adv. Forms: 7 ascant, a-skaunt, 7–9 askaunt, 8– askant. [apparently a later variant of ASKANCE q.v., with termination assimilated to ASQUINT or ASLANT.]
1. = ASKANCE 1.
1695. Blackmore, Pr. Arth., II. 461. Man’s Soul, by this rude Shock from ’s Center driv’n, Stands so a-skaunt.
1795. Southey, Joan of Arc, X. 98. Whether this public zeal hath look’d askaunt To private ends.
1873. Dixon, Two Queens, I. I. v. 36. His mouth was big; his left eye turned askant.
2. = ASKANCE 2.
1633. P. Fletcher, Purple Isl., XII. lxxx. On which if Envie might but glance ascant, Her eyes would swell and burst.
1761. Brit. Mag., II. 133. All parties concur in looking askant upon turn-coats.
1880. Mrs. Parr, Adam & Eve, II. 149. They looked askant on innovation and hated change.
3. = ASKANCE 3.
1791. Cowper, Iliad, XI. 657. With an eye askant, Watchful retreated.
¶ In the following passage from Shakespeare, in which it appears as a prep., the folios read aslant.
1602. Shaks., Ham. (Qq.), IV. vii. 167. There is a willow grows ascaunt the brook.
