a. and sb. Obs. [a. Fr. agreste, 14th c. a. It. (and Sp.) agreste:—L. agrest-is belonging to the field, f. ager, agr-um field.]
A. adj. Belonging to the open country, wild; hence, Rustic, rude.
c. 1420. Pallad. on Husb., XI. 324. The bay of myrte agrest.
1549. Compl. Scotl. (1873), 16. To support & til excuse my barbir agrest termis.
1553–87. Foxe, A. & M., III. 637. By whose unmerciful Nature and agrest Disposition, very many were put to death.
1668. Howe, Bless. Righteous (1825), 227. His more uncomely and aggressed manners.
1775. Ash, Agrest (not much used) belonging to the fields.
B. sb. A rustic, a countryman.
1480. Caxton, Ovid’s Metam., XV. iv. Th’ agrestes that see thenne th’ erbes & grasse enjoyen them.
