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: 1399-1568
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Wanhop(e, n. Also: wanhowp, -hoip, wanehope, van(e)hop(e, vaynhope. [ME and e.m.E. wanhope (1297), wanhop, wanehope (both Cursor M.), wanhoppe (1422), MLG, MDu. wanhope; Wan- prefix and Hope n.1] Hopelessness, despair.(a) a1400 Legends of the Saints ii 897.
Na man suld … Fal in wanhope ?1438 Alex. ii 6675.
Now disparit sa I thame se That wanhope brekis laute c1420 Ratis Raving 1096.
Syk luf vanhop wyll were away, And wantone wyll sal tyne the pray c1420 Ratis Raving 817.
Wanhop 1460 Hay Alex. 4130.
Quhan Alexander … saw that his castelle was dungin doun, And all war lost … He made na grete semblant that men micht ken, To gif his men discoimfort na wanhope a1500 Henr. Orph. 608.
Fra ill to war ale thus to hell gois doun, That is wan howp throw lang hanting of syn c1550 Rolland Court of Venus i 170.
He … in the net of wanhoip had bene tane, Quhilk causit him want baith welth & wassallage a1568 Bannatyne MS 222a/17.
Dreidfull dispair oft syis dois me schoir … Wicket wanhoip sayis I sall lufe no moir(b) a1400 Legends of the Saints xxxiv 207.
The Bischope of Veron … Iniungit hyr heileful pennance, & of wanehope put hire oute a1400 Legends of the Saints xvi 40.
Vanehope(c) 1513 Doug. i vi 82.
That fals man, by dissaitfull wordis fair, With vaynhope trumpit the wofull luffar
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"Wanhop n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 16 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/wanhope>
