Obs. exc. dial. Forms: 4 latt, 4–5 layte, lait(e, 5–9 late, 9 lait. [a. ON. leita, corresponding to OE. wlátian to behold, Goth. wlaitôn (περιβλέπεσθαι); related by ablaut to ON. lit-r, OE. wlite aspect, appearance, OS. wliti face, form, Goth. wlit-s face, and ON. líta, OE. wlítan to look.]
1. trans. To look or search for; to seek, try to find. Also with inf. or clause as object.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 7323. Omang þir puple sal þou latt A stalworth man þat saul haitt.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., C. 277. He lurkkes & laytes where watz le best.
a. 1350. St. James, 305, in Horstm., Altengl. Leg. (1881), 101. Graithly up he laites and lukes All his bagges and all his bokes.
a. 1400. Sir Perc., 255. The grete Godd for to layte Fynde hyme whenne he may.
c. 1400. Ywaine & Gaw., 237. Aventures for to layt in land.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 2341 (Dubl.). Lates ane oþer lodesman, alosed more of strenth.
c. 1440. York Myst., xvii. 111. Vn-witty men ȝe werre To lepe ouere lande to late a ladde.
1674–91. Ray, N. C. Words, To Late, Cumb. to seek.
1787. Grose, Prov. Gloss., Lait, to seek any thing hidden. N.
1864. Atkinson, Stanton Grange, 122. Now, all you can do is to late her poor little body. Ibid. (1891), Moorland Par., 136. Are you laiting goud?
† b. To search or look through; to examine.
13[?]. St. Erkenwolde, 155, in Horstm., Altengl. Leg. (1881), 269. We haue oure librarie laitid þes longe seuene dayes.
2. absol. or intr. To look, search. Also dial. To look for a word; to hesitate in speech.
c. 1300. Cursor M., 5975. Quar-to suld yee ferrer lait.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 97. Sayde þe lorde to þo ledez, laytez ȝet ferre.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 7669. All … laited aftur þe lede with a light wille.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., x. 137. And this is, who wyll late, The sext moneth of hyr conceytate, That geld is cald. Ibid., xviii. 180. Thise ar the commaundmentys ten, who so will lely layt.
1804. R. Anderson, Cumberld. Ball., 87. He ne’er hes a teale widout laitin.
