a. Sc. Also 6 ydant, 8 eydent. [Variant of earlier YTHAND, prob. an altered form of northern ME. iþen (a. ON. iðinn, íðinn ‘assiduous, diligent,’ Vigf.), perh. assimilated to pr. pples. in -and.] Diligent, industrious, busy; also attentive to. Cf. YTHAND.
1591. R. Bruce, Serm., vi. O iij. The soules of the Sanctes departed ar mair ydant in this exercise [of praise] then when they wer aliue.
a. 1774. Fergusson, Farmer’s Ingle, Poems (1845), 36. Wad they [gentler gabs] to labouring lend an eident hand.
1807–10. Tannahill, Poems (1846), 12. The lad … Was eident ay, and deftly hel’ the plough.
1816. Scott, Old Mort., iv. ‘Be eident and civil to them baith.’
