A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1375-1586
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Lest, v.2 Also: leste. Past t. laste. [Cf. midl. ME. lest(e (14th c.) and List v.]
1. impers. To be pleasing to (one, to do something): me lest, I please, choose, like, or desire.(1) pres. t. a1400 Legends of the Saints xv. 43.
Quhare-to for now me lest nocht rek a1400 Ib. xxv. 205.
My gud brethyre, quhy lest ȝou le? a1500 Lancelot of the Laik 554.
This is my charge … whilk if youe lest For to fulfill … he most tendir shal youe haldpast t. a1400 Legends of the Saints iv. 146.
Quhene Hermogines wes fre To ga quhare euir hym lest to be 1513 Doug. i. ii. 16.
Les thai suld … drive about Erd, ayr and sey, quhen euer thame lest blaw out(2) pres. t. 1375 Barb. vii. 314.
Thai ly scalit as thame lest [: best] 1456 Hay I. 106/17. 1456 Ib. 127/24.
The pape … may tak fra thame thair foresaid jurisdictioun and geve it quhare him lest 1456 Ib. 275/14.
A man that accusis ane othir may cesse quhen him lest fra accusacioun of that crime 1456 Ib. 277/19.
In were tyme new men of armes … may … tak armes at thair lyking, syk as thame lest a1570-86 Maitland Maitland Folio MS clxxiv. 50.
Ilk … limmer … sall do quhat thing thame lest [: best]past t. a1400 Legends of the Saints i. 696.
Thai … Wald hafe … Petir mad fre To ga quhar hym laste to bea1400 Ib. ii. 216.
He wald ga Quhare sa hym leste 1405 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 58.
[They] past syne … to land & departit the gudis thar as tham lest ?1438 Alex. ii. 3617.
Thay … carpit thare lyking as thame lest [: best] 1535 Stewart 17841.
Throw Gallia he passit hame to Rome, Remanit thair at laser as him lest [: rest]
2. personal, tr. To please, choose, care, or wish (to do something).pres. t. c1400 Troy-bk. i. 475.
Men lest notht the teynd to here, For yrknes of this mater c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace v. 123.
Deyme as yhe lest, ye that best can and may 1513 Doug. iii. Prol. 27.1513 Doug. ix. v. 131.
Lat fortoun send ws gude lulk, gif scho lest [: best], Or mysaventour a1568 Bannatyne MS 224 a/5.
Gif that [= if perchance, in case] … My souerane lady lest to dedene To rew vpoun my wofull eventure a1570-86 Maitland Maitland Folio MS cviii. 4.
Sens ȝe may haue conferring as ȝe lest [: drest, rest] a1570-86 Ib. clxxviii. 111.
On to thair taillis quha lest attend Thay knaw all to the wardillis endinfin. 1535 Stewart 9761.
Of bowmen bald … With bowis big … Wald lest to draw as darflie as thai dowpast t. a1400 Legends of the Saints xviii. 148.
Ilkane tuk with hyme sic fude As thai beste leste 1535 Stewart 15284.
How the Romanis neirby thre hundreth ȝeir Hes occupyit oure landis as tha lest [: best]
