Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1703-1791
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†MALVERSE, v., n. Also malvers, maleverse.
I. v. To act in a dishonest or corrupt manner, to comminmit a breach of confidence; to make a wrong decision. Hence vbl.n. malversing, a breach of trust, an act of duplicity. Obs. in Eng.Sc. 1714 W. Forbes Jnl. Session Pref. 8:
The advocates are subject to the authority of the Lords, who . . . may censure, fine, or debar them from their imployment for disobedience or malversing in their office.Sc. 1728 R. Wodrow Corresp. (1843) III. 345:
Why may not this Assembly find out that the last malversed, and alter what they had done?Sc. 1741 Kames Decisions (1799) 36:
In most cases, it is impracticable to bring a regular proof of malversing.
II. n. A breach of trust, an act of duplicity, grave misconduct (Cld. 1825 Jam.). Attrib. = dishonest, criminal.Edb. 1703 D. Robertson S. Leith Rec. (1925) 9:
He thought the Session had chosen him for a year and could not have put him out without a Malverse.Ags. 1727 Arbroath T.C. Rec. MS. (8 Nov.):
Fyned in the sum of ffifty pound for some Malverse Done by him.Edb. 1791 J. Learmont Poems 51:
We wiss him speed Till he unravel ilka quirk, An' mal verse deed.
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"Malverse v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/malverse>
