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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.

Unforgevin, -giffin, p.p. Also: unforgefyn(g, -gevyn, -gewin, -geiffin, -giffyn, -gifen, -givin, -given, -giwen, unfoirgevin, wnforgevin, -win, onforgevin, -gefyn(g, -gewin, -geffin, -gif(f)in, -giffyn, -gyffin, -en, -givin, oneforgevin, -gyffyne, ownforgeyfyng. [e.m.E. vnforgeuen (1565), 18th c. Eng. unforgiven (1737); Forgeve v.]

1. Of a fine or penalty: Without remission of any part, in full. 1428 Ayr Guild Ct. in Ayr & W. Coll. I 225.]
[Ipsa culpabilis ducetur in camisia per villam super le cuke-stule et jurabit quod decetero per annum villam non intrabit; et de hoc nulla erit venia(a) 1425 Acts II 12/1.
Ande quha sa … be fundyn fautyse sal pay ane vnlaw … vnforgevin 1432 Acts II 21/2.
Ilk gentil man sal pay to the king vnforgevin xl s. & ilk ȝeman xx s. 1442 Aberd. B. Rec. I 7.
Vnforgiffin 1459 Peebles B. Rec. I 131.
Vnforgefyng 1491 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. I 255.
That ale chaplannis that ar absent fra solempt processionis in solempnit festis sale pay i d. vnforgevin 1492 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 65.
Vn[for]gevyn 1509–10 Edinb. B. Rec. I 128.
Gif ony man of the said craft cummis nocht to the quarter comptis four tymis in the yeir … thai sall pay twa pundis of walx vnforgevin 1511 Aberd. B. Rec. I 81.
Vnforgiven 1530 Soc. Ant. II 390.
Unforgiffyn 1539 Soc. Ant. II 389.
Unforgifen 1553–81 Aberd. Baillie Ct. 6b.
Vnfoirgevin 1555 Lanark B. Rec. 31.
Unforgefyn 1563 Lanark B. Rec. 31.
Quhat persoun of the said counsall that revellis ony thing that his marow sayis in the said counsall … [to] pay x merkis to the byggin of the cassay, unforgeiffin 1563 Lanark B. Rec. 32.
That na aell be sald derrar nor iiij d. the pynt under the pane of ane unlaw unforgewin, that is to say the first falt xl s., the secund thre li. 1583 St. A. Kirk S. 503.
If thai be fund flytand or injuring utheris heirofter, thai and ilk ane of thame to pay xl s. to the box of the puir unforgevin 1622 Aberd. B. Rec. II 378.
Vnforgiwen 1639 Aberd. B. Rec. III 174.
That all the inhabitantis … keip the watche … vnder the paine of ten punds, to be payed be ilk persone absent, toties quoties, wnforgewin 1642 Glasgow Weavers 17.
Wnforgevin 1654 Glasgow B. Rec. II 301.
Nae persoune … sall presume or tak vpone hand to mak any candill, ryne or melt tallow … bot that everie candilmaker provyd themselfis in houssis for that end … ane hundrethe yeards aff any dwelling houssis … wnder the payne of ane hundrethe pundis vnforgivin(b) 1442 Aberd. B. Rec. I 8.
Ony man that beis warnyt be the officiares of the toune to the waiche, and he compeir noght at the our, he sal tyne on forgiffin viij s. to be raisit to the commoune werk of this toune 1456 Peebles B. Rec. I 112.
Ownforgeyfyng 1458 Murray Early B. Organ. I 257.
That ony man mayd tulyhe within the town sal pay x s. onforgefyng to the common wark ore he com owt of the tolboth 1458 Peebles B. Rec. I 126.
Onforgefyn 1491 Dunferm. Ann. 171.
Gyf Will Hart falt to her, to pay xi s. to Sanct Salvatoris altar onforgyffen [Dunferm. B. Rec. I 32, on forgiffyn] 1498 Perth Guildry 146 (Aug.).
Tene lib. to be pait on forgevin to the Haly Blud 1520 Stirling B. Rec. I 3.
Under the pane of viij s. to the Rud wark onforgifin 1539 Aberd B. Rec. in Mill Mediæv. Plays 127.
On forgyffin 1541 Aberd. B. Rec. MS XVII (Jam.).
On forgewin 1555 Edinb. Skinners in Bk. Old Edinb. C. VI 58.
Oneforgyffyne 1567 Lanark B. Rec. 36.
Oneforgevin 1567 Prestwick B. Rec. 70.
Onforgeffin 1571 Lanark B. Rec. 56.
The clerk and the offecer to … tak and inbring the unlais of the absens … withouit ony favouris, for xl s. to be onforgevin and tain and comprisset for the said soum a1578 Pitsc. II 242/28.
Nane sould eit flesche on Frydayes nor Settirdayes vnder the paine of xx poundis on forgivin for the first fault

2. Unforgiven, unpardoned. 1551 Hamilton Cat. 173.
[John xx] Resaif the haly spreit, quhais synnis saevir ye forgeve, thai ar forgevin to thame, and quhais synnis saevir ye hald onforgevin, thai ar onforgevin