† fous, a. Obs.
Forms: 1 f{uacu}s, 2–3 fus, (3 fuus, fuss), 3–5 fous, (south vous(e).
[OE. f{uacu}s = OS. f{uacu}s, OHG. funs, ON. f{uacu}ss:—OTeut. *funso-:—pre-Teut. *p{ncircbl}t-to-, f. root *pent-, pont-, p{ncircbl}t- to go, set out; cf. find, fand, found vbs.]
Eager, ready. Const. with of, to, and inf.
| Beowulf (Z.) 1805 Wæron æðelingas eft to leodum fuse to farenne. c 1200 Ormin 16997 He wass fus to lernenn. a 1300 Cursor M. 21881 He sends us þis all in warning..Of vr saul to be ai fus. Ibid. 23749 Þe flexs es ai to filthes fus. 1460 Lybeaus Disc. 288 To dele ech man rappes Ever he was fous. |
Hence ˈfouse v., intr. and trans., to hasten.
Substituted in the later text of Layamon II. 19546 and 29780 for fuse (ü).