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.
Quotation dates: 1490-1699
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Unthankful(l, adj. Also: unthankefull, wnthankfull, onthankful, -fwll. [Late ME and e.m.E. vnþankful (c1400), vnthankfull (1499); Thankful(l)(e adj.]
1. Ungrateful (to another or for a benefit). Also transf.(1) a1538 Abell 16a.
Eftir gret wictorie for the Romanis he wes exilit be that … wnthankfull pepill 1560 Acts II 530/1.
Syne [= sin] by the quhilk Goddis hait displesoure is kendlit aganis the proude and vnthankfull warld a1585 Maitland Quarto MS 253 Title.
To ane vnthankfull freind … Ane new fairweill a strainge gudnicht a1651 Calderwood I 191.
[George Wishart] There sall not manie suffer after me. But, alas! if the people sall be after unthankefull, then … terible sall the plagues be that after sall follow a1651 Calderwood VII 620.
Johne Dickson acknowledged he sould prove verie unthankfull if ever he past by the javell doore without thankfull remembrance of the confort he found in that prison(2) 1490 Irland Mir. II 149/36.
Lucifer and the angellis that He knew … suld be sa euill and wnthankfull to Him a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 373.
As seik vnthankfull to the medicinar, With all thair mycht thai schup Him for to hald 1531 Bell. Boece (M) II 52.
He that is ane man slaar or ane mutular, or vnthankfull to his fader, sall succede to na heretage(3) 1580 Cath. Tr. 33/3.
I swild noct appear to be onthankfwll of the said benefeittransf. 1562-3 Winȝet I 27/28.
[Holy days should be observed] that be the proces of tyme vnthankful forȝetfulnes steil not vpon us
2. Of payment or service: Unsatisfactory, inadequate.(a) 1593 Ayr Chart.118.
In caice of evill and unthankfull payment [L. defectu bone et gratuite solutionis] … of the said yeirlie few maill 1624 Linlithgow B. Rec. 17 Dec.
[The council] considdering the wnthankfull serueice done be Robert Dick … hes dispensit with him for the first falt and giue he ewir commit ane falt to be dischairgeit 1643 Falkirk Baron Ct. 24 Jan.
Complenit that my lordis haill tennentis makis vnthankfull payment of thair maillis fermes and dewties to my lord 1681 Kirkintilloch B. Ct. 114.
And ordaines poynding if neid beis in caise of unthankfull payment as law will 1683 Dunblane Synod 198.
The bursar … complained … as to the untymeous and unthankfull payment of his dues payable by them 16… Bk. Old Edinb. C. XX 109.
Comperid Thomas Craig and complinid upone his prenteice Thomas Hendersone for this unthankfull service and for blasfeming of me with his tung(b) 1491 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 328.
And gyf it beis fundin onthankful payment be the said Jhone to the said vicar [etc.] … it salbe lesum to the said vicar to dispone apone the said bell
3. Unpleasant, disagreeable. 1533 Boece 65a.
Be iniuris he regnit … quhilkis iniuris made his name to thame vnthankfull [L. quæillius ingratum omnibus nomen fecere] 1533 Bell. Livy I 56/23.
Baith the pepil … suspendit betuix hope and drede, beheld this vnthankful sicht [L. minime gratum spectaculum]
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"Unthankful adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/unthankfull>
