Also 4–5 lest(e, lyst(e. [f. LIST v.2 Cf. Icel. lyst fem., appetite (for food).]

1

  † 1.  Pleasure, joy, delight. Obs.

2

c. 1205.  Lay., 13078. Þa andswarede þe munec mid muchelere liste [later text mid swiþe gode wille].

3

13[?].  E. E. Allit. P., A. 467. So fare we alle wyth luf and lyste, To kyng & quene by cortaysye.

4

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Prol., 132. In curteisye was set ful muche hir lest [v.r. list].

5

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 306/2. Lyst, or lykynge,… delectacio.

6

c. 1450.  Holland, Howlat, 755. All thus our lady thai lovit, with lyking and lyst.

7

1573.  Satir. Poems Reform., xl. 197. How he suld … leaue this lyfe with list for all thair plaid.

8

  2.  Appetite, craving; desire, longing; inclination. Const. to (with sb. or inf.), rarely for, of; † frequently collocated with leisure. Now only arch.

9

c. 1220.  Bestiary, 544. He doð men hungren and hauen ðrist, and mani oðer sinful list.

10

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 1231. Hem wexon ðrist, ðe water sleckede ðe childes list.

11

a. 1300–1400.  Cursor M., 24751 (Gött.). Þat gifs me list [other MSS. lust(e] of hir to rede.

12

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Troylus, II. 738 (787). Right a-noon as sesed is here lest, So cesseth loue and forth to loue an newe.

13

1423.  James I., Kingis Q., lvii. Hastow no lest to sing?

14

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, IX. ii. 69. The wyld wolf … Rasys in ire, for the wod hungris list.

15

a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Huon, lxvi. 226. The traytoure Gerard had no lyst to slepe.

16

1563–87.  Foxe, A. & M. (1596), 410/1. He had no leisure, and lesse lyst, to attend unto Wickliffes matters.

17

1575.  Turberv., Faulconrie, 278. It is a very good way to … kill the list and lyking of a Sparhawke, to feede hir … with liquid meates washt in water.

18

1596.  W. Smith, Chloris (1877), 29. Since my disgrace I had of them no list.

19

1613.  Purchas, Pilgrimage, II. xv. (1614), 195. If he have list to the stoole.

20

1641.  Milton, Reform., I. Wks. 1851, III. 9. I have done it, neither out of malice, nor list to speak evill.

21

1659.  Fuller, App. Inj. Innoc. (1840), 319. I had little list or leisure to write.

22

1682.  Bunyan, Holy War, 242. I thank you for all things courteous and civil, but for your cordial I have no list thereto.

23

1825.  Scott, Talism., xxvi. I have more list to my bed than to have my ears tickled.

24

1839.  Bailey, Festus, viii. (1848), 84. To give a loose to all the lists of youth.

25

1888.  P. Cushing, Blacksmith of Voe, III. x. 216. The divine list of sex, and the sweet ache of soul.

26

  3.  (One’s) desire or wish; (one’s) good pleasure. Phrase at (one’s) list. Now only arch.

27

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 22130. Turn þai sal til him titest, And siþen þaas other at his list.

28

c. 1400.  Rom. Rose, 1957. Pleyn at your list I yelde me.

29

1579.  Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 261. Honestie my olde Graundfather called that, when menne lyued by law, not lyst.

30

1610.  G. Fletcher, Christ’s Tri., I. xxxi. Frail multitude! whose giddy law is list.

31

1682.  Bunyan, Holy War, 110. He that can of list and will propound what he pleases.

32

1695.  Hickeringill, Lay-Clergy, Wks. 1716, I. 326. By the Law of the Land, and not the Arbitrary list or will of any Man living.

33

1867.  J. B. Rose, trans. Virgil’s Æneid, 26. It was a god there working his own list.

34