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.
Unpay, Onpay, v. P.p. unpayit, -pai(e)t, -payt, -peyit(t, -payed, -paid, -peyed, -pyed, umpeyit, wn-, wmpayit, onpayit, -pait. [ME and e.m.E. onpay (Ayenbite) to displease, vnpay (Shakespeare) to undo, make good, (1697) to leave unpaid; p.p. unpayde (Trevisa), unpayed (Hoccleve), un-payd (1465), vnpaid (1507); Pay v., Payit p.p. and ppl. adj.]
1. Of persons: That fail, or are not required, to make payment of (a sum of money, a charge, fee, levy, etc.) (to (till) another).pres. 1515 Reg. Privy S. I 409/1.
He frelie and unpaying ony custumez may discharge and charge [etc.] 1589–91 Ayr B. Acc. 42.
Allowit to the compter for the hering boitis that past away unpayand thair dewitie 1632 Aberd. Council Lett. I 347.
William Melvill qua depairtit out of the Yles of Waikit … unpaying the conservator and minister dewes(b) 1651 Burnett of Leys App. 262.
Their education, and learning which I have ordeened to be given them, gratis, or for nought, onpaying any thing thereforp.p. 1540 Aberd. B. Rec. I 173.
To … poind the personis for the rest of the taxt … of thame that hes vnpayit the samen
2. p.p. a. Of a sum of money, charge, duty, fee, etc.: Not paid (up), not discharged by payment (to (till) another). b. Of a purchase or service: Not paid for. c. Of a person: Not paid a sum of money due. Also const. of the sum, or for services. Also const. direct and indirect object.a. (1) 1435 Cop. St. A. 130.
Gif the said sowmys be unpait the said tendis sall retoure to the said priour 1461 Aberd. B. Rec. I 22.
Ony man … at withhaldis in his handis vnpait fra a terme til ane vthir his male or ony vther siluer [etc.] 1483 Acta Aud. 120*/2.
Walter sal content & pay ten merkis … of the twa termes bigain insafar as vnpait as he grantis him self c1500 Barounis Lawis 13a.
For the ariage rynnyn on it vnpayt he sall abyd till [etc.] 1658 Rothesay Par. Rec. 3.
Out of the penalties restand awand vnpayed in his tyme 1660 Edinb. B. Rec. IX 191.
Unpeyit 1663–4 Irvine Mun. II 267.
That day the grasse of the grein was roped ther was left unpyed 2 s. 4 d. 1675 Melville Chart. 179.
To be frie from peyment therof of all yeirs and terms bygon resting awand unpeyed(b) 1566 Boyd Fam. P. No. 53.
Wmpayit 1584 Boyd Fam. P. No. 67 (12 Jan.).
Gif tua termis maillis rinnis our in the thrid vmpeyit(c) 1495 Acta Conc. I 402/2.
Giff … Cristiane payis nocht at the termes forsaid … bot sufferis & tholis the Witsonday terme to ryn on payit quhill efter Mertymes 1566 St. A. Baxter Bks. 12.
That thay baik not quhill thir owkis pennies on pait be fyrst pait(2) 1721 Rothesay Par. Rec. 360.
The treasurer to endeavour to recover what is unpaid up of the said fines(3) 1381 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 4.
In case gif hir paiement forsaid at ony [terme be] behind vnpaiet till hir or hir attornay 1476 Ayr Friars Pr. Chart. 55.
Quhat tyme it sal happyn … That the said annuel sal pas ouir thre termes wnpayit til us 1501 Treas. Acc. II 94.
Payit to Hannis, gunnar, Densman, his wage and fee … quhilk restit unpayit to himb. 1454 Aberd. B. Rec. I 404.
The said Theman [goldsmith] sal deliuer the samyn cors till his wyfe agayn, scho payand till him the handlane of it gif it be unpayit 1503 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 134.
The vrangvis … castyn awaye of his fische, and thaj vnpayit forc. (1) 1375 Barb. i 257.
Quhethir he his lordis neid suld let, And pay fryst that he awcht … Or leve onpayit his wyff 1511 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 108.
Thome of Lesk grantis that he gef him up in his compt one pait and that he will neuer pay him(2) 1496 Acta Conc. II 35.
Als mekil of the sade soume as the sade reverend fader is unpayit of 1639 Maxwell Mem. II 268.
He is onlie vnpeyitt of the last … rent(3) 1547 Perth Guildry 250 (17 June).
For his fee this last ȝeir beand our maister of werk and thairfor on payit rewardit or satefeit or recompansit as ȝit(4) 1509 Mill Mediæv. Plays 231.
For … all his playing one the bovme fee vnpait hym a penny for all the tyme
