v. Obs. Forms: 3–4 frest, fraist(e, 4 frayst(e, 5 frast. [a. ON. freista (Sw. fresta, Da. friste) = Goth. *fraistan (whence fraistubni temptation).]
1. trans. To try, put to the proof, test.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 18671 (Cott.).
| Iesus him kidd til þaim all neu, | |
| To frest if þai in trouth war tru. | |
| Ibid., 25669 (Gött.). | |
| Leuedi mari! wele þu wast, | |
| Þe feindes fraistes me ful fast. |
a. 1300. E. E. Psalter, xi. 7.
| Speche of Laverd clene and schire, | |
| Silver fraisted with þe fire. |
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 8391.
| In bataille now þey wil vs frayst, | |
| Lok þat ȝe be trewe & traist. |
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 6947.
| Therfore, feris, bes fell, fraistes your strenght, | |
| Let your hertes be hoole, hold you to-gedur! |
c. 1460. Towneley Myst. (Surtees), 36.
| My servand I wille found and frast, | |
| Abraham, if he be trast. |
2. To try, attempt.
c. 1400. Ywaine & Gaw., 3253.
| His felow fraisted with al his mayn, | |
| To raise him smertly up ogayn. |
c. 1440. York Myst., ii. 71.
| With fedrys fayre to frast þer flight | |
| fro stede to stede where þai will stande. | |
| Ibid., xl. 158. | |
| Fraste þer-on faithfully, my frendis, you to feede. |
3. To learn or know by trial; to experience.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 175. Ȝour douhtynesse of blode þe Saraȝins salle freist.
c. 1340. Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 1090.
| Many men þe world here fraistes, | |
| Bot he is noght wise þat þar-in traystes. |
4. trans. and intr. To ask. Also at (a person).
c. 1340. Sir Gawayne and the Green Knight, 1395. ‘Þat watȝ not forward,’ quoth he, ‘frayst me no more.’
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 435.
| I salle be foundyne in Fraunce, fraiste whene hym lykes, | |
| The fyrste daye of feverȝere, in thas faire marches! |
a. 1400. Isumbras, 668.
| The lady gane hym to concelle calle, | |
| And fraystes at hym there, | |
| ‘Was thou ever gentylle mane?’ |
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 97. Ffrayne will I fer and fraist of þere werkes.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst. (Surtees), 25. My [wife] wille I frast what she wille say.
5. trans. To seek, search for, desire.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., A. 169. Þe more I frayste hyr fayre face.
c. 1340. Sir Gawayne and the Green Knight, 279. Nay, frayst I no fyȝt, in fayth I þe telle.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 1227. The kyng fraystez a furth ouer the fresche strandez.
c. 1420. Awntyrs Arthur, 412 (Thornton MS.). For fyghtynge to frayste I fowndede fra hame.
Hence † Fraisting vbl. sb., the action of the vb. Also † Fraiat sb., trial, assault.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 9881 (Cott.).
| Þis castel es o luue and grace, | |
| Bath o socur and o solace, | |
| A-pon þe mathe it standes traist, | |
| O fede ne dredes it na fraist. |
c. 1440. York Myst., xl. 49. In frasting we fonde hym full faithfull and free.
