Obs. Forms: α. 35 late, 4 lat, 58 Sc. lait, (6 laitt, laytt). β. 35 lote, 4 lot. γ. 24 lete, 3 læte. [a. ON. (1) lát let, letting (as in blóð-lát blood-letting), loss, in pl. manners, sounds; (2) lǽte (only in nom. and acc.) manner, sound; f. root of LET v.1]
1. Look; appearance, aspect; outward manner or bearing.
α. c. 1200. Ormin, 1213. Ȝiff þu hafesst ȝet, tohh þu be ȝung, Elldernemanness late.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 90. ʓif þu makest eni luue lates touward unðeauwes.
c. 1320. Sir Tristr., 2097. It semeþ by his lat As he hir neuer had sene Wiþ siȝt.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, ix. (Bartholomaeus), 235. With gret noyse & il-mowtht late.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, VII. 127. Thai changit contenanss and late.
c. 1470. Golagros & Gaw., 746. Lufsum of lait.
β. c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 2328. Wid reweli lote, and sorwe, and wep.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., A. 895. Lyk to hymself of lote & hwe.
γ. c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 69. Habben [we] feir lete and ec skil.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 79. He makeð lete of þoleburdnesse and neðeles ne haueð non.
c. 1205. Lay., 18543. Ofte he hire loh to & makede hire letes.
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 35. For þine vule lete.
c. 1340. Cursor M., 14053 (Trin.). Ihesu þo bihelde hir lete.
b. pl. Looks, manners, behavior; hence, actions, goings-on.
α. c. 1205. Lay., 1196. Ofte he custe þat weofed mid wnsume lates.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 105. Þeos lufsume lafdi wið lastelese lates.
a. 1400. Isumbras, 180. So come a lyonne with latys un-mylde.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 248. Lughe one hyme luffly with lykande lates.
a. 140050. Alexander, 3998. Porrus, as a prince suld, persayued þar latis.
c. 1470. Golagros & Gaw., 160. He wes ladlike of laitis, and light of his fere.
1501. Douglas, Pal. Hon., III. 302. Men that callis ladyis lidder, And licht of laitis.
c. 1560. A. Scott, Poems, xxxiv. 84. Auldit rubiatouris To hant the laittis of lawdis.
1590. A. Hume, Hymns, etc. (1832), 2. Alace, how lang haue I delayed To leaue the laits of youth?
1728. Ramsay, Monk & Millers Wife, 215. Sic laits appear to us sae awfu, We hardly think your learning lawfu.
β. c. 1205. Lay., 14321. Freond sæiðe to freonde mid fæire loten hende Leofue freond was hail.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 10770. Hit were labur to long hir lotis to tell.
γ. c. 1205. Lay., 15661. Vortigerne þa læuedi aueng mid swiðe uæire læten.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 3285. Ne was sco not o letes [Fairf. lates] light.
2. Voice, sound.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 12496. Quen iesus herd þis quaining gret þe late þai thoru þe cite let, He had þar-for wel gret pite.
c. 1325. Metr. Hom., 123. Hir lufli lat [MS. C. voice] es win gastlye, That Iesus drinkes ful gladlye.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., C. 161. Þe lot of þe wyndes.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 1398. Wyth lotez þat were to lowe.
a. 140050. Alexander, 4384. Þan we haue liking to lithe þe late of þe foules.