Obs. Sc. 4–5. Also apayn, apane. [a. Fr. à peine at or in trouble or difficulty; see prec.]
1. With difficulty; with much ado; hardly, unwillingly, scarcely.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, IX. 64. Folk for-outen Capitane, Bot thai the bettir be a-pane, Sall nocht be all so gud in deid. Ibid., 89. Ȝit sall thai fle a-payn.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, VIII. 911. The toun to sege thaim thocht it was to lang And nocht a payn to wyn it be no slycht.
2. Apain of: under penalty or pain of.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, XI. 1313. I charge, apayn of loss of lywe, Nane be so bauld yon tyrand for to schrywe.
