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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Misterful(l, a. Also: mistir-, myster-, mystir-, mystyr-. [Mister n. Only Sc.]

1. predic. a. Lacking necessities, impoverished. c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 2290.
In poverte furth we ȝude Quhill that we come to this cuntre Richt misterfull 1513 Doug. i. vi. 136.
Onkend and mystirfull in desertis of Lybe, I wandir c1510 Prester John 311.
Thare is sic habundance of all gudis that nane … ar fundyn thar mysterfull c1520-c1535 Nisbet Hebr. xi. 37.
Thai went about … in skinnis of gait, misterfull, anoyit, turmentit 1577–8 Waus Corr. 173.
I knaw my Lord Robert to be indigent and misterfull 1584 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 235.
To … belman … at sindry tymes dureing his seiknis & wyf and his bairnes quhawas misterfull 1612 Orkney & Zetl. Sheriff Ct. 7.
Ony sick personis that ar not auld decrepit and misterfull

b. In need, necessitous, of goods, money, etc. 1513 Doug. iv. vii. 24.
Wilsum, and mystyrfull of al warldis thyng 1527 Perth Convener Ct. Bk. No. 2.
Four personis of craftismen … nocht misterfull of the commoun gere 1573 Edinb. Test. III. 24 b.
Scho hes na … freind neidfull and misterfull of hir geir

2. attrib. That is in need, needy, necessitous, indigent. Also absol. 1456 Hay II. 81/24.
Namely that geve outhir thy giftis to thame that nedefull ar and misterfull gudely folk or [etc.] c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 33/7.
Allmous deid … is a werteu throw quhilk the pure and misterfull person is helpit 1504 Treas. Acc. II. 267. c1520-c1535 Nisbet Ep. A. T. xxvi. 7.
Mystirfull 1549 Compl. 125/12.
For the misere of mistirful men and for the vepyng of pure men 1561 Edinb. B. Rec. III. 110.
To the support of pure misterfull falit brethirne 1579 Reg. Privy C. III. 138. 1586 Edinb. Test. XV. 123 b.
To the aigit impotent misterfull and failȝeit personis of Edinburcht 1602 Dundonald Par. Rec. 5.
Scho tuik out of the pot sum of the said bruths and gaif thame … to the said Kaithrein Makteir as to ane misterfull bodie 1603 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 95. 1605 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 473.
To ane misterfull gentilman of Atholl a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 613.
Misterfull folk mon not be mensfull 1650 Laing MSS. I. 256. 1652 Burnett Fam. P. 70.
To the most misterfull, poure labourers within all my lands 1657 Nicoll Diary 201. 1658 Stirling B. Rec. II. 229.
Certane misterfull & distressed nichtbouris & inhabitantis of this burghabsol. a1400 Leg. S. v. 200.
Of mysterful in till helpynge Ib. xliv. 128.
& visit mysterful in ned Ib. xviii. 788, xl. 1341. c1520-c1535 Nisbet Eph. iv. 28.
Mare trauale he … that he haue quharof he sal gef to the misterfull 1559 St. A. Kirk S. i.
Havand respect to the inlayk of almos and multitud of misterfull to be helpit therwyth 1561 Edinb. B. Rec. III. 106. a1568 Bann. MS. 69 a/11. 1579 Reg. Privy C. III. 137. 1596 Dalr. II. 112/29. 1617 Brechin Kirk S. 11 Feb.
To destribut amang the most misterfull 1626 Edinb. Test. LIII. 343.
To be destribute ȝeirlie … amongis the puire & misterfull

b. Also applied to things: In want of necessaries, decayed, impoverished. 1517 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 170.
To the reparatioun, beylding and vphalding of the licht of ony misterfull alter within the college kirk

3. Needful, necessary.Only early. ?1438 Alex. ii. 7042.
Sa it is misterfull that we Richt wittely auysit be 1400 Maxwell Mem. 140.
Gyf it be sene misterful and resonabyl cause 1423 Reg. Great S. 30/2.
Als oft tymys as is sene behufful or mysterfull or as the cause requiris c1420 Ratis R. 128.
Thane is it misterfull to thé Till have thai placis veil in thocht Ib. 857.
Fyrst is misterfull to thee To sper and knaw thi qualyte 14.. Reg. Maj. fol. 5.
The Kingis lawys of Scotlande the quhilkis in tym of pese ar misterfull in the kynrik it to reull ande gowerne Ib. c. 6.