Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
UNTHRIVE, v. Sc. usages in ppl.adjs. unthriven, oontriven (Sh.), unthriving, of living things: not thriving or flourishing; unhealthy. Obs. in Eng. Cf. ill-thriven, Thrive, v.1, B. 1. (2), Wanthriven. Also of a condition, circumstance, environmental factor, etc.: not likely to promote good health, see 1835 quot.Sc. a.1722 W. Macfarlane Geog. Coll. (S.H.S.) II. 4:
It [a well] is famous for the cure of unthriving children.Sc. 1825 Jam. s.v. Crile:
A child or beast that is unthriven.Sc. 1835 H. Miller Scenes 77:
He would be told “how unthriving a thing it was to keep the puir brutes [pigs] aye in the fauld.”Rxb. 1848 T. Aird Works 258:
Filling up The gaps of the unthriving hedges.Abd. 1875 W. Alexander My Ain Folk 59, 187:
The poor wan bairnie, that now looked even more shrivelled and unthriving. . . . Willikie had assumed an unthriven look.
