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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.

(Unresounabill,) Unresounable, -resonabil(l, adj. Also: unressonabill, -res(s)onable, -reasonable, wnressonabill, onres(s)onabill, -ressonable, -reasonabill, -rasonabil, oneresonabile. [ME and e.m.E. unresonabel, vnresonabill (both Rolle), vnresonable (Piers Plowman), vnresounable (Wyclif), vnreasonable (c1400); Resounabill adj.]

1. That is beyond the bounds of moderation or propriety; immoderate; excessive.There is some semantic overlap with 2 below.(a) 14.. Acts I 6/2.
The deffendour sal nocht ansuer til him til that unresonabil some bot the resonabil scath … sal be taxyt be leil men of the court 1456 Hay I 159/27.
Bot … the men of were … ger the pure creaturis pay finaunce unresonable 1558 Q. Kennedy Tractive 152.
The malheurius prince sall warie the tyme that evir he wes sua mischeantlie subject to the unressonable desyre of his subjectis 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Æn. vi 373.
Tam dira cupido, so unreasonable 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 24/2.
As he can not be thocht uorthie to reule & comande otheris that can not reule & dantone his awin propre affections & unreasonable appetites(b) a1400 Leg. S. xviii 917.
I had ofte ful gret batale Of ȝarnige that ofte cuth me assale, Vnleleful & oneresonabile, Fillit of filthe & vnstabil 1513 Doug. vi v 161.
Quhiddir is becummyn sik ondantyt desyre To thé, and fers will sa onressonabill [Sm. vnresonable, Ruddim. vnresonabill]? 1549 Compl. 125/3.
My takkis, steyding, and teyndis ar nocht alanerly tane fra me or ellis hychtit til ane onrasonabil price, bot [etc.]

2. That is beyond the bounds of reason or sense; unacceptable; unjustifiable.(a) 1410 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 75.
To the fulfilling … of al … the forsaid thingis but fraude and gile or ony vnresounable delay 1456 Hay I 145/13.
It war ane unresonable thing to pay for ane service that war inpossible to be maid 1565 Facs. Nat. MSS III xlix.
But gif this could nocht the multitude haif persavit gif God for disclosing of thair ypocrise had nocht compellit thame to vttir their vnressonabill desyre to gouerne 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 103.
To me it seames ane thing most vnressonabill, that … I salbe compellit to fight against schaddowes and howlatis 1666–71 Misc. Hist. Soc. II 350.
There is nothing more unreasonable than to imagin these great dotations were intended for enriching … of laicks(b) 1567 Cal. Sc. P. II 330.
Onressonable 1588 Aberd. Council Lett. I 39.
We will ever be denunceit or compellit to obey that onreasonabill charge

3. a. Of animals: That lack the faculty of reason; brute. = Irressonable adj. b. Of persons, their feelings, etc.: That are not guided by reason; unreasoning, irrational.a. 1456 Hay I 78/17.
Sen naturaly thir unresonable bestis has sik contrarietee amang thame 1589 Reg. Privy C. IV 429.
As giff I wer ane unressonable creatur or a barne that could do nathing of myself a1652 Dickson Psalms II 170.
As all the enemies of the Church are no lesse cruel and savage against the Lords people, then unreasonable sea-beasts, and sea-monstersb. 1562-3 Winȝet II 53/22.
Now be an vnressonable dredoure also thai thingis quhilkis ar suir, thai feir a1578 Pitsc. II 154/6.
I marwell of my lord that is so furieous and wnressonabill and ewill consallit that ȝe ar bound to distroy ȝour self(b) 1460 Hay Alex. 252.
He louit neuir trature trumpour nor iucuris … Na cruell men of blud onresonabill