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.
Unjust, adj. Also: unjuste, wn-, onjust. [ME and e.m.E. vniust(e (both Wyclif); Just adj., Injust adj.]
1. a. Of a person: That does not act justly or fairly. Also absol.1528 Lynd. Dreme 259.
Ponce Pylat was thare [sc. in Hell] … With vniuste jugis for thare sentence fals 1535 Stewart 47216.
O vnjust king … injust sentence thow hes fulminatabsol. 1588 King Cat. 173.
I brak the chaftis of the uniust, and pluckit the pray out of thair teithe
b. Of an action, etc.: Marked by, or productive of, injustice; unjustifiable, indefensible.(a) 1565 Edinb. Univ. MS La.iii.388a, fol. 5b.
Howsone thai understand the caus of thair client wrangus and uniust thai sall … desist fra all forder persute and defens a1578 Pitsc. I 169/30.
Thair matteris was dressit according to thair awin plesour. Quhether they war iust or wniust or aganis the common weill, all was alyke onto him a1578 Pitsc. I 119/17.
He knew weill the matter to be uniust baith aganis God and his natiwe prince 1596 Dalr. I 118/2.
Gif in the general parleament ony thing with ouir gret seueritie be decreited against the tounes … as ane vniust institutione [it] may be reuoked 1618 Elgin Rec. II 157.
For the quhilk contemptuous and wniust speitches my lord bischop protestit c1691 Melville Corr. 239.
To haue ane unjust right quatt, which might have ruin'd my familly if it had come to a competition(b) 1549 Compl. 2/24.
Tha said rauisant volfis of Ingland hes intendit ane oniust veyr be ane sinister inuentit false titil 1643 Wemyss Corr. 54.
To engadge them in ane onjust quarrell against ws their king
2. Improper; dishonest.1581 Acts III 206/1.
His fals audatious and vniust forgeing adulterating and cunȝeing of our souerane lordis money
3. Of measures or weights: False; inaccurate.1554 Edinb. B. Rec. II 201.
Quhair thair beis apprehendit … vniust fals mettis mesouris or wechtis … the awneris thairof salbe pvnist with all regour 1589 Edinb. B. Rec. V 6.
In respect the awld braysin wechts are worn and brokken and thairby become unjust ordanis the dene of gild to caus mak thame ower agane and to just thame 1653 Peebles B. Rec. II 17.
Conveanit for selling of victuall with ane unjust cop
