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.
Misfortun(e, n. Also: mys- and -forto(u)n(e. [e.m.E. misfortune (1494), mys-, mysse-.] Misfortune, ill luck.1456 Hay I. 59/10.
Mony tymes war the Romaynis ourcummyn … and had grete misfortune a1500 Henr. Fab. 1502 (Bann.).
A lord … Keipit that was in poynt to be ourthrawin Throw misfortoun a1500 Seven S. 676. 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. i. 501.
Wo worth sic strang misfortoun anoyous Id. Æn. i. vii. 75.
Quhat regioun in erd may fundyn be Quhar our mysforton is nocht fully proclame? 1567 G. Ball. 108.
Na misfortoun thy hous sall se
b. A piece of ill luck, a misfortune.sing. 1456 Hay I. 49/1.
Quhen the Romaynis herd of that mysfortune, thai war sa wa [etc.] c1460 Thewis Wysmen 434.
Na thai dreid nocht before … the misforton fal thaim tyll 1513 Doug. v. vi. 122.
War nocht the sam mysforton me ourraucht Quhilk Salyus betyd? Ib. xi. iv. 61. a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xvii. 28.
His captanis … tynt na curage for that misfortoun a1578 Pitsc. I. 143/20.
All that knew his misfortoun Ib. 144/23.
For ony misfortun of the wardill 1631 Red Bk. Menteith II. 129.
Geving suche misfortun did require that theis sould come in liteplur. 1456 Hay II. 59/30.
Sleuth and leithfulnes … is blythe of thar mysfortunys Ib. 133/22.
Or othir mysfortunys of forefaulting 1492 Myll Spect. 273/16.
The mony gret evillis and mysfortonis that … cummys to men throw … luf a1578 Pitsc. I. 101/11.
Allis insolent as they had never bene afflictit witht sic misfortounis
