Sc. Obs. [f. WAN- + REST sb.]

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  1.  A state of inquietude or trouble: = UNREST.

2

c. 1550.  Rolland, Crt. Venus, II. 456. For my wanrest I wald thow saw remeid.

3

1570.  Satir. Poems Reform., xxii. 41. This birdis counsall confoundit hes yis land, That mouit hes … Wandreth, wanrest, feirfull ambitioun.

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1584.  J. Melvill, Autob. & Diary (Wodrow Soc.), 205. Sall nocht this sillie ease be turned in sorrowfull wanrest?

5

1603.  Proph. of T. Rymour (Bannatyne Cl.), 22. The Ratches workes them great wanrest.

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1768.  Ross, Helenore, I. 33. Quo’ she, I wiss I could your wanrest ken.

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1874.  R. Buchanan, Poet. Wks., I. 196.

          And Effie, as the dawn look’d down each day,
Turn’d from the happy shining of the sun,
In wanrest and in tears.

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  2.  The pendulum of a clock.

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1794.  [W. Anderson], Piper of Peebles, 13 (Jam.). The house from top to bottom shook, An’ as a wanrest wagg’d the crook.

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1808.  Jamieson, s.v., ‘The wanrest of a clock gaes as far the tae gate, as it gede the tither;’ S. Prov. signifying, that an unstable person generally goes from one extreme to another.

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  Hence Wanrestful a. Sc., restless.

12

1783.  Burns, Death Poor Mailie, 36. An’ may they never learn the gaets Of ither vile, wanrestfu’ Pets!

13

1887.  Service, Dr. Duguid, III. iii. 255. Wanrestfu’ and troubled, she couldna sit still.

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