Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- Unlucky; unchancy; wicked.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adjective dialectal
Unlucky ;unchancy . - adjective dialectal
Wicked .
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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Indeed, yell no hinder some to threap, that it was nane o the Auld Enemy that Dougal and my gudesire saw in the Lairds room, but only that wanchancy creature, the Major, capering on the coffin; and that, as to the blawing on the Lairds whistle that was heard after he was dead, the filthy brute could do that as weel as the Laird himsell, if no better.
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And then the as boat set aff for North Berwick, an 'the tither lay whaur it was and watched the wanchancy thing on the brae-side.
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Lord save us a '! but it's an unco life to be a sailor -- a cauld, wanchancy life.
Merry Men Robert Louis Stevenson 1872
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North Berwick, an 'the tither lay whaur it was and watched the wanchancy thing on the braeside.
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And then the as boat set aff for North Berwick, an 'the tither lay whaur it was and watched the wanchancy thing on the brae-side.
Catriona Robert Louis Stevenson 1872
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In the Baron's own words, 'The matter did not coincide with the feelings of the commons of Bradwardine, Mr. Waverley; and the tenants were slack and repugnant in payment of their mails and duties; and when my kinsman came to the village wi' the new factor, Mr. James Howie, to lift the rents, some wanchancy person
Waverley — Volume 2 Walter Scott 1801
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Indeed, ye'll no hinder some to threap that it was nane o 'the auld Enemy that Dougal and my gudesire saw in the laird's room, but only that wanchancy creature, the major, capering on the coffin; and that, as to the blawing on the laird's whistle that was heard after he was dead, the filthy brute could do that as weel as the laird himsell, if no better.
Redgauntlet Walter Scott 1801
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In the Baron's own words, 'The matter did not coincide with the feelings of the commons of Bradwardine, Mr. Waverley; and the tenants were slack and repugnant in payment of their mails and duties; and when my kinsman came to the village wi' the new factor, Mr. James Howie, to lift the rents, some wanchancy person
Waverley — Complete Walter Scott 1801
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Indeed, ye’ll no hinder some to threap that it was nane o’ the auld Enemy that Dougal and my gudesire saw in the laird’s room, but only that wanchancy creature, the major, capering on the coffin; and that, as to the blawing on the laird’s whistle that was heard after he was dead, the filthy brute could do that as weel as the laird himsell, if no better.
Redgauntlet 2008
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“Indeed, Robin, I’ll be better advised before I gie it back to you; it is a wanchancy weapon in a Highlandman’s hand, and I am thinking you will be about some harns-breaking.”
qms commented on the word wanchancy
Though some think it clever and fancy
I call it profane necromancy
To exhume in job lots
These mouldering Scots
Like kippage and forlorn wanchancy.
October 3, 2017