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

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Most, Moste, Moist, v.¹ [ME. moste (12th c.), most (13th c.), 2 pers. sing. mostes(t, pl. moste(n, OE. móste, pl. móston, subj. mósten, p.t. of mót pret.-pres., Mot v.: but cf. also Mostv.² Cf. Must v.]Auxiliary verb, past and pres. tense, foliowed by the infin. chiefly without to: Must.Before 1542 found only in verse.

1. As p.t. Was obliged to, had to, must of necessity. Only with Nede adv., Nedis adv., qq. v. for examples.b. Const. perfect infin., expressing the past conditional: (1) would have had to (do something). c1590 Fowler II. 51/21.
To cut of many words quhilk I moist neadis haue vsit

2. As pres. t., with reference to the present or future, expressing necessity or inevitability. = Man v.¹ 1.Am (is, are) bound, obliged or compelled to, have to, must of necessity, cannot but; it is necessary that (I, you, he, it etc.) should.Also with Nede adv., Nedis adv. and Nedelingis adv., qq.v for further examples.See also Most v.²(a) c1475 Wall. v. 744.
In faith, with me a wed thar most abide a1500 K. Hart 387.
Our lord King Hartis will most now be done c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxxi. 52.
Or euir this wicht … be haill … Both thow and I most in the court appeir 1513 Doug. iii. Prol. .
The feirful stremys and costis wondyrfull Now most [Sm. moist] I write, althocht my wyt be dull Ib. x. vii. 32.
Ȝondir is the passage quhar we moste wyn owt c1552 Lynd. Mon. 18. c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i. 908. a1568 Bann. MS. 20 a/16.
He that wold leif most lerne to dy 1560 Rolland Seven S. 851.
Giue I my self as dum man moste me haue a1568 Scott xviii. 2, 9. 1567 Sat. P. v. 48. 1567 G. Ball. 60. c 1570–80 Facs. Nat. MSS. III. ixvi.
I most other find sum way to pay or leise kyndnes a1578 Pitsc. II. 59/31.
Ane bischope most be … on that lowis good men 1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. Prol. 82. c1590 J. Stewart 205 § 23. c1590 Fowler II. 26/8. a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS. No. 107.
A bairne most creip er he gang 1599 E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. IV. 31.
I sall haue bot thrie or four kay … and they most eit … with ȝour awin kay a1633 Hope Major Pract. I. 137. Ib. II. 175. 1640 Aberd. B. Rec. III. 202.
Consideratioune most be had, quhat grassumes are payed at the entrie 1640 Dundonald Par. Rec. 467.
The maister most lead the hands of yong beginners 1644 E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. IV. 32. 1649 Misc. Spald. C. v. 379. 1665 Lauder Jrnl. 3.
I most without vanity or flattery say hitherto he hes not bein inclined to any vice 1673 Edinb. B. Rec. X. 161.
Which he most of necessity tak doun 1673 Lauder Notices Affairs I. 66. 1680 Red Bk. Grandtully I. cxviii.
As … it is to my losse to delay any affair wherein I am persewer, I most remotte them to justice(b) 1542 Douglas Corr. 148.
Pleacit ȝour gude lordschip that we moist be sutouris unto Ȝow for [etc.] 1562-3 Winȝet I. 15/13.
Bot giue Ȝe be callit be man, Ȝe moist schaw thaim to haue had lauchful power thairto c1550-c1580 Art of Music 30.
Heir studentis moist knaw quhow oft [etc.] 1622-6 Bisset I. 94/22. Ib. II. 246/23, 256/26.
Seing the president moist evir be ane … prelatt

b. Expressing an insistent demand imputed to the subject. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2728 (Ch.).
The pure cottar being lyke to die … And hes twa ky … , The vickar most haif ane of thay

c. With pres. or perfect infin., expressing the presumed truth of a supposition.= (It) cannot but be true that something is so.With present or perfect infin. 1513 Doug. v. vi. 111.
It moste be to me leful, rewth to haue Of my frendis myschance 1666 Laing MSS. I. 351.
I think Howard most not be wyss for to feght for an unchest woman 1682 Lauder's Observes App. iv. 306.
The tyke cold not have kept his office so long, bot he most needs have swallowed many a buttered bur

d. (? Erron.) Forming a periphrastic optative. = Mot v. 2 a. a1578 Pitsc. I. 109/5.
No remeid … wnles thy royall maiestie … most [I. mot] haue consideratioun and pettie of ws