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.
Agast, a. Also: agaste; agaist. [ME. agast (c 1260), pa. pple. of agasten, agesten: see Agast v.] Filled with fright or terror; affrighted, terrified, aghast. (Only in predicative use. All the earlier examples rhyme with fast adv.)1375 Barb. x. 659; etc.
Sum of thame war sa agast, That thai fled and lap our the wall a1400 Leg. S. xviii. 218.
He sanyt hyme ful faste, As man at gretly var agaste c1420 Wynt. viii. 2106; etc.
The Schyrrawe all agast, ‘Quha is that?’ than speryd fast c1475 Wall. i. 230; etc.
Wallace wes spedy, and gretlye als agast a1500 Henr. Fab. 319.
I may not eit, sa sair I am agast a1500 Bk. Chess 1909.
He was agast, and trymblit so with all 1513 Doug. i. viii. 119; etc.
Remove all dreid, Troianys, beis nocht agast 1540 Lynd. Sat. 136.
He glowris, euin as he war agast 1572 Sat. P. xxxiii. 74; etc.
And ay sensyne my heid hes bene agast a1578 Pitsc. I. 405/8.
The Inglischemen was soir agaist at the comming of the Scottis men 1600 Acts IV. 210/1.
I being verie agast and wonderfullie astonyed at that … sicht
