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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Prest, adj. and adv. [ME and e.m.E. prestore compar. (c 1290), prest (1297), preest (c 1400), preste (c 1475), ready, alert, close at hand, also adv. readily (1297–1558), OF prest (11th c. in Littré; mod. F. prêt), late L. præstūs ready, f. earlier L. præstō (præstū) adv. near at hand, in readiness. Cf. Pres v.2]

A. adj. Ready for action or use; prepared (to (for to)) do something. b. Alert; eager.(1) ?1438 Alex. ii 347.
To fecht with Indeans mak we prest
a1500 Rauf C. 408.
Out of Paris proudly he preikit full prest [: kest, rest, drest] Intill his harnes all haill his hechtis for to hald
c1475 Wall. ix 124.
His … men … Wallace gart ray in to thar armour prest [: rest]
a1570-86 R. Hudson Maitl. F. clxxxii 5.
He was ay prest Goddis treuth to plant alwey
c1590 Fowler I 38/48.
Thair wes I lykwyse prest in armes to combat on the ground
1587-99 Hume 19/66.
Quhilks dois their office execute, maist promptlie but delay, As instruments and organis prest thy will for to obay
(2) a1500 Rauf C. 468.
His pulanis full prest of that ilk peir
c1475 Wall. x 197.
Wallace … Held wp his handys with humyll prayer prest
1513 Doug. ii vi 10.
I … start on feit … With eris prest stude thar als stil as stone
Ib. iii viii 18.

B. adv. Readily, promptly; quickly. 1513 Doug. vi ii 5O.
Godly Eneas begynnys als prest And said [etc.]
Ib. xii xi 124.
He … from hys cart blent to the cyte prest [: kest]
c1590 Fowler ii 38/39.
Thy toung dois prowe, in naming me so prest, That [etc.]

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"Prest adj., adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 28 Mar 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/prest>

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