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.
Unletterit, ppl. adj. Also: unletteryt, -leterit, -letterat, wnletterit, -yt, onletterit, -yt. [ME and e.m.E. unletterede (Rolle), unlettred (Trevisa), unletterd (c1440), onletterid (1544); Letterit p.p. and adj.] Lacking education; illiterate. = Unliterate adj.(a) c1460 Thewis Wysmen 187.
Thai ar ay reddy for to ken All sympill and wnletteryt men c1520-c1535 Nisbet Acts iv 13.
It was fundin that thai war vnlettirit [W. with oute lettris, P. vnlettrid], and lewit men 1535 Stewart 39016.
Kirkmen … Quhilk suld haif knawledge of ill and gude to ken, And teich the lawis to wnletterit men 1551 Hamilton Cat. 52.
Imagis … to thame that ar unletterat … geffis a quik remembrance of the passion of Christ 1576 Orkney Oppress. 84.
Thai … war ignorant and unleterit, and culd nowther wryt nor reid(b) 1513 Doug. xiii Prol. 196.
Lat … men onletterit [Sm. onletteryt, Ruddim. vnletterit] to my wark tak tent 1513 Doug. Exclam. 44.
Go, wlgar Virgill, to euery churlych wight … thou … to onletterit [Ruddim. vnletteryt] folk be red on hight, That erst was bot with clerkis comprehend
