Obs. Forms: see the sb. [f. the sb.; cf. OFris. fersta, OHG. fristen, fristôn (MHG. vristen, mod.Ger. fristen), ON. fresta, (Sw. frista, Da. friste).]

1

  1.  intr. To delay, grant respite. Also to frist it.

2

a. 1225.  St. Marher., 15. c ha ne firsten hit nawiht to schawen hit ischrifte.

3

a. 1225.  Leg. Kath., 2331. Nawiht, King, ne kepe ich Þæt tu hit fir firsti.

4

13[?].  E. E. Allit. P., B. 743. Þaȝ faurty forfete ȝet fryst I a whyle.

5

1535.  Stewart, Cron. Scot. (1858), I. 162. Thairof wald delay no langar nor frist.

6

  2.  a. with dat. passing into trans. To grant delay to (a person); to respite. b. trans. To put off, delay (a thing); to postpone the enjoyment of.

7

a. 1225.  Leg. Kath., 2398.

        Þæt he, for his freolaic
firstede hire.

8

1340.  Ayenb., 173. And naȝt ne uerste uram daye to daye.

9

1570.  Satir. Poems Reform., xvi. 71. Thocht he be fristit at this tyme, He will not be forgeuin.

10

1637.  Rutherford, Lett., clxxx. (1848), 345. I would frist heaven for many years.

11

  3.  trans. a. To lend or give (a thing) on credit. b. To give (a debtor) credit or time for payment. c. To grant time for payment of (a debt).

12

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 178/2. Frestyn, or lende to freste.

13

1540.  Compl. Scot., xv. 124. Quhen I laubyr … be mecanik craftis, I am compellit to len and to fyrst it to my tua cruel briethr.

14

1632.  Rutherford, Lett., lxxxix. (1848), 165. That debt is not forgiven, but fristed. Ibid. (1637), cv. 202. Frist Christ; He is an honest debtor. Ibid., cclxvii. 527. I am content; my faith will frist God my happiness.

15

1691.  Ray, N. C. Words, To Frist; to trust for a time.

16

  absol.  14[?].  Rel. Ant., I. 316. Kype and save, and thou schalle have; Frest and leve, and thou schall crave.

17

Proverb. 1718.  Ramsay, Christis Kirke Gr., III. iii. What aft fristed’s no forgien.

18

1824.  Scott, Redgauntlet, ch. xi. What is fristed is not forgiven.

19

  Hence Fristed ppl. a., Fristing vbl. sb.

20

14[?].  Tundale’s Vis., 55.

        For frystyng wold he ocur take
And nothyng leyn for Goddis sake.

21

a. 1605.  Montgomerie, Misc. Poems, v. 45. Sen fristed goods ar not forgivin, Quhen cuppe is full, then hold it evin.

22

1637.  Rutherford, Lett., ccxxvi. (1848), 443. A suspension and a fristing of my heaven. Ibid., ccxi. 413. Few know the pain and torment of Christ’s fristed love.

23