A Concise Dictionary of Middle English from A.D. 1150 to 1580

by A. L. Mayhew; Walter W. Skeat

[ Aspie], sb. spy, W, W2; aspye, C3; aspy, S3.—OF. espie.

[ Aspien], v. to look after, to watch, S2, S3, W, W2.—OF. espier. See [Espye].

[ Aspiere], sb. spy, W.

[ A-spillen], v. to destroy, kill, S. ([A- 1].)

[ Aspiyng], sb. ambush, W.

[ Aspre], adj. rough, cruel, fierce, NED.—OF. aspre; Lat. asprum, rough, harsh.

[ Asprely], adv. roughly, fiercely, S3; asperliche, NED.

[ A-squint], adv. obliquely, out at the corner of the eyes, S.

Ass-; see As-.

[ Assay], sb. trial, experiment, an attempt, attack, tested quality, NED, S2, S3, C2, C3; asaie, W.—AF. assai (asai): It. assaggio; Lat. exagium, a weighing, from ex-agere (exigere), to weigh, prove, to drive out the tongue of the balance.