v. Obs. Forms: 4 vmbecast (5 p. t. -caste), 4. (5 p. t.) vmbekest; 4 p. t. vmbikest, 5 vmbycast(e. [f. UMBE- + CAST v. (or UM- + BECAST v.). Cf. umbcast s.v. UMB-, and umcast s.v. UM-.]
1. trans. To surround, encircle.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 2319. Þei herd an huge route of horse þat hel al a-boute, & herd þat quarrere vmbe-cast & al þe cuntre wide. Ibid., 4693. Whan al þe cuntre was umbe-cast with clene men of armes.
c. 1400. Laud Troy Bk., 5505. The Gregeis vmbikest his cart With many a knyȝt hardi and smart.
c. 1410. Master of Game (MS. Digby 182), xxv. Þen ought þe lymmer … vmbycaste with his lymer þe whart þat þe deere is into.
b. To make the circuit of; to go round.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 478. When ho fyndez no folde her fote on to pyche, Ho vmbe-kestez þe coste & þe kyst sechez.
c. 1475. Rauf Coilȝear, 410. He vmbekest the countrie outwith the toun. He saw na thing on steir, Nouther fer nor neir.
2. To enclose, confine.
c. 1440. York Myst., xxxiii. 467. i Mil. All in cordis his coorse vmbycast. ii Mil. Late vs bynde hym in bandis all bare.
3. To consider, meditate (that, etc.).
1375. Barbour, Bruce, V. 552. He vmbethocht him at the last, And in his hert can vmbecast, That the king had in custum ay [etc.].
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., VII. viii. 2029 (Wemyss MS.). All þarby Off þat thing thocht gret ferly, And vmbekest in þare entent.
4. intr. Of a hunting dog: = CAST v. 60.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, XVIII. xxi. 764. Whan the hynde came to the welle … the dogges came after and vmbecaste aboute, for she had lost the veray parfyte feaute of the hynde.
