A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Unacquent, -ed, ppl. adj. Also: un-, wnacquaint, unaquanted, -acquainted, wnacquayntit, onacquentit, unquented. [e.m.E. vnacquaynted (1529), vnacquainted (1563), unacquaint (1587); Acquent p.p., Acquentit p.p.]
1. Of things: Unknown, unfamiliar, strange. Also, to (a person).(1) c1590 Fowler I 26/23.
The habit proude, vnsene, vnvsd, all new and vn acquent, I thair beheld(b) 1632 Lithgow Trav. x 458.
I was confident to dye a fearefull and vnacquainted death(c) c1590 Fowler I 26/19.
I who was not muche acquent with such vnquented sight(d) 1602 Misc. Spald. C. II 289.
We heff … resaued your lordschipis letter off ane onacquentit styll … in respect off … your lordschipis accustumat courteseis touardis ws(2) 1572 Buch. Detect. Sig. H ijb.
The kinde of disease, strange, vnknawin to the pepill, vnacquainted to phisitiones
2. predic. Of persons or quasi-personified things: Unacquainted, unfamiliar, with (something). b. attrib. In ellipt. use.1611-57 Mure Doomesday 643.
Satietie … vnacquent With loathing 1646 Glasgow B. Rec. II 106.
What was done … is out of meere ignorance, being unacquent with such affaires 1687 Shields Hind Let Loose 307.
Strangers, that are unacquaint with their personal profligateness and ignoranceb. c1590 Fowler I 16/30.
Whose … wisdome [etc.] … dryweth not only the deuotioun of tham who ar acquented with the same in a farder continuance … bot enforced also the vnacquented beholders … thairof … to reuerence
3. Inexperienced, not knowledgeable, ignorant. a. predic. Const. in (something). b. attrib.a. 1611-57 Mure Early Misc. P. ii 47.
[Cupid] spying me ȝit wnacquaint in loueb. 1632 Lithgow Trav. x 426.
I thinke it best to show the vnacquainted reader a reasonable satisfaction for [etc.]
4. ? Without making (another) acquainted with (a fact); ? without (another's) being acquainted with (a fact).1636 Banff Ann. I 74.
That na persone … by onye lyme … wnacquayntit the saids maisteris off wark and meassones therwith and of ther necessities therof
5. Having no acquaintances, acquainted with no-one.c1679 Kirkton Hist. 280.
Maxwell … because he was unacquaint in the town … came running into Nicol Moffat … his house in Horse-Wynd 1701 Rothesay Par. Rec. 140.
He coming to Ardyne late on Saturday night in a storme and being unaquanted in that countrey could not for money or moyen procure provender
