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.
Untreuth(e, -trewth, -truth, n. Also: untro(u)the, -trueth, wntreuthe, ontreuth(e. [ME and e.m.E. ontreuþe (Ayenbite), untreuþe (Wyclif), untrewth (Caxton), untruth(e (both 1559); Treuth(e n.]
1. Unbelief, lack of (Christian) faith. = Wantreuth n.1456 Hay I 9/3.
The untreuth of thame [sc. pagans] kest sik a frost apon the erde, that is to say apon the Cristin folk
2. Disloyalty; treachery; dishonesty.(a) 1485 Acts II 171/2.
Ther is certane personis barratouris quhilkis of grete vntreuth & ingratitude has movit plede and questioun & vexit and trublit certan personis promovit to beneficez 1456 Hay I 172/25.
Mony … thinkis thai suld nocht be underloutis to nane erdly prince … and of this wrechit disobeysaunce cummys untreuth and unlautee 1567 Anderson Collect. Mary I 138.
Gif wee failȝie in onie point, wee are content to sustain the spott of perjurie, infamie, and perpetual untrewth a1568 Scott xxvi 8.
Vntrewth expresly thay expell Ȝit thay ar planeist … Of falset and dissait thair sell 1569 Reg. Privy C. II 32.
To … demolishe … the said place … as a signe and takin of the said Johnne Flemyingis untrewth, rebellioun, and tressonabill defectioun a1570-86 J. Maitland in Maitl. F. 436/86.
Merk als the wyld witupour and the wage off vntreuthe tresoune and Of tyranie And howe sone honour hes and heretage And lyfis lost for thair disloyaltie —1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 35.
Thai haif provoked the quenis grace of Ingland to seik vengeance of thair untrewth anentis hir(b) 1547 Douglas Corr. 168.
I am sory to fynd … that you … shuld so be enemy to your selfe, with overmanyfest declaracions of your untrothe and dishonour(c) c1522 Doug. in Doug. (Sm.) I civ.
By raisoun of thair ontreuth [Douglas Corr. 85, vntrouthe] that causit me labour for the wele of thair Prince and thair securite quhilk now has wrocht thair avne confusioun and perpetuall schayme
3. Lack of correspondence with the truth, untruthfulness. b. An instance of this, a lie.(a) 1632 Lithgow Trav. i 2.
This stinging censure of absurd vntrueth 1657 Balfour Ann. IV 108.
Mr. James Wood … said he wold with his pene … make all the world know the wntreuthe therof(b) 1608 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 129.
Whilk will manifest the ontreuthe off that yiour hienes hes bene informed offb. 1580–1 Reg. Privy C. III 365.
His majesties … subjectis may be abusit be misreportis groundit upoun untrewthis 1600 Crim. Trials II 274.
He would not abuse the holy name of God, to make him, as it were, a witnesse to vntrueths 1618 Crim. Trials III 451.
Ye haiff sett doun … ten seuerall fals reasones, leasingis and vntreuthis 1629 Justiciary Cases I 108.
This is ane manifest untreuthe 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 142.
Untruths 16.. Maidment Balfour Ballads 2.
They care not for oathes, nor untrueths to say, To gain a conclusion 1681 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS 16 Nov.
Wha … declares that by anie words shoe formerly exprest by scandalizing of the said William Corbie was altogither ane vntruth(b) 1606 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 79.
We protest befoir God they ar als great calumneis and ontreuthis as ewer was dewysit againes onye men
