Obs. [OE. wéstan (:—wōstjan: see WESTE a.) OS. (â)wôstian, OHG. wuostan (MHG. wuesten G. wüsten).] trans. To lay waste.

1

c. 893.  K. Ælfred, Oros., I. x. § 1. Hie … wæron fiftene ʓear þæt lond heriʓende & westende.

2

c. 1000.  Ags. Ps. (Th.), lxxviii. 7. Hi … his wic-stede westan. Ibid., lxxix. 13. Hine … wilde deor westað and frettað.

3

c. 1205.  Lay., 1754. Þus heo westen þat lond. Ibid., 20941. Heo … sæiden þat heo wolden … westen Arðures lond.

4

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 3915. Ðis folc … his lond tok,… And westen al to flum iordan.

5