A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
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: 1399-1400, 1456-1599
[0,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0]
Mis-, Mysaventur(e, -our, -eur, n. Also: mis-, mysawentur, -oure, missaventur; misadventure [ME. mis- (c 1290), mys-, mesaventure, -our(e, -eur mesadventure (15th c.), e.m.E. myssaventre (1509–10), misadventure (c 1510), OF. mesaventure.] a. A misadventure, mishap, misfortune. b. Ill fortune, adversity.a. (a) a1400 Legends of the Saints xix. 4.
That thaim ne may Ony mysawentoure fal that day 1456 Hay I. 85/15.
Othir is thare … that misknawis the perilis and the misaventuris that oft tyme cummys in weris 1456 Ib. 284/15.
Quhen ony … folk will mak dule for … ony bataill tynt or othir grete misaventure a1500 Buke of the Sevyne Sagis 1873.
Ane mair misawentur sall fall ȝe Than fell a burges(b) c1460 Vertewis of the Mess (S.T.S.) 58.
It kepis hyme fra misaduenturis and perellis to cumb. 1456 Hay I. 294/24. 1456 Ib. II. 79/4.
His realme sall nocht prosper but grete mysaventure and grete pestilencis a1500 Buke of the Sevyne Sagis 517.
Als gret misaventour sall fall ȝe [etc.] a1500 King Hart 4.
He na dout had of misaventure c1500-c1512 Dunb. xx. 44.
Hald God thy friend … He will thé confort in all misaventeur 1513 Doug. ix. v. 131.
Lat fortoun send ws gude luk, gif scho lest, Or mysaventour 1513 Ib. xiii. v. 87.
Quhat chance onworthy or mysaventur [R. mysauenture] Hes thé constrenyt? 15.. Clariodus iii. 2054.
Scho did evaid The great missaventur befor hir laide 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 122.
Than helpit me that King potent In my misauenture
You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Mysaventur n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/mysaventure>
