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.
Quotation dates: 1399-1400, 1499-1647, 1700+
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Unclene, -cleine, adj. Also: unclenne, -cleen, -clean(e, wncleynne, onclene, -cleyne. [ME and e.m.E. unnclene (Orm), unclene (c1250), vncleane (c1400), uncleyne (1440), OE unclǽne; Clene adj.]
1. Morally impure; tainted; unchaste. Also absol., impure people.(a) a1400 Legends of the Saints iii 454.
For Adame vnclene handis racht To that tre a1400 Legends of the Saints vii 336.
The Jowis … for na thinge that thai had sene Wald mend thar wikit liffis vnclene a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 285.
Hir leuing vnclene and lecherous Scho wald retorte in me c1520-c1535 Nisbet 1 Cor. vii 14.
Your childire war vncleen, [W. vnclene, P. vncleene] bot now thai ar haly 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 3197.
Corruptit cors vnclene, thow springand well of vice 1562-3 Winȝet I 14/5
Ane vnclene land, quhilk is not raynit vpon 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 1.
Then sal thay … cause them to put away baudrie & vnclene sangis a1578 Pitsc. II 69/24.
To the filthie all thingis ar vncleane 1596 Dalr. I 240/11.
He gathiret his vile, vnhonest, maist impure, and vncleine secte(b) c1520-c1535 Nisbet Mark vii 2 marg.
Quhatsaeuir was wncleynne or vnmeite to Godis seruice, it was callit commouneabsol. 1628 Mure Spirituall Hymne 19.
Hence yee, vncleane, that darre appeare With hands, with hearts prophaine
b. specif. Applied to the Devil, or a spirit.c1520-c1535 Nisbet I 8.
He deliueris the possest fra the vnclenne sprete 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (STS) 25/24.
That vncleane spirite … teacheth his disciples … how to worke all kinde of mischiefe
2. Not physically clean; dirty, stained.(a) a1400 Legends of the Saints xxxi 286.
Wenand scho [sc. Eugenia] man had bene In-to sic abit cled vnclene 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 1182.
With coit vnclene, clame kynrent to sum cuke(b) 1513 Doug. v vi 86.
Grulyng as he mycht apon the slydry grene, Maid hym lycht wyndflaucht on the grond onclene [Sm., Ruddim. vnclene] 1513 Doug. xii x 144.
Hys cannos hair … With onclene [Ruddim. vnclene] puldyr has he all bysprent 1533 Gau 66/17.
Our body is alsua oncleyne and foul and groiff
3. That has or manifests repugnant symptoms and is contagious: a. Of diseased persons. b. Of a disease.a. 1647 Glasgow B. Rec. II 113.
James Robiesoune … is maid choyse of to be visitour of the mwire quhair the vncleane folkis arb. 1701 Rothesay Par. Rec. 145.
Her two children who lye … in a separate house at the Miln of Attrick very ill of ane unclean disease
