A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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About this entry:
First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1623-1690
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Unuseful(l, Wnusfull, adj. [e.m.E. unvseful (1598), unusefull (1624); Usefull adj.]
1. a. Of things: Unprofitable, of no use or advantage ((un)to or for another). b. Of persons: Worthless, not willing or suitable to be employed.a. 1623 Aberd. Council Lett. I 208.
The gritest commoditie arrysing frome these being the woll, give this salbe maid unusefull unto thame … they wilbe forceit to unplenische thair rowmes 1630 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 414.
It proved ineffectual and unuseful to him 1684 Symson Descr. Galloway 170.
Yet I presume it will not be altogether unuseful for your Lordship, were it but to help and refresh your Lordship's memory 1654 Rec. Convention of Royal Burghs III 391.
The great impositione laid vpon salt, so that the samyn is mad altogether vnvsefull 1657 Rec. Convention of Royal Burghs III 453.
The … burgh … stryves … to mak … his pasturage … vnvsefull by selling … comon land nixt adjacent to him 1678 Glasgow Merchants House 138.
Finding that … the house stocke will decay and become unusefull to the poore 1690 Melville Corr. 157.
My former services, which sometime agoe were neither unusefull nor unpleasantb. 1670 Inverness Rec. II 240.
Act … against landlords for receawing of vagabonds, idle and wnusfull persones [etc.]
2. Incapable of being used (for another); useless.c1650 Spalding I 97.
The costlie organes [of the Chapel Royal] altogidder distroyit and vnvsefull 1644 Army of the Covenant I 157.
For certaine herring and other proviant which become unsufficient and unusefull for the army 1644 Elphinstone Mun. 200/1.
Of the fyve bells … tuo of the lesser … wer riuen and so … vnvsefull
