ofsett

t. [ME. of set ten, Thus was the citie of -sett & sith then so wonne. A lisa under of Macedoine (E. E. T. S.), 1. 308. oft (oft), adv . [ oft , ofte , oft = OS. oft , of to OFries. oft a , ofte = OHG. of to , MHG. ofte , G. oft = Icel. oft , opt , ott = Sw. oft a = Dan. ofte = Goth. ufta, oft, frequently; prob. orig. a case-form of an adj. akin to Gr. ύπατος, highest, a superl. form connected with compar. form ὑπέρ, prep.,=E. over: see over. Hence the later form often.] Many times; many a time; frequently; often. [Now chiefly poetical.] A hathel in thy holde, as I haf herde ofte , That hatz the gostes of God that gyes alle sothes. Alliterative Poems (ed. Morris), ii. 1598. I schrewe myself, both blood and bones, If thou bigile me any ofter than ones. Chaucer, Nun's Priest's Tale, 1. 608. Three times he smiles, And sighs again, and her as oft beguiles. J. Beaumont, Psyche, ii. 38. Their pastime or recreation is prayers, their exercise drinking, yet herein so religiously addicted that they serue God oftest when they are drunke. Bp. Earle, Micro-cosmographie, Singing Men. Full oft thy lips would say 'twixt ki and ki That all of bli was not enough of bli My loveline and kindne to reward. William Morris , Earthly Paradise, II. 15. IMG:content-1663.png:[blocks in formation]