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: 1590-1680
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(Untymely,) Untymelie, -timely, adj. and adv. Also: untymlye, wntymely, -timlie, ontymly. [ME and e.m.E. untimeliche (c1200), vntymely (Wyclif) (both advs.), vntimely adj. (1561); Tymely adv.]
A. adj. Inappropriate, inopportune; premature. = Untym(e)ous adj. a.(1) c1590 Fowler I 240/21.
Quhairto sal I insist To curs or crye on thy vntymlye wound? 1614 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. VIII 341.
[We cannot allow] that so necessarie a worke as is that bushe fishing … should thus … be interrupted … by such untymelie rubbes and impedimentis 1616 Mure Early Misc. P. xvii 14.
O! sence wnsensible quhich … pittiles, doth not … regrait This ruefull object and wntymely fait 1663 Lauderdale P. I 125.
The gelding … wes so spoiled by untymelie ryding … that [etc.] c1680 Mackenzie Affairs 31.
And when money grew scarce it forc'd gentlemen to make untimely shifts for its payment(b) 1665 Laing MSS 345.
That this may prese my service to me ladie and that shee may excuse my ontymly removell from that plac(2) c1590 Fowler I 260/14.
Vnpoized hambers strikes vntimely howers
B. adv. Prematurely. 1626 Garden Worthies 114.
A … knight … tane wntimlie in his tender yeares
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"Untymely adj., adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/untymely>
