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.
Unprovisitly, -lie, adv. Also: unprowysitlie, -vissitlie, -vitsitlie, umprovisitlie, wnprowystly, onprovisitly, -wisitlie. [Unprovisit ppl. adj.]
1. Unexpectedly, without warning.(a) c1460 Consail Vys Man 338.
Lichtlear hurtis that is for-sen Na wnprowysytly cumyne had ben 1531 Bell. Boece II 189.
Thair fel down … stanis … unprovisitly behind thame 1533 Boece 597a.
The king … intending to returne vnprovissitlie apoun Ingland and suddandly oppres the cuntre 1533 Bell. Livy I 218/6.
Quhen thai war cummyn vmprovisitlie and skatterit, as the vse is 1567 Acts III 27/2.
Be hir vngodlie and dishonourabill proceding to ane pretendit mariage with him [sc. Bothwell] suddandlie and vnprouisitlie(b) 1513 Doug. i x 49.
Hym sall I sownd slepand steill away And hyde … That our dissait he nowder persave ne knaw, Nor onprovisitly [Sm. vnprovitsitlie, Ruddim. vnprouisitly] cum thidder, thocht he mycht a1538 Abell 36a.
The Romanis chasit the flearis bot onprowisitlie thai hapnit apone the men of Argile quhilk wes cumand to the king
b. Off guard; in a state of unpreparedness.1542 State P. (Reg. H.) No. 30.
The wardane of the myddill merches … rasit fire in diuers places … traisting to haue gottin our said … liegis vnprovisitlie
2. ? Without due consideration, ? imprudently.1513 Doug. vi iii 28.
Bot now, percace, with his boys trump as he Went onprovisitly [Sm. vnprowysitlie, Ruddim. vnprouisitly] blawand by the see, To stryfe prouoking the goddis
