ambs-ace
(ˌæmz ˈeɪs)
Forms 3–4 ambes as, -z as, 4–5 ambes aas, 6–7 ambes ace, 6–9 ambs ace. Also 4 amys ase, 6 aums ase, 6–7 aumes-, aums-, amnes-, 6–9 ames-, 7 alms-, 8 ams-, am's-, ame's ace.
[a. OFr. ambes as:—L. ambas as, both ace: see ace n.]
1. lit. Both aces, double ace, the lowest possible throw at dice; hence, fig. bad luck, misfortune; worthlessness, nought, next to nothing.
| 1297 R. Glouc. 51 Ac he caste þer of ambes as. c 1300 Beket 450 Thu ert icome therto to late: thu hast icast ambez as. c 1400 Beryn 2955, I bare thre dise, in myne owne purs..I kist hem forth al three, and too fil amys ase. c 1430 Lydg. Minor Poems (1840) 166 Whos chaunce gothe neyther on synk nor sice, But withe ambes aas encresithe his dispence. 1601 Shakes. All's Well ii. iii. 85, I had rather be in this choise, than throw Ames-ace for my life. 1611 Cotgr., Besas, Aumes-ace, on the dice. a 1658 Cleveland Clev. Vind. (1677) 28 In whom Dame Nature tries To throw less than Aums Ace upon two Dice. a 1680 Butler Rem. (1759) VI. 81 Idly vent'ring her good Graces To be disposed of by Alms-Aces. 1721 S. Centlivre Gamest. i. i. 136 My evil genius flings Am's Ace before me. 1722 Wollaston Relig. Nat. iii. 56 Nobody can certainly foretell, that sice-ace will come up upon two dies fairly thrown before ambs-ace. 1731 Fielding Lottery (1755) I. 249 If I can but nick this time, ame's-ace I defy thee. 1870 Lowell Among my Bks. Ser. i. (1873) 192 A lucky throw of words which may come up the sices of hardy metaphor or the ambs-ace of conceit. |
2. The smallest point. within ambs ace of, emph. form of ‘within an ace of’: on the very verge of. ? Obs.
| 1679 Trial of Langhorn 18 His Wife was but aumes ace turned from a Devil. 1698 Vanbrugh æsop v. i, Reduced within ambs-ace of hanging or drowning. a 1733 North Examen i. iii. ¶158 His Lordship was within Ams-ace of being put in the Plot. 1800 M. Edgeworth Cast. Rackr. 28 Within ames-ace of getting quit..of all his enemies. |