Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

UNBEKENT, ppl.adj. 1. Unknown, strange, unfamiliar to (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.). Gen.Sc.Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin xxviii.:
A real gentleman though he's unbekent to me.Ags. 1896 A. Blair Rantin' Robin 151:
Half a sovereign which I had saved up unbekent to Marget.Sc. 1928 J. G. Horne Lan'wart Loon 21:
On by side gates unbekent.Sc. 1933 N. B. Morrison Gowk Storm v.:
The squat, dark, “unbekent” people found sometimes in the Hebrides.

2. Unobserved, unnoticed (Per. 1973). Also unbekently, adv.Per. 1903 H. MacGregor Souter's Lamp 203:
Ae nicht I watched him unbekent as he sat in his chair.Ayr. 1913 “Kissock” Sc. Poems 18:
As I pass unbekently bye.