Middle English Dictionary Entry
dēvaunt n., adv., and interj.
Entry Info
| Forms | dēvaunt n., adv., and interj. ?Also defaunt. |
| Etymology | OF devant |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A game played with dice [cp. adevaunt]; (b) com ~, of ~, ?as (mentioned) before; (c) away with! [cp. avaunt interj.]; (d) at ~, ?ahead [?error for at defaute]; (e) of ~, ?before [prob. error for of defaute lacking one].
Associated quotations
a
- c1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Tbr A.7)18428 : Som tyme at the chesse, som tyme at tablys..At hasard and [at] devaunt [vr. at the devaunt].
b
- (1411) EEWills19/8 : A boorde cloþe with ij towelles of deuaunt of oo sute.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)7.74 : Brasike is sowe at stondyng of the sonne..And ache also is sowen come deuaunt.
c
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.OFools (LdMisc 683)48 : A fface vnstable..Of ech thyng medlith, his thrifft lith in morgage; Devaunt [vr. Avaunte] a knave that schall neuer the.
d
- c1425 Twiti Venery(1) (Vsp B.12)154 : If yowre houndes chase the hare or the hert, and the houndes be at defaunt, ye shal say in this maner..'Sohow, hossame..ariere, sohow' [cp. Berners Bk.St.Albans (Blades 1881) e 6b.].
e
- c1425 Twiti Venery(1) (Vsp B.12)151 : Whan he hath troched on that one partye iiij and on the oþer v, than is he of xvj of defaunte. Whan he is trochid on bothe sydes v, than is he of xvj atte fulle.