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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Almast, Almaist, adv. Also: allmast, -maist; almeist, almest. Cf. Amast. [Northern ME. almaste (southern almoste), OE. æl-, ealmǽst.]

1. Nearly, approximately; almost. Almast. … nocht, barely, scarcely. c1475 Wall. vi. 420.
For sorow almaist a word he mycht nocht spek Ib. xi. 1215.
In this mater prolixit I am almaist a1500 Rauf C. 652.
Thay countit not the Coilȝear almaist at regaird a1500 Seven S. 1574.
Hir moder … fand hir douchter deid allmast 1533 Bell. Livy II. 161/12.
Thus had al the romane tentis almaist bene replete of seditioun vrbane 1549 Compl. 1/10.
Al the … affligit pepil, quhilkis ar al mast disparit of mennis supple 1570 Sat. P. x. 379.
‘Get vp’, quod thay, ‘it is almaist midnycht’ a1578 Pitsc. I. 20/17.
Persaweand that thair was na plaice almeist to be reconceilled with his onfreindis 1596 Dalr. I. 4/27.
The Ile almaist is thrie nuiket 16.. Exch. R. I. 51.
In evrie schyre almest the king had castellis

2. Almost all. 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. ii. 31.
Thair instrumentis all maist war fidillis lang