Middle English Dictionary Entry
ought pron.
Entry Info
Forms | ought pron. Also ouȝt, houȝt, ouht, ougt, oucht, ouȝth, ougth, outh, houth, out, hout, (errors) ough, ouguht, ȝout & owiht, owught, owhit & oght, hoght, oȝt, oht, ogt, ocht, oȝth, ogth, (early SWM) hoht, hoþt, ote, ohtne, (errors) ohut, oft & aught, auȝt, auht, aut, (error) ahut & aght, aȝt, (early) aht, haht, ahct & (early) awiht, awit, hawet, awihðt & (early SWM) æht, eawiht, eawicht, eawet, eawt, eaut, ewicht, ewt. |
Etymology | OE āwiht, ōwiht, āht, ōht & Merc. *ǣwiht n. & adv. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Anything, anything whatever; also, anything of value or avail; ~ muchel, any large amount of money; ~ amounten, ben ~ worth, to be worth anything, be of any avail; (b) ~ of, anything concerning or pertaining to (sb. or sth.); knouen (finden, heren, leren, reden, tellen, etc.) ~ of; ~ connen ther-on, to know anything about it; haven ~ to don with, have anything to do with (sb.); (c) ~ elles, anything further or besides; anything different; anything else; ~ more, anything further or additional; (d) what..~ (..) but, what..except; (e) for ~, in spite of anything, despite any amount, for all; for ~ that mai befalle (bitide), etc.; (f) for ~ ich wot (can, se), for all I know (see); for ~ he wot (wiste); for ~ ich can me avisen, as far as I can consider; for (bi, in) ~ ich can aspien, in ~ ich can sen, bi ~ ich sen can, bi (in) ~ that ich can sen, as far as I can see; bi ~ that ich can witen, as far as I can tell; in ~ that he may gessen, for ~ he coude adverten, as far as he can (could) tell; in ~ that he gan gesse, as far as he perceives; (g) in ~, in any way, at all; (h) in proverbs or sayings; as still as ~, completely still, as still as anything.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.MQuad.(Hrl 6258B)2/17 : Hafe hy mid þe, Þanne ne sceþþes þe..ne haȝol, ne strang storm, ne yfel man, ne wolberende awyt.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)4669 : Loc nu þe sellf hu ferr þu gast Ut off þe rihhte weȝȝe Ȝiff þatt tu lufesst weorelldþing To winnenn ohht wiþþ sinne.
- a1225(OE) Lamb.Hom.VA (Lamb 487)103 : Þe seofeðe sunne is icweðen Iactancia..þenne mon..deð for ȝelpe..Ȝif he awiht delan wule.
- a1225(?OE) Vsp.A.Hom.(Vsp A.22)239 : Þer cumeð þe hali engles him to and, ȝef hað ahte uniwasse, oðer hit wrð ȝewasse iþer pine of þe deaðe þe he her þaleð oðer efter.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)47/20 : Þe leatere..feð on forte siken ear he eawt [Nero: owiht; Tit: ewt; Cleo: eawicht] segge.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)110/21 : Ȝef ei seið wel oðer deð wel, ne mahen ha nanesweis lokin þider wið riht ehe of god heorte ah..bihaldeð o luft ȝef þer is eawt [Cleo: eawet] to edwiten.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)173/25 : Hwil þu const seggen eawt [Cai: eaut] sei al uneasket.
- c1230 Ancr.(Corp-C 402)34/3 : Hwen se ȝe moten to eani mon eawiht biteachen, þe hond ne cume nawt ut.
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)663 : Ȝif ho kuþe oȝt bute singe, Þat miȝte helpe to oþer þinge.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)3419 : If ymong x wurð ogt mis-don, Here stere rigten ðor-on.
- a1350 Prov.Hend.(Hrl 2253)221 : For when he haþ oht [vrr. katel, gode] bygeten, Al þe fredome is forȝeten Ant leyd vnder kne.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)137/34 : Ac ine þe cort of riȝte þet ssel bi ate daye of dome, huo þet ssel aȝt [Vices & V.(2): any þing; F riens], him behoueþ paye.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Lev.13.48 : Awollen clooþ..þat haþ alepre in þe oof or in þe warpe oþer of a certeyn skyn or ouȝt [WB(2): what euer thing; L quidquid] þat is made of skyn ȝif hit were infecte wiþ wyyte or reed weem, hit shal be holde a lepre.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.738 : If ye wol aught vnto [vr. eny thing to] youre sone the kyng, I am youre seruaunt bothe nyght and day.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)141a/b : Ȝif he [a crane] seeþ ouȝt comynge, he cryeþ and wakneþ his felawis.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)4895 : If in þar sekces be oght [Göt: ahut] funden, Lok þai alle be tain and bonden.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)6085 : Þis lamb..þai sal it ete wit fite and heued..if oght [Göt: ohut] leue ar it be tint, þai do it in þe fire be brint.
- c1400 PPl.C (Cmb Dd 3.13)20.211 : Houȝt [Hnt: Bote þou haue tache..Al þy labour is lost].
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1812 : Þis wommen..þei don her besynesse..With riche attire..Ȝif ouȝt be mysse, þei can it close and hide.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.pr.6.14 : Thou clepist me..to telle thing that is gretteste..and to the whiche questioun unnethes is ther aught [vr. awht; L quicquam] inowgh to laven it.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)372 : Owhte..Quicquam..[Win: quicquid].
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)7203 : Here hauy nought þat ought amountes.
- a1450 Mandev.(3) (BodeMus 116)31/14 : His men shuln stondyn aboutyn hym with swerdys drawyn..that yif he speke outh that displesith the Soudon, for to stekyn hym doun.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)84 : Noiþer prepuce nor circumcicoun is out, nor out worþ, not but keping of þe biddingis of God.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)103 : If religiouse men bindun þus to be obedient, & puttun þer will under mannis will, more þan under þe will of God, so þat it behowuiþ to do þe will of man, be it hout worþ or nout..þis is aȝen þe gospel.
- a1500(?a1400) KEdw.& S.(Cmb Ff.5.48)67 : Owe he ouȝt mycull in þis cuntre?
- a1500(?a1400) SLChrist (Hrl 3909)8444 : Fasting Ables mon therto & praye[r]s preues him present ther God has hoght for to do.
- a1500 NPass.(Hrl 215)2.175/418 : Lord, for oȝth [Cmb Gg 1.1: for no þing; vr. for thynge] þat may bitide, Swerdes haue we gode to.
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)5980 : Þa oðere [ships] weoren al to-driuen..nes þer na steores-mon þat æuere aht [Otho: ohte] cuðe þer-on.
- a1275 *Body & S.(4) (Trin-C B.14.39)124 : Haues he neuer a frend þat þinkis out of him.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.33 : In þat translacioun where þey fonde out of [L aliquid de] þe Trinite, þei speke not þerof.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.26 : Of alle stories of honoure þat I haf þorgh souht, I fynd þat no compiloure of him tellis ouht.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)11.48 : Of dowel ne dobet no deyntee me ne þouȝte; I had no lykynge..of hem auȝte to knowe.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.2552 : Atastus þo..Enquered..Ȝif he knewe ouȝt of Pirrus gouernaunce.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.1636 : I wol..do yow wyte..If that he slepe or wol ought here of this.
- a1425 Assump.Virg.(1) (Add 10036)117/237 : Hastou ouȝt herde þat I ne can, Off me or of any oþer man?
- ?a1425(a1400) Brut-1377 (Corp-C 174)327/5 : Þe Pope enioyned hem þat þey sholde certyfie hem aȝen by her letteres of þe Kinges wylle, and of his reaume, or þat þey determened out of þe forsaide articles.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)18.135 : In hire herte hadde sche ful gret Care, How sche Myhte Owght knowen of the lif Why that hire lord was so thanne pensyf.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)993 : Wilt thou lere of sterres aught?
- (1451) Lin.DDoc.55/35 : I will yt Roberd Schefeld haf v marcs, so yt..Al that Aske ogth of my wittword be firtheras to my last will.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)1077/3 : Sir, knowe ye ought of hym?
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)201/16 : It is no nede þat þe peple leerne and knowe oute of þe first, ij, iij..maters.
- a1500 All that I may (BodPoet e.1)p.272 : If I sey ovght of hyr but good, She loke on me as she war wod.
- a1500 Man vpon mold (BodPoet e.1)33 : If þou haue out to do with þe law to plete, At london at þe parvis many on wyll þe rehete.
- ?a1525(?a1475) Play Sacr.(Dub 652)567 : Yff ther be eyther man or woman That..owyht of hym tel can, Shall wele be quit hys m[e]d.
c
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)662 : Ȝif ho oȝt elles understode, Ȝif ho kuþe oȝt bute singe, Þat miȝte helpe to oþer þinge.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)91/173 : For ȝyf þy wyl reio[ye]þ more In enyes kennes þynges, Be hyȝt þy childe..Land, brouches..Oþer aȝt elles..Bote god..Þou ne a-nourest god aryȝt.
- (1357) Gaytr.LFCatech.(Yk-Borth R.I.11)2/4 : Of all the creatures that god made in heuen And in erthe, in water, or in ayre, or in ought elles, The soueraigne cause..Was his owen gode will.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.39 : He..feyned hym as þey he wolde..axe counseille of hym ȝif out schulde be wiþdrawe of þis lawe or put out more þerto.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.1872 : And over this Of pride if ther oght elles is, Wherof that I me schryve schal..Mi fader, axeth.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.5043 : Bot finaly to speke oght more Unto this lord, he dradde him sore.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.2203 : Is ther aught elles [vr. auht ellis]?
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)269a/a : A serpent..whanne he swolweþ a bridde oþur ought elles furst arereþ himself.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.1091 : The felyng of his sorwe, or of his fere, Or of aught elles, fled was out of towne.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1014 : It es butelesse bale thowe biddez oghte ells.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)290 : Is þar oȝt ellis At ȝe wald, hend, of me here or at ȝoure hert willis?
- c1450 Okure þrow (Eg 2810)p.231 : A mon sellys Corne ore beste ore oght elles.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)359/136 : Desyre ye outh ellys now rythis?
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)3.188 : This makyth men mysdo more þan ouȝte ellis.
d
- c1430 Chaucer TC (Cmb Gg.4.27)1.799 : What may sche demyn ouȝt of þyn deþ Ȝif þou þus deye & sche not why it is But þerfore fere is ȝuldyn vp þyn breþ.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.188 : What is þat makeþ hem goode for to bene Ought but ingetyng of this vnyte?
e
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)952 : William wel vnderstod sche..& knew al is koueyne for ouȝt he kouþe hide.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1805 : And yet they wenen for to be ful wyse That seruen loue for aught that may bifalle.
- c1390(?c1350) Jos.Arim.(Vrn)488 : Euere þe kuynde wol be frend, for ouȝt þat mai bi-falle.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.1765 : And thus for oght is yit befalle, An ydel man I wol me calle.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.3487 : Bot nevere fond I that sche wolde, For oght sche knew of min entente, To speke a goodly word assente.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)11281 : Þy gode wyl shal stonde for oght, Ȝyf þou hyt aske and haue hyt noȝt.
- a1413 Chaucer TC (Mrg M 817)5.695 : My fader nyl for no þing do me grace To goon a-yen, for ought I kan hym queme.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.899 : Þei loue Grekis and platly þei eschewe Latyns alle, for ouȝt þat may be-tyde.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.1484 : He shal it nevere wynne For aught he kan, whan that so he bygynne.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.1164 : For signe of lif, for aught he kan or may, Kan he non fynde in nothyng on Criseyde.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)1810 : Evere the heed was left bihynde For ought [F Por riens] I couthe pulle or wynde.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)17187 : No-thyng In erthe but foule that flye May come hem to, for out thei do eyȝt, But if it were with tresoun or sleȝt.
- c1430 Chaucer TC (Cmb Gg.4.27)4.499 : But douteles, for ouȝt þat may be-falle, With-outyn wordis mo I wele ben ded.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)3566 : Þey myȝt no fote þer-wt go þynne For ouȝt þat euer þey myȝt þo do.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)15433 : Bot for oght þei cowth to hym say, to bery þis ded ay toyȝt hym best.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)151/4508 : For ought y playne, Ye sett not no To sle me so.
- a1475 Bk.Courtesy (Sln 1986)779 : Yf þo sewer stonde, loke þou stande; Yf he knele, knele þou so longe for oȝt.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)3.342 : Þer nas..juge ne justice þat jewis durste hem deme For oute þat þei toke or trespassid to þe peple.
- a1500(a1400) Libeaus (Lamb 306)297 : For ought that may betyde, Ayenes him will J ride.
f
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.389 : A Shipman was ther wonyng fer by weste; For aught I woot, he was of Dertemouthe.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.1930 : 'Schrif the hier, If thou were evere Custummer To Falssemblant in eny wise.' 'For ought I can me yit avise, Mi goode fader, certes no.'
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)11.226 : Kinghod & kniȝthod, for auȝt [vr. ouȝth] I can aspie, Helpiþ nouȝt to heuene.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1072 : He, for ouȝt I can espie, Hath fredam, honour, and humanite Atonys made oute of his courte to fle.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.2501 : Þer is no more, by ouȝt I can espie, But ȝe haue leuer schortly for to dye.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.1771 : He fynt hem ageynward most contraire..Schewyng by signes þat þei sette lyte By his frendschip for auȝt he coude aduerte.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.447 : In swich cas man is nought alwey plesed, For aught I woot, namore than was he.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.1241 : Right as he that..dyen mot, in ought that he may [vr. gan] gesse..And from his deth is brought in sykernesse..Was Troilus.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.1178 : She cold was and withouten sentement, For aught he woot [vr. wiste], for breth ne felte he non.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.1285 : I wol gon to my conclusioun And to the beste in aught that I kan see [vr. in ought I can se].
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.814 : And, save hire browes joyneden yfere, Ther nas no lak, in aught I kan espien.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1611 : Jason..for ought I se or can..Ye han youreself yput in moche doute.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)130 : Þis man þat I se here, Al wrong is wrestid, by oght I se can.
- c1450(c1385) Chaucer Mars (Benson-Robinson)221 : And then her joy, for oght I can espye, Ne lasteth not the twynkelyng of an ye.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)5/118 : Bi oght that I can witt, he semys full well theron to sytt.
- c1500 The shype ax (Ashm 61)261 : By ought that I canne se They schall never thryve ne the.
g
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.524 : For to ben in ought aspied there, That, wiste he wel, an impossible were.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)2995 : If I may helpe you in ought [F de riens], I shall not feyne, dredeth nought.
h
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)1526 : And wile..þou hoþt afest, men þe wolleþ louie.
- c1450(1369) Chaucer BD (Benson-Robinson)459 : I stalked even unto hys bak, And there I stood as stille as ought.
- a1500 Salamon sat (Cmb Gg.1.32)5 : Qwyllys a man haues owth Cumpany wil with him go til he be broght to noght.
2.
(a) Any portion or amount of a human body, one's will, things heard, etc.; (b) any trace of someone; sen (afinden) ~ of, to see (find) any trace of (sb.); (c) felen ~ of, to feel any contact with (Christ).
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)6905 : Forr Ȝiff he lete waxenn þær Awihht off wiþerrstrenncþe Onnȝæn hiss aȝhenn oferrking, Itt birrde himm wel abiggenn.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)11843 : Uss ne birrþ nohht takenn wiþþ Ȝiff aniȝ mann uss eggeþþ To don ohht orr to spekenn ohht Off ifell & off sinne.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)12469 : Tærþurrh ure Laferrd Crist All oferrcomm þe deofell Þurrh þatt he þweorrt ut all forrsoc To don ohht off hiss wille.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)996 : He hit mahte don buten ewt to leosen of his hehnesse.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)20/5 : Ich neauer nuste þet he ewt of min hearm eauerȝete hefde.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Luke 9.36 : Thei..seide to no man in tho dayes ouȝt of tho thingis, whiche thei hadden herd.
- c1390(?c1350) Jos.Arim.(Vrn)171 : Con he out of clergye?
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)prol.846 : Unethes stant ther oght upryht Of worschipe or of worldes good, As it before tyme stod.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)2116 : Y may suffre þat yche peyne..Ar y wyl oght of þe fruyt take.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)3386 : A fyre..brend hys body dounne to þe grounde whylys oght of hym myȝt be founde.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)8612 : Ȝyf..halewed þyng yn ouþer stede lay, And oght þerof were bore away..For sacrylege, alle ys hyt tolde.
- a1400(a1325) Glo.Chron.B (Trin-C R.4.26)1113 : Out [A: Ȝif hii adde o þing iwonne of castel oþer of toune, Wel þe worse it wolde be to bringe hom þer doune].
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)2488 : Thou ne haddest noon hardement To shewe hir ought of thyn entent.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)85/11 : Þe kyng..takez of þe dung and rubbez it on his visage..After þe kyng oþer lordes..dose on þe same maner; and efter þaim seruandes and oþer men..als lang as oght [F vr. acun] lastez þeroff.
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)12864 : Bi-hald ȝeorne ȝif þu miht a-finden oht of þan feonden.
- c1300(?c1225) Horn (Cmb Gg.4.27)57/976 : Rymenhild vndude þe dure pin Of þe hus..To loke wiþ hire iȝe If heo oȝt of horn isiȝe.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.1113 : And on the walles of the town they pleyde, To loke if they kan sen aught of Criseyde.
c
- a1350 Iesu suete is (Hrl 2253)95 : Iesu..of oþer blisse ne recchy noht; when ich of þe mai felen oht þenne is my soule wel ywroht.
3.
(a) Something; ben ~, to be a person worthy of consideration, be somebody; (b) everything; everi ~, everything; (c) math. some (any) numerical quantity; (d) in sayings or proverbs; for ~ for (or) nought, come what may.
Associated quotations
a
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)31 : Þe preost him wile haten þet he nime þa ilke ehte oðer his wurð and dele hit wrecche monne..þe ilke þet is iseli þis he wule don, and he his uniseli ȝif him is lað to donne þis, forðon þe he scal aȝein ȝeuen awiht.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Gal.6.3 : If ony man gessith him silf for to be ouȝt [L aliquid] whanne he is noȝt, he disceyueth him silf.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)5.439 : I nam nouȝte lured with loue but þere ligge auȝte [vr. sumwhat] vnder þe thombe.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)274 : Þou hatz called þy wyrde a þef, Þat oȝt of noȝt hatz mad þe cler.
- c1425 *Wycl.Concord.(Roy 17.B.1)102a : Who þat trowiþ þat he is ouȝt whanne he is nouȝt.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)372 : Owhte or sumwhat.
b
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)121 : Of euerilc ougt, of euerilc sed, Was erðe mad moder of sped.
- c1390(c1350) NHom.(2) PSanct.(Vrn)85/239 : Þis world is nouht, bote heuene is ouht, whon deþ schal come wiþ his knyf.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)5.489 : Now god..þat of þi goodnesse gonne þe worlde make, And of nauȝte madest auȝte [vr. alle þynge].
c
- c1450 Art Number.(Ashm 396)50/15 : That done, ought or nought most be the residue.
- c1450 Art Number.(Ashm 396)50/19 : Yf ought be in residue, kepe that without in the table.
d
- 1372 Nu is vp (Adv 18.7.21)p.435 : Nu is vp, nou is doun..Nou is out, nou is nout.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.673 : For bet, for wers, for oght, for noght, Sche passeth nevere fro my thoght.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)4.689 : And tyme is now thyn oxon to be bought. And be they bought or of thi propurte Hem now to greithe is good for ought or nought.