 1490 Irland Mir. II 17/7.
Of the thingis we ar oblist to trow … to the fyrst pertenis the vnite of the deite and natur of the Godheid ?a1500 Remembr. Passion 705.
Throw the meritis of His sueit sone, Jesu Crist, that levis and ringnis with Him in ane or vnite with the Haly Gaist c1520-c1535 Nisbet Ephes. iv 3.
Besy to kepe vnitee [W. vnite, P. vnyte] of spirit in the band of pece 1533 Gau 57/10.
He is wordine man and sua is spousit with the halie chrissine kirk in to ane body the quhilk vnite S. Paul … callis ane greit halie secreit thing a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 132/29.
Christis flesche … iounit inseparatlye to His Godheid in vnitie of persone 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 169/17.
The flesche of ane man maid halie and iwnit onto the Sone of God be ane vnite of worthines 1562-3 Winȝet II 38/24.
[According to Nestorius] Christe wes first borne a commoun man and man allone, and nocht ȝit marrowit be the vnitie of the … Sone of God a1568 Scott xxxvi 84.
Gloir to the Haly Spreit of loif In trenefald vnitie(2) 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 116.
For love is the master sennon that couples all thir members of Christ's bodie togither, and maks them to grow up all in a spirituall and misticall unitie