† avenantadj.n.
Obsolete.
A. adj.
1.
a. Convenient, suitable, agreeable.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > suitability or appropriateness > [adjective]
goodeOE
rightOE
queemlOE
belonglOE
behovingc1175
limplyc1200
tidefula1300
avenantc1300
mackc1330
worthy1340
hemea1350
convenientc1374
seemlya1375
shapelyc1374
ablea1382
cordant1382
meetc1385
accordable1386
accordinga1387
appurtenantc1386
pertinentc1390
accordanta1393
likea1393
setea1400
throa1400
agreeablec1425
habilec1425
suitly1426
competentc1430
suiting1431
fitc1440
proportionablec1443
justc1450
congruent?a1475
cordinga1475
congruec1475
afferant1480
belonging1483
cordable1485
hovable1508
attainanta1513
accommodate1525
agreeing1533
respondent1533
opportunate?1541
appropriate1544
commode1549
familiar1553
apt1563
pliant1565
liable1570
sortly1570
competible1586
sortable1586
fitty1589
accommodable1592
congruable1603
affining1606
feated1606
suity1607
reputable1611
suited1613
idoneousa1615
matchable1614
suitablea1616
congruous1631
fitten1642
responsal1647
appropriated1651
adapt1658
mack-like1672
squared1698
homogeneous1708
applicable1711
unforeign1718
fitted1736
congenial1738
assorted1790
accommodatable1874
OK1925
c1300 K. Alis. 6333 They no haveth camayle, no olifaunt, No kow, no hors avenaunt.
c1440 Morte Arth. 2627 Aketouns avenaunt for Arthur hym selfene.
1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) iii. 41 Yarfor me thynk maist awenand To withdraw ws.
b. with infinitive. Fit, able to. Cf. Old French avenant à.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ability > [adjective] > for, of, or to do something
avenantc1400
habile1558
well1611
capacitated1669
capacious1677
susceptible1829
facultied1862
c1400 Octouian 923 No dosyper nas so avenaunt To stonde hys strok.
2. Handsome, comely, graceful; pleasant.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > pleasing appearance > [adjective]
faireOE
comelyOE
winlyOE
goodlyOE
hendya1250
hendc1275
quaintc1300
seemlyc1305
tidya1325
avenant1340
honestc1384
sightya1387
properc1390
well beseena1393
queema1400
speciousa1400
featousc1400
parisantc1400
rekenc1400
well-favoureda1438
wellc1450
spectable?a1475
delicatec1480
jollya1500
bonny?a1513
snog1513
viewlyc1536
goodlikec1550
sightly1555
sightful1565
beholdinga1586
eyesome?1587
decent1600
vage1604
prospicuous1605
eyely1614
fashionable1630
well-looking1638
softa1643
fineish1647
well-looked1660
of a good (also ugly, etc.) look1700
likely-looked1709
sonsy1720
smiling1725
aspectable1731
smirkya1758
likely-looking1771
respectable1776
magnificent-looking1790
producible1792
presentable1800
good-looking1804
nice-looking1807
bonnyish1855
spick1882
eyeable1887
aegyo2007
1340 R. Rolle Pricke of Conscience 5020 Þair bodys sal be semely..With avenand lymes.
a1440 Sir Degrev. 1309 ‘Syre duke avenaunt I pray the hold couvenaunt.’
1481 W. Caxton tr. Myrrour of Worlde i. xiv. 45 A lytil man is ofte wel made and auenaunt.
B. n.
That which suits one; convenience, purpose. at or to one's avenant: at one's convenience or pleasure, as suits one.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > advantage > convenience > [noun] > personal convenience
avenantc1400
easementc1400
commodity1493
convenientness1579
conveniencya1628
convenience1679
convenancy1769
c1400 Ywaine & Gaw. 3174 He said, That war noght mine avenant.
a1440 Sir Degrev. 370 One the morow sire Degrevvant Dyght him at is avennaunt.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1885; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
<
adj.n.c1300