a. Obs. [Aphetic f. DISTRAUGHT a.] Distraught, out of one’s mind. Also, bereft of (one’s wits, mind).

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a. 1529.  Skelton, Agst. Ven. Tongues, Wks. 1843, I. 133. My scoles are not for vnthriftes vntaught, For frantick faitours half mad and half straught.

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1530.  Palsgr., 429/2. I am straught, je suis enragé. He is straught, il est enragé.

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1566.  Painter, Pal. Pleas. (1569), I. 147. He seemed rather to bee a man straught … than lyke one that had hys wittes.

4

1566.  Drant, Horace, Sat., I. vi. D v b. The moste of men, wil thincke me straughte of witte.

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1567.  Golding, Ovid’s Met., VI. (1593), 150. Betweene his duskie wings he caught Orithya straught for feare.

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1579–80.  North, Plutarch, Agesilaus (1595), 668. Seely women also … ranne vp and downe, as straught of their wits.

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1584.  R. Scot, Discov. Witchcr., VII. xi. 144. Being now straught of mind, desperate, and a verie foole.

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c. 1600.  Day, Begg. Bednall Gr., IV. i. (1881), 72. Stumbling? what! stumbling? I think the fellow be straught.

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  Hence † Straughtness, Straughtedness.

10

1530.  Palsgr., 277/1. Straugh[t]nesse madnesse, amence.

11

1552.  Huloet, Strawghtnes of the mynd by reason of fear, panicus.

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1583.  Golding, Calvin on Deut., xxviii. 979/2. For vntill God haue brought vs to this straughtednesse, we be altogether blockish. [Fr. Car iusques à tant que Dieu nous ait amenez à ceste furie, nous sommes stupides du tout.]

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