Wrongous

a. Latterly Sc. (and north.). Forms: α. 2–6 wrangwis (5 -wiss(e, -uiss, 6 -uis), 2–5 wrangwise (3 wranc-), 5 -uise, 4–5 -wys(e, 4 wrangewis, -wys, 5 vrangwis (-ways, wranwos), 6 wrangwus; 3 wrongwise, 4–5 -wis, -wys (5 -wes, -wos). β. 5– wrangous (6 -eous), 5–7 wrangus (5 -ws, werangus, 5–6 vrangus, 9 dial. wrangush), 5 wrangis; 5– wrongous (5–6, 9 -eus, 6, 9 -eous, 5 -ys, -os, 5–6 -us). [Early ME. wrangwīs, f. wrang WRONG a. + -wīs, after rihtwīs RIGHTEOUS a. Cf. MSw. and older Da. vrangvis, Sw. vrångvis iniquitous, Da. vrangvis, Norw. rangvis, self-conceited.

  The orig. spelling wrangwis, -wise, survived until the 16th c.; the obscured endings -wes, -wos, -wus, -os, etc., appear in the 15–16th c., and wrangous, wrongous, about the end of the 15th c. Cf. RIGHTEOUS a.]

  The exact sense is doubtful in the following early example:—a. 1200[?] in Napier, O. E. Glosses, 47/2. Salebrosos .i. asperos,… wiþerwyrde, wrangwise, woȝe.

  † 1.  Of persons: Acting wrongfully, inequitably or unjustly; rascally, iniquitous, unjust. Obs.

a. 1200.  Moral Ode, 256. Þer inne boð … Med-ierne domes men, and wrongwise [Egerton MS. wrancwise] reuen.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 11539. Ful wrath he wex, þat wrangwis king.

a. 1340.  Hampole, Psalter, lxxii. 12. Wrongwis men & couatous.

c. 1400.  trans. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh., 116. He þat hauys right a longe vysage, ys wrongwys.

c. 1480.  Henryson, Wolf & Lamb, 157. Wrangous men of fals Intent.

1535.  Coverdale, Ps. lxxi. 4. He shal … punysh the wrongeous doer.

1567.  Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.), 99. For wrangus men sall end mischeuouslie.

a. 1599.  Rollock, On 2 Thess. (1606), 19 (Jam.). So man by nature is a wrangous and vnjust judge.

c. 1625.  Bisset, Rolment (S.T.S.), II. 162. Princes of Scotland, that war … wrangous usurperis of the crown.

  absol.  a. 1300.  Cursor M., 837. Þe wrangwis wit þar waful wrak Þar þai biginning gan to tak.

  2.  Marked or characterized by wrong, injustice or unfairness; = WRONGFUL a. 1.

a. 1200.  Moral Ode, 48. Þer ne scal me us naut binimen mid wrangwise dome.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 7548. Godd es euer on rightwis side, Werraiand again wrangwis pride.

c. 1400.  Rule St. Benet, lxv. 43. Thoro þat er raysid … dissensiones, and werangus ordinansis.

c. 1450.  Mirour Saluacioun (Roxb.), 149. Thi sharppest byndyngs and wrongwys Captivitee.

c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, IX. 919. Off crystin blud to se it was gret syn, For wrangwis caus.

1535.  Coverdale, Ecclus. xxxv. 12. Bewarre of wrongeous offeringes, for y^e Lorde … regardeth no mans personne.

c. 1550.  Rolland, Crt. Venus, I. 583. Lufe is wrangous, and lufe is variable.

a. 1578.  Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 74. It is nocht for no wrangous quarrell that we haue assembellit our selffis.

1617.  Jas. I., in Halliwell, Lett. Kings Eng. (1846), II. 143. Every wrong must be judged by the first violent and wrongous ground whereupon it proceeds.

a. 1639.  Spottiswood, Hist. Ch. Scot., II. (1655), 51. The wrongous judgement and sentence given against them.

1826.  Galt, Last of Lairds, xxvi. The wrongeous mischief ye would noo do to the sweet girl. Ibid. (1830), Lawrie T., IV. vi. The issues of his wrongous suspicions.

  b.  Of actions, etc.; = WRONGFUL a. 1 b.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 22276. Þan sal … sone þe anticrist come,… his werkes wrangwis to fulfill.

1357.  Lay Folks Catech. (T.), 222. Wrangwise takyng … of othir men godes.

a. 1400.  Relig. Pieces fr. Thornton MS., 12. A wrangwise wylnynge or ȝernynge to haue any maner of gude that vs awe noghte.

c. 1425.  Wyntoun, Cron., I. ix. 626. Na war his mercy grete excede Our gilt and our wranguise deid.

1483.  in Acta Dom. Conc., II. Introd. 102. The actioun … anent the wrangwise occupacioun of the landis.

1517.  Reg. Privy Seal Scotl., I. 448/1. The wranguis taking or steling of certane money.

1523.  Cromwell, in Merriman, Life & Lett. (1902), I. 31. In wrongus withholding of her Dowre.

1568.  in Calderwood, Hist. Kirk (Wodrow Soc.), II. 444. The alledged investing, and wrongous electioun of the said regent.

c. 1625.  Bisset, Rolment (S.T.S.), I. 8. Pilate beand … vexit in his spreit for … his wrangus doingis.

1907.  Times, 17 April, 10/5. A Court of Session action for damages for alleged wrongous certification of lunacy.

  3.  Not right or justifiable in nature or application; not applicable or proper; unfitting, unsuitable.

a. 1350.  in Horstm., Altengl. Leg. (1881), 29. Ȝe suld haue schame On me to put swilk wrangwys blame.

c. 1460.  Towneley Myst., xxiii. 551. Yonder is a fals tabyll,… It is falsly writen, Iwys, This is a wrangwys thyng.

c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, VIII. 649. Othir sum said, it was the wrangwis place.

1533.  Bellenden, Livy (S.T.S.), II. 81. He tuke litil fere how beit he war honorit with wrangwis stile.

1567.  Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.), 174. Allace! this is ane wrangous way.

a. 1800[?].  Lord Ingram, xxv. in Child, Ballads, II. 129/2. I will not father my bairn on you, Nor on no wrongeous man.

1821.  Joseph the Book-Man, 52. Perchance I’ve play’d some very wrongous prance.

  b.  Wrongly directed or constituted.

1768.  Ross, Helenore, 17. If Lindy chanc’d … To play a feckless or a wrangous shot.

1845.  R. W. Hamilton, Pop. Educ., iv. 77. In their improvement, if the State be wrongous and defective, you must raise the State to the people.

  4.  † a. Obtained by illegal, wrongful or unfair means; ill-gotten. Obs.

c. 1425.  Wyntoun, Cron., VI. xiii. 1130. Be thyft, Oppyn refe, or wrangwys gyft,… all I wan The gud.

c. 1480.  Henryson, Trial Fox, 11 (Bann. MS.). Off wrangus get [v.r. geir] cummys wrang successioun.

1533.  Gau, Richt Vay (S.T.S.), 16. Thay that haldis wrangus guidis of thair nichtburs or takis wp wrangus rentis.

1600.  Hamilton, in Cath. Tractates (S.T.S.), 234. The Ministers dar not teache this restitution of wrangous geir.

a. 1750.  in Walker, Bards Bon-Accord (1887), 180. Wrangous gear can never thrive.

  b.  Scots Law. Contrary to law; unlawful, illegal.

1671.  Reg. Privy Council Scot., III. 275. Manifest oppression and wrongous imprisonment committed upon the said compleaner.

1700.  Sc. Acts Parlt. (1823), XI. 213/1. The draught of the Act … for preventing wrongous imprisonments and against undue delayes in tryalls. Ibid. (1701), 272–5.

1753.  Scots Mag., Aug., 420/2. Under the pain of wrongous imprisonment.

1818.  Scott, Rob Roy, xxx. Dougal will have a good action of wrongous imprisonment and damages agane him.

1854.  H. Miller, Sch. & Schm., xxii. 473. The pedlar … raised an action for wrongous imprisonment.

1901.  Scotsman, 29 March, 6/8. Pursuer claimed … damages for wrongous dismissal.