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: 1469-1617, 1671
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Unusit, ppl. adj. Also: unwsit, -us(e)d, onusit, -yt. [ME and e.m.E. vn-vsed (1297), vnvsid (c1449), vnvsed (1538); Us(e v., Usit ppl. adj.]
1. Not made use of.(a) 1469 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 419.
The saidis letteris of procuratury in dovbill forme vnvsit & vnhurt in preiudice & henderyng of myn heritagis 1583 Cal. Sc. P. VI 350.
He … shall leif of na gude meanys unused a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 1307.
In till ane ȝard, thair wes ane sepilltur … Now vnwsit with ony creatour 1586 Edinburgh Testaments XV 296.
Nyne sclycht hatt stringis of auld forme vnvsit price of thame xiiij s.(b) 1546 Acts II 472/1.
He now … reproducit the ansueris of the saidis articlis, the said remissioune blank & obligatioune one the samyne sort as thai ressauit the samin, without ony innovatioune on vsit 1570 Bk. Mackay 404.
To deliver the said infeftment onusit to the said erle
2. Not in general or customary use; unusual, unwonted.(a) c1590 Fowler I 26/23.
The habit proude, vnsene, vnvsd, all new and vn acquent, I thair beheld 1671 McWard True Nonconf. 127.
Yet I wish you had … forborn the hard and unused expression of an inward crown(b) 1513 Doug. vi i 17.
Dedalus … by a quent onvsyt [Sm. vnvsit, Ruddim. vnusit] way … Towart the frosty poil artik he flaw
3. a. Inexperienced. b. Unaccustomed (into or to do something).a. a1500 Henr. Fab. 2240.
The oxin wes vnwsit, ȝoung and lichtb. 1535 Stewart 6633.
The Albionis vnusit into weir Walking and cald did thame sa mekle deir 1617 Mure Early Misc. P. xxi 112.
My solitarie Muse her selfe reteirs, Un-usd abroad to haunt such pompous throngs
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"Unusit ppl. adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 16 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/unusit>
