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: 1399-1420, 1513-1650
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Unhap(p)ely, -happily, adv. Also: unhappelye, -lie, -happyly, -happilie, -hapiely, wnhappely, -hap(p)elie, -happellie, -happily, -hapalie, onhappely, -happily. [ME and e.m.E. vnhappyly (Chaucer), unhappely (Gower), vnhappily (Lydgate), vnhappelie (c1430); Happely adv.] Unfortunately, regrettably; with unfortunate consequences; hence, tragically, disastrously. a1400 Legends of the Saints xxxiv 179.
I … has nocht anerly my-selfe Sonkyne in syne vnhapely, Bot men but nombre c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2270.
Vnhappely than we fell eft In-to Carybdis c1420 Wynt. v 1338.
A kyng off byrthe and wnworthy Regnys, he sayd, unhappyly [C. wnhappely, W. vnhappely] c1420 Ratis Raving 1454.
Quhat ferly is than at syk men … Wnhappely thar tyme our-dryf That nothir auld na ȝong wyl thrif? 1513 Doug. v vi 73.
Nysus fallys onhappely [Sm., Ruddim. vnhappely] Apon the glotnyt blude 1513 Doug. vii vi 83 (Ruddim.).
Cachit vnhappelie [C. onhappely, Sm. wnhappily] With hidduous monstouris can sche ryn and cry 1533 Bell. Livy I 86/24.
The Sabynis faucht vnhappely in this last battall [L. male gestæ res erant] a1538 Abell 37b.
[He] slew his self wnhappelie at he suld nocht be langar in reprufe to the Romanis 1562-3 Winȝet II 6/16.
A bricht lantern, quhareby we may cleirlie se … quhat way we hef vnhappelie turnit ws fra his Maiestie a1578 Pitsc. I 209/4.
He [sc. James III] hapnit out wnhappelie and said ‘I was ȝour king this day at morne' a1578 Pitsc. I 269/10.
[James IV] … ansuerit wnhappellie in this maner … sayand to tham in ane furieous rage [etc.] a1578 Pitsc. I 152/1.
Wnhapelie a1578 Pitsc. II 95/24.
Wnhapalie [I. vnhappily] 1588 Laing MSS 75.
Unhappelye 1596 10th Rep. Hist. MSS App. i 76.
At the last maist unnaturally and unhappilie … fell out the lamentable slauchter of the saidis vmquhill James Stirling 1610 Rep. Sir Arch. Grant Mun. 240.
The king … was slane … vnhappilie be ane despairet fallow 1626 Garden Worthies 88.
Onhappily 1637 Baillie I 21.
Always at his onlouping his horse unhapiely did fall above him in a very foule myre c1650 Spalding I 268.
[They] met with the young laird of Tolquhone, and vnhappellie discordit
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"Unhapely adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 18 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/unhappely>
