Middle English Dictionary Entry
mōst-what adv.
Entry Info
| Forms | mōst-what adv. Also (N & NM) mastquat, most-, (early) masthwat & mestwhat, (early) -hwet, -wat. |
| Etymology | From mōst adj. & what. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Mostly, for the most part, chiefly; (b) ~ ai, almost always; ~ al, practically all, almost all; ~ everich, nearly everyone.
Associated quotations
a
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)11 : Þat ben alle heuie sennen..alse ben oueretes and untimeliche eten..and masthwat at ilche laðeð metisupe.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)5874 : Ne lat yee noght þam hon Als þai ha mast-quat [Göt: most-quat] hider don.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)14571 : Þe freindes þou has our-quar, We wat mast quat [Trin-C: moost] er þai þar.
b
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)137 : Þesne lehter habbeð mest hwet [L fere] alle men.
- a1200(?OE) Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)157 : Et hoc animi morbo laborat fere omnis homo: and þis custume haueð mestwat alle men.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)8081 : Mest what euerich wiþ his spere A paien gan to grounde bere.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)5010 : And mast-quat ay þe mone-tree..Quen it kithis vs any carpe, þe contrarie spekis.
- a1525 Conq.Irel.(Dub 592)88/17 : Most what [Rwl: most part] al þe day he wold ben out, other wyth houndes other wyth hawkes.