Middle English Dictionary Entry
asquint adv.
Entry Info
| Forms | asquint adv. Also (late) asqueint. |
| Etymology | ?Cp. F équinter cut to a point; F dial. e)squintar cast a glance, look furtively. See W.v. Wartburg, FEW, under exquintare. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
beholden or loken ~: (a) to squint; be cross-eyed; (b) to look sidelong or furtively.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)69a/a : A place þat is to briȝt..ofte makeþ children loke a squynt.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)116a/b : Þe mone..makeþ a man..loke a squint [L facit strabonem].
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)119/14 : Euel accidentis..as..crokidnes or ellis lokynge asquynt [L obliquitas seu strabositas] of þe iȝen.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)140/7 : In þis ben yuel signes as..þe yȝen to loke asquynt eiþer crokidliche.
b
- a1250 Ancr.(Nero A.14)94/15 : Ne muwen heo loken þiderward mid riht eie of gode heorte, auh winckeð oþere half, & biholdeð oluft & asquint.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)115 : Feers j am thanne as Leopard and thwart j haue my lookinge; A squynt j biholde the folk..I hatte orgoill.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)176 : Bakward she [Heresy] ran..And asqwynt she biheeld me, for she was purblynd whan she was nygh.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)2.6.33b : What tyme þat thu mettest with him [Envy] þat lokid so asqweynt, he enformed the pleynly of hire foule condicion.
2.
(To move) at an angle, obliquely.
Associated quotations
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)95/20 : He wissed the hors sydlynge ayeynes the watyr asquynt, and come ouer on the othyr syde.