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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

AMAIST, ALMAIST, Aamaist, Ameaste, Amest, adv. Also awmaist. Almost. Gen.Sc. (Cf. Maist, adv. = almost.) [ɑ′mest + ə′mest Sc.; ə′mɪəst s.Sc.]Sc. 1724 Ramsay T. T. Misc. (1762) 23:
I had amaist forgot My mistress and my sang to boot.Sc. 1816 Scott B. Dwarf iv.:
It was amaist the last word my father said to me on his death-bed.Sh.(D) 1930 T. P. Ollason in Sh. Almanac 196:
Wi' da din an' da scheerin', 'at raise lack da roar o' da ocean aroond 'is, I wis amest daved.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore 125:
An' I almaist wad swear that same were she.em.Sc. 2000 James Robertson The Fanatic 36:
'That's how I am.'
'It's no how ye are here. Listen, we're haein a normal conversation, awmaist.'Ayr. 1790 Burns Battle of Sherramuir iv.:
And monie a huntit poor red-coat, For fear amaist did swarf, man!s.Sc. 1873 Murray D.S.C.S. 226:
Ameaste, almost.Rxb.(D) 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes an Knowes 21:
An aamaist the whole road-end cam oot-ther-oot ti waal an glowr at the unordnar munsie.Uls. 1900 A. McIlroy By Lone Craig-Linnie Burn 20:
It lucks like a jidgment on the lan' — amaist es bad es that in Jeremiah's day.