A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1500-1599, 1650-1666
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Misbelef, Mysbeleve, n. Also: -byleve, -beleife, -blev, -belewe, miss-belieff. [ME. and e.m.E. mysbylefe (1340), -bileue (1377), -belieue (1529), etc., early ME. misbeleaue (a 1225).] a. Misbelief, wrongful or erroneous religious belief, lack of religious faith. b. An erroneous belief, an error. c. Doubt, uncertainty. —a. c1515 Asloan MS I. 315/24.
Jowis and Sarazenis slane in hell be Crist & his angelis for thair misbelef 1561 Q. Kennedy Compend. Ressonyng 181 n.
That pestiferus misbelewe and hurtfull rebellione off our fyrst parentis 1650 Comm. Gen. Assembly III. 149.
Heartless fears, missbelieff, scarring to apply Christ and to make use of the promises 1666 Carstairs Lett. 159.
My sister … still remaines seek, … She is under great heaviness, much werseling with misblev —b. 1513 Doug. x. xi. 56.
Gif thou wenys that all the victory … Maybe … alterat … A mysbyleve [v.rr. mysbeleve] thou fosteris all invane —c. 15.. Clariodus iii. 1471.
Of misbeleife the stound struike to his heart
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"Misbelef n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/misbelef>
