α. foregain.
β. foregains.
γ. foregainst.
† foregainstprep.
Chiefly Scottish. Obsolete.
Directly opposite to; also, in the opposite scale to.
ΚΠ
1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xvi. 555 Ay forgane [1489 Adv. aforgayn] the schippis.
1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) I. 133 Ane messinger wes cuming him forgane.
a1547 Earl of Surrey tr. Virgil Certain Bks. Aenæis (1557) ii. sig. Civv My spouse clasping my feet, Foregainst his father yong Julus set.
1563 Aberdeen Council Reg. (1844) 254 In the Gallowgett of the said burght..forgains the gray freiris place.
1588 A. King tr. P. Canisius Cathechisme or Schort Instr. H vj Foregainst ye quhilk is placed ye golden nombre of yat ȝere.
1639 S. Rutherford Lett. (1848) cclxxxix. 589 If ye go to weigh Jesus his sweetness..and lay foregainst him your ounces or drachms of suffering for him.
1709 Philp Let. 24 Sept. in Dunbar Social Life (1865) 50 Two ships ryding at ankor forgainst this place.
1725 A. Ramsay Gentle Shepherd iii. ii On Skelfs foregainst the Door.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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prep.1487