A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1399-1400, 1499-1605
[0,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0]
Avant, Awant, v.1 [ME. avaunte (1303), avant, OF, avaunter, avanter, f. late L. vānitāre to be vain, to boast.]
1. refl. To glorify (oneself). a1400 Legends of the Saints xxxvi. 424.
This aganis thaim makis strife, That awantis thaim-selfe of uertuise lif 1513 Doug. iv. Prol. 172.
Quhat nedis avant ȝou of ȝour wykkytnes? 1513 Ib. ix. iii. 136.
In cace thai prowd be of the goddis answeris, And thame avant tharof 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 81/39.
Net of the Feind, in vengeance ȝe awant ȝow 1562-3 Winȝet II. 77/13.
The wickit praesumptioun of Nestorius … that he awantit him afore al wtheris
b. intr. To vaunt, boast. 1562-3 Winȝet I. 42/12.
Ar ȝe not affrait to auante samekle that ȝe hane Godis Worde for ȝow? a1605 Montg. Misc. P. liii. 1.
Ȝe … will avant ȝour progeny frome Brutus to haif tane
2. tr. To commend, praise. (Cf. Avance v. 3.) a1500 Buke of the Sevyne Sagis 8.
He had … Ane sone baith faire and eligant And of his age richt till awant c1550 Rolland Court of Venus i. 338.
Thocht thow awant lufe thus in thy curage [etc.] c1550 Ib. 367.
I will thy seruice ay awant
You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Avant v.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/avant_v_1>
