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.
Unrichtwis, -rychtwis, Unricht-, Unrychteous, adj. Also: unrichtwise, -uus, -ious, unrychtuis, -wys, -wise, -uous, -eus, wnrichtwis, onrichtus, unrig(h)teous. [ME and e.m.E. unrihtwis (c1175), vn-riȝt-wis (c1250), onrightwijs (Cursor M.), vnrightwis (c1400), vnrighteous (1526), vnrightuous (1535); Richtwis adj.]
1. Unjust; unfair: a. Of persons. Also absol. b. Of actions, deeds, etc. = Unricht adj. 1.a. 1456 Hay II 60/18.
The lord … was unrychtwis that gave thame alsmekil that began at evynsang tyme as to thame that began at morne airly c1475 Wall. i 160.
Wyrkand the will of Eduuard that fals king [1570 of that vnrichteous king] 1490 Irland Mir. III 114/5.
Arestotil declaris … that ane wnrichtwis man lufis nocht his self for he folouis syn c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5699.
Woo, than, to kyngis and empriouris Quhilkis wer vnrychteus conquerouris 1636 Forbes Diary in Spalding I 69.
Some unrighteous and cruell limmers, Highland menabsol. a1400 Leg. S. xxviii 325.
He richtwise, for vnrichtwise Deit 1533 Gau 94/11.
Our Heuinlie Fader … causis his sone to scheyne apone ewil men and guid and giffis his rayne to the richtus and onrichtusb. 14.. Acts I 111/2.
Na ȝit the tenand … sal be enchesonyt … na amercyt als lang as he defendis wrang & unrychtuis deforsse 1456 Hay II 88/20.
He settis him for unrychtwys conquestis and acquisicioun of othir mennis gudis, bot ony drede of schame 1457 Acts XII 25/1.
Vnrychtwise 1471–2 Acta Aud. 19/1.
Vnrichtwis a1500 Henr. Fab. 2432.
The foxe the feind I call … Arctand ilk man to ryn vnrychteous [H. vnrichtious] rinkis a1578 Pitsc. II 61/20.
It was thairfoir ane vnrichteous thing gif ȝe sould stop ȝour earis frome my teaching trewlie the word of God 1596 Dalr. II 3/13.
Vnrychtuous(b) 1657 Balfour Ann. IV 159.
The vnrigteous dealling of thosse quho haue inwaded and wasted our land(c) 1457 Acts XII 25/1.
Hire vnrychtwise deforsing hym of the landis of the Ledach of Skeyn
2. Incorrect; inaccurate. = Unricht adj. 2.1507 Aberd. B. Rec. I 437.
That the mettis and mesouris be assait throw the haile toun, and quhar thai be fundin unrichtuus be distroit
