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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.

Unrest, n. Also: unreste, wn-, onrest. [ME and e.m.E. vnrest (Rolle), vnreste (Chaucer); Rest n.¹ Cf. Wanrest n.]

1. Trouble, turmoil; disturbance, turbulence. Also b. pl. Troublesome circumstances or conditions.(a) a1400 Leg. S. iii 520.
The quyet of our lord Jhesu, Luk in vnreste ȝe turne nocht now! 1535 Stewart 20625.
For tha war puneist in that tyme so soir [etc.] … In this wnrest I lat thame heir remane 1535 Stewart 56764.
Greit wounder wes … To heir and se sic rusching and sic rerd, So greit wnrest with mony rudlie rap(b) 1513 Doug. i v 88.
Juno, that with gret onrest [Sm., Ruddim. vnrest] Now cummyrris erd, sey, and ayr 1533 Gau 105/17.
The vangel schauis to ȝow remeid, the law is the ministracione of onrest and deid 1535 Stewart 25219.
On his bak scho gart him ly full law, With sic onrest that he rais nocht aganepersonified a1500 K. Hart 31.
Vnrest, Nichtwalk and Full of Glutony … war … ythand seruitouris … vnto this nobill kingb. 1513 Doug. xiii ii 74 (Ruddim.).
Be sa feil wynterys blastis and tempestis, Be al the wayis noysum and vnrestis [C., Sm. onrestis]

c. To hald (another) at wnrest, to torment, be troublesome to. c1475 Wall. iv 376.
Our kingis men he haldis at gret wnrest, Martyris thaim doun, gret pete is to se

d. Abbot of Unrest, = Abbot (of) Unresoun (Unresoun n. 2). 1472 Peebles B. Rec. I 167.
The quhilk day was mad burges John Necoll, and hys fredom gewyn to John Morchowson abbot of vnrest in that tym

2. Mental turmoil, uneasiness, anxiety. c1460 Wisd. Sol. (STS) 163.
God gewys … to wykyt man … gret trawell and wnrest and afflixione of spreit, with lytill es and mekile wnrest a1585 Maitl. Q. 105/56.
And gif that neid to slumber me constraine … Vnrest dois walkin me againe