Obs. Forms: 1 ést, 2–3 este (Orm. esste), 5 est. [OE. ést fem. (:—prehistoric *ôsti), corresp. to OFris. êst, enst, OS., OHG. anst, ON. ást, Goth. ansts:—OTeut. *ansti-z; also late OE. (in sense 3) ést masc. (pl. éstas); f. root of UNNEN, to grant. Cf. OHG. unst, mod.G. g-unst, Sw. ynnest, Da. yndest, f. un- weak grade of the same root.]
1. Good pleasure, favor, grace (esp. of God). In OE. also: Bounty, munificence.
Beowulf, 3074 (Gr.). He … hæfde aʓendes est ær ʓesceawod.
a. 1000. Andreas, 1217 (Gr.). Ne moton ofer mine est Þinne lichoman lehtrum scyldiʓe deaðe ʓedælan.
c. 1430. Syr Tryam., 1416. As y yow say, be Goddys est!
a. 1440. Sir Eglam., 904. Make we mery for Goddys est.
2. Pleasure, delight, luxury.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Luke vii. 25. Þa ðe synt on deorwurþum reafe & on estum [c. 1160 Hatton esten; Vulg. deliciis].
a. 1175. Cott. Hom., 241. Mine esten beoð wunian mid mannen bearnen.
a. 1240. Ureisun, in Cott. Hom., 201. Ne wene nomon to stihen wið este to þe steorren.
a. 1240. Sawles Warde, ibid. 257. Meaðful in alles cunnes estes.
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 1504. Thu miȝt mid wlate the este bugge.
3. Dainty food; also pl. dainties.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 152. Dapes, kininga wist, uel estas.
a. 1200. Moral Ode, 359. Ne scal þer ben bred ne win . ne oþer cunnes este.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 99. Þis dai is cleped estre dai þat is estene da, and te este is husel.
c. 1200. Ormin, 7542. & ȝiff we wolldenn shunenn aȝȝ To fillenn uss wiþþ esstess.
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 353. Mid este thu the miȝt over-quatie.
4. In Comb., which did not survive beyond early ME.: estdede [see DEED], deed of kindness; estful a., dainty, fastidious, luxurious; hence estfulness, daintiness; estlich a. [see -LY1], dainty, luxurious; estliche adv. [see -LY2], daintily, luxuriously; estmete = 3.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 2758. And ietro geld it him in *estdede.
a. 1000. Ags. Gloss., in Wr.-Wülcker, 218. Deliciosa, *estful.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 108. Estful is þeos ancre, ant muchel is þet heo bit.
c. 1340. Cursor M., App. i. (Edin. MS.), 23750. Þe fleis es ai to flihtis fus, Þe werd estful and couaitus.
a. 1000. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 220. Deuotio, *estfulnes.
a. 850. Kentish Gloss., ibid. 84. Delicatæ, *estelice.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 179. Þe riche .. habbeð of here [underlinges] swinche … estliche metes and drinkes.
c. 1000. Andreas, 292 (Gr.). We þe *estliche mid us willað feriʓan.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 204. Þe Suwe of ȝiuernesse þet is, Glutunie, haueð pigges þus inemned. To Erliche hette þet on; þet oðer to Estliche.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Gram., ix. (Z.), 54. Hæc daps, þeos sund oððe *estmete.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 37. Þe est metes and drinkes [he] ut speweð.
c. 1200. Ormin, 829. Nass nan esstemete þær Þatt follȝheþþ gluternesse.
