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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.

Umbethink, v. Also: wmbethink, unbethink(e, ombethynk. P.t. and p.p. also wmbethoucht, -thowcht, -thought, un-, onbethocht, un-, wnbechot, um-, wmthocht. [ME and e.m.E. ummbeþennke (Orm), vmþink; vmthoght, vm-bithoght, vmbithogt, vmbe-þoȝt p.t. (all Cursor M.), vmthynke, vmbethynke, vnbethink (all Rolle), OE ymbþencan. Cf. Bethink v.]

1. tr. To call to mind, remember. Const. clause object.(a) 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 754.
I vmbethocht how Joue and auld Saturne In till ane wolf thay did Lycaon turne(b) a1400 Leg. S. xl 950.
He vmthocht he herd say, That, quha-sa had vndirtane To … sek s: Niniane … he suld help thaim

2. reflex. To think, consider, revolve in one's mind; to arrive at (an idea, etc.) by thinking. = Bethink v. 1. a. Const. noun clause or phrase. Also with elision of the subject, in quasi-impers. const.(1) 1375 Barb. i 92.
Haid ȝe wmbethocht ȝow enkrely Quhat perell to ȝow mycht apper 1375 Barb. v 615.
Wmbethinkis ȝow … How ner that I suld to ȝow be c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1467 (C).
Wmbethought c1420 Wynt. iv 130.
He … wmbethoucht [E.² vnbethocht] hym increly With quhat tormentis men mycht be Punysyde c1420 Wynt. viii 180.
Wmbethowcht 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 264.
The keiparis of the said place … vnbethocht thame selffis that thaj wer nocht of possibilitie to detene it fra thair aduersaris(b) a1400 Leg. S. xviii 1145.
Quhen that he hym vmthocht, Hou scho [had] sad [etc.] a1400 Leg. S. xxxii 220.
Scho vmthocht hyre … That it a foule fandyng was a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii 892.
Thai stere it ne mocht Til thai thaim syne wmthocht That [etc.](2) a1568 Bann. MS 258a/5.
Bewar with wemens wrinkis Mony wylis hir vmbethinkis(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxx 343.
Thane wmthocht hyr that scho Sa foule a syne consentit to

b. Const. of. Also, once, with elision of reflexive pronoun, or intr.(1) 1375 Barb. iii 352.
The king wmbethocht [1571 bethocht] him off a thing that he fra-thine on fute wald ga 1375 Barb. xvi 84.
He wald nocht … tak on hand With all his fayis in feld to fycht Bot he wmbethocht [C. vmbethoucht] him of ane slycht ?1438 Alex. i 609.
Quhan that I vmbethink me Of his great worship and bountie 1456 Hay II 164/28.
And will thou umbethink the wele of all that I have said 1513 Doug. i x 32.
I ombethynk [Sm. vmbethink, Ruddim. unbethinke] me of a trane 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2866.
He vmbethocht him self of ane consait … to taint thame with ane trane 1686 G. Stuart Joco-Ser. Disc. 4.
When I unbethink me of thae frights and fears(2) a1578 Pitsc. II 51/22.
He thocht he had him nocht sicker annewche. Thairfoir he onbethocht of ane vther meane

c. Without const. 1375 Barb. v 553.
He wmbethinkand [C. vmbethocht] him at the last In-till his hart gan wmbecast That [etc.] a1510 Aberd. Univ. Rev. XXXVI i 47.
Scho wnbechot [Dauney Anc. Sc. Melodies 49, unbechot] hir at the last Ande traistit that scho has traispast 1603 Philotus 601.
Quhen I haue vnbethocht me thryse I can na better way deuyse