Sc. Obs. In 6 wan-, wanewerd. [f. WAN- + WEIRD sb.] Hard lot, ill fate, misfortune. (In quot. 1631 personified.)
1513. Douglas, Æneis, I. v. 24. I tuik comfort heirof, thinkand but baid That hard wanwerd suld follow fortun glaid.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., II. 407. Sen gratius (God) that hes all thing in erd At his weil[d]ing to weill or ȝit wan werd.
a. 1550[?]. ‘Doun by ane rever,’ 76, in Dunbar’s Poems (S.T.S.), 307. Sen for no wisdome, nor no strenth, Nor for no richess in this erd, That ony man his lyf may lenth, Naythir for freyndschip agane wanewerd.
a. 1580. Murning Maiden, 19, in Maitland Fol. MS., 360. Wanweird, scho said, quhat haue I wrocht That on me kythit hes all this cair?
1631. A. Craig, Pilgr. & Heremite, 9.
| Perchance before that thou her againe see, | |
| By vote of the Wan-weirds, that buried shee bee. |
1802. Jamieson, Water Kelpie, xvi. Nor wit nor pow’r put aff the hour, For his wanweird decreed.
