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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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About this entry:
First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Quotation dates: 1475-1678

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Mischev(o)us, a. Also mischewous, -es, -ch(e)ivous, -wous, -chievous, -cheevous, myschev(o)us, -os, -chewus, -os, -is, -chews, -cheivous; mischefus, -cheaffus, myscheiffus. [ME. (c 1330) and e.m.E. mis-, myschevous (14th c.), -us, -es, mischuos (c 1330), meschevous (15th c.), e.m.E. mischievous, mischivous, AF. meschevous (c 1400).]In verse the main stress generally falls on the second syllable.

1. Of events or circumstances: Fraught with misfortune or disaster; unfortunate, calamitous, disastrous.Common in Douglas.1513 Doug. ii. x. 30.
And … cruel vengeans take Of my cuntre for this myschews wrake 1513 Ib. v. xi. 51.
To quhat myschews end 1513 Ib. viii. ix. 83.
Ony myschewos [v.r. myschevos] cace 1513 Ib. xi. vi. 131.
Our ald stryfe … That so myschews was and bad to se 1513 Ib. xi. xiv. 7.
Amyd the ful myschewos [Sm. myschewus] fyght The gret slauchter and rowtis takand the flycht 1513 Ib. 82.
Onto myschewos [R. myscheuus] ded predestinate 1533 Boece i. iii. 37.
All … suld … haue ane trublous life and myschevous end 1540 Lynd. Sat. 4294. 1549 Complaynte of Scotland (1801) 126.
Mischeivous 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 7408. c1568 Lauder Minor P. i. 453. a1570-86 Maitland Maitland Folio MS civ. 26.
This plaig … And this mischeuous tyme c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace (1570) iv. 748.
In this mischeuous [MS. myschefull] chance c1600 Montg. Suppl. xxx. 13.
Quhairhe maid ane mischefus end

2. Of persons or their dispositions: Tending to wreak harm; baleful, maleficent, malignant, evil, wicked.c 1500 Justiciary Rec. I. 154.
Suffir not the pure sempill pipill to be … reft be strang mischewes tyranttis 1513 Doug. xi. x. 59.
Ȝon detestabill and myschews [Sm. myschewis] Enee 1513 Ib. xii. xiii. 194.
O ȝe myschewos fowlis … Do me na mair agrys 1513 Ib. 134, xiv. 65. 1531 Bell. Boece II. 297/11.
[The] officiall … lede proces of cursing apoun ane myschevous lymmare namit Twynane becaus he was dilatit sindry tymes of adultery and [etc.] 1531 Ib. I. 177. 1535 Stewart 17587.
Mischeuous murtherar of his awin blude c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5178.
That myscheuous man [sc. the Antichrist] 1562-3 Winȝet II. 33/28.
Quhen that mischeuous Nestorius … began to ryue the flok of Christe ? 1572 Satirical Poems xxxvi. ii.
We ar … repute of sa fals mischevous naturis a1570-86 Maitland Maitland Folio MS civ. 1.
Mair mischeuous and wickit warld Nor thair is now a1578 Pitsc. I. 24/29.
The mischewous companie of harlottis and flatteraris a1578 Ib. 52/15.
All mischevous tyrans a1578 Ib. 123/19. 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. (S.T.S.) 84/9.
Mischiuous 1596 Dalr. I. 109/15.
Mischieuous 1657 Balfour Ann. IV. 322.
Lett non be so vnhappie and mischiwous [etc.]

b. Of actions or behaviour; Harmful, evil, wicked.(a) 1567 Anderson Collect. Mary I. 142.
The said erle continuand in his mischivous wickittnes 1568 Hosack Mary Q. of Scots 537.1572 Reg. Privy C. II. 140.
The authouris of all thir tressonable mischevus and barbarus crewelteis ? 1572 Satirical Poems xxxvi. 121. 1574 Elgin Rec. I. 216.
Takand the grittar occasioun of his mischevous interprysis a1570-86 Maitland Folio MS lxxii. 54. a1578 Pitsc. I. 40/6. 1591 Reg. Morton I. 172.
Sic persones as hes ettellit mischewous prakteceis aganis his majesties awin estait and persoun 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I. 174.
Christen Reid … quhom thow imployit … to execut … thy mischevous and devilische devyssis 1678 Calderwood II. 391.
The devisers of that mischeevous and unworthie fact(b) 1525 St. A. Formulare I. 269.
In thare evil and myscheiffus deidis c1615 Chron. Kings 49.
His mischeaffus deidis

c. transf.1609 Craig iii. 21.
Fair marks are hit with shots and shafts mischivous

d. Applied by Knox to the Catholics and their beliefs and practices. —1558-66 Knox II. 291.
For upoun allhallow day thai blended up thair messe with all myscheivous solempnite 1550 Ib. III. 69.
But in the mischevous masse ane man did eat and drink all 1550 Ib.
The maist abominabill abussis, as of bying and selling, useit … by the mischevous preistis

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