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.
Quotation dates: 1721-1722, 1825-1875
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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.
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"Unthrive v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/unthrive>
