▪ I. † flaite, v.1 Obs. rare—1.
[? for *flate, flat v.4]
intr. ? To flatter.
| c 1430 Hymns Virg. (1867) 74 Quod ouerhope, ‘þan y flatir, & sumtyme flaite þou schalt lyue, and þi silf it haue’. |
▪ II. flaite, v.2 Obs. exc. dial.
(fleɪt)
Also 6 flaight, 7 flayte.
[var. of flight v.]
trans. To frighten, scare, terrify. Hence ˈflaited ppl. a.
| 1565 Golding Ovid's Met. ii. (1593) 39 His steades that yet for feare doth run Like flaighted fiends. 1642 Rogers Naaman 138 Till the Lord by his terrors flaite her. 1674 Ray S. & E.C. Words (1691) 98 Flaite. 1721 in Bailey. |