α. 1500s most an ende, 1600s– most an end, 1800s most an iynd, 1800s– mostneen, 1900s– mosaneen, 1900s– mosanin, 1900s– most a neen, 1900s– most an ind.
β. 1800s 'most on end, 1900s– most on end.
most an endadv.
/ˌməʊst ən ˈɛnd/, U.S. /ˌmoʊst ən ˈɛnd/, Irish English /ˌmoʊst ən ˈɛnd/ Now English regional (northern) and Irish English (northern) (rare).
For the most part, almost entirely; almost always, almost without interruption, all the time. Cf. sense most adj. 3a, an-end adv. 2
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > frequency > [adverb] > in many instances or on most occasions
many timec1275
many timesc1275
most whilec1383
oftenc1390
mostwhen1555
most an end1577
1577 R. Holinshed Hist. Scotl. 479/1 in Chron. I An army..whiche lay most an ende at Dunglas.
1623 W. Lisle Ælfric's Saxon Treat. Jeremias..was oft in bands and cast into prison..and bore most an end the peoples sinnes.
1641 J. Milton Reason Church-govt. 39 Those magnifick Odes and Hymns wherein Pindarus and Callimachus are in most things worthy, some others in their frame judicious, in their matter most an end faulty.
1658 J. Rowland tr. T. Moffett Theater of Insects in Topsell's Hist. Four-footed Beasts (rev. ed.) 1074 In Europe they are most an end black ones.
1684 J. Bunyan Pilgrim's Progress 2nd Pt. 131 Knew him! I was a great Companion of his, I was with him most an end . View more context for this quotation
1739 ‘R. Bull’ tr. F. Dedekind Grobianus 122 Tipplers most an end are roaring boys.
1764 P. Bacon Oxf. Sausage 112 A Sword is like a Chair, you'll find, Because 'tis most an end behind.
1869 J. C. Atkinson Peacock's Gloss. Dial. Hundred of Lonsdale 'Most on End..used adverbially; continually, unremittingly.
1888 S. O. Addy Gloss. Words Sheffield 151 Most an end, It rains most an end.
a1908 H. C. Hart MS Coll. Ulster Words in M. Traynor Eng. Dial. Donegal (1953) 190/1 He talked most on end.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2002; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adv.1577