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.
Unbeleve, -beleife, -belief, n. [ME and e.m.E. un-bileue (c1200), vnbelefe (Tindale); Beleve n.] Lack of (religious) belief. —c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. xiii 58.
And he did nocht mony virtues thar for the vnbeleue [W. vnbyleue, P. vnbileue] of tham c1520-c1535 Nisbet Prol. Rom. 327/37.
Al is fals ypocricy ande syn, quhat sa euir is donne without faith or in vnbeleife 1567 G. Ball. 13.
Saif vs … from dispair From unbeleue, and Lollardis lair 1638 Henderson Serm. 131.
Unbelief … makes evermore a foul hinderend 1638 Henderson Serm. 149.
They had unbelief ringing into their hearts
