† umbecast, v. Obs.
Forms: 4 vmbecast (5 pa. tense -caste), 4 (5 pa. tense) vmbekest; 4 pa. tense. vmbikest, 5 vmbycast(e.
[f. umbe- + cast v. (or um- + becast v.). Cf. umbcast s.v. umb-, and umcast s.v. um-.]
1. trans. To surround, encircle.
| c 1350 Will. Palerne 2319 Þei herd an huge route of horse þat hel al a-boute, & herd þat quarrere vmbe-cast & al þe cuntre wide. Ibid. 4693 Whan al þe cuntre was umbe-cast with clene men of armes. c 1400 Laud Troy Bk. 5505 The Gregeis vmbikest his cart With many a knyȝt hardi and smart. c 1410 Master of Game (MS. Digby 182) xxv, Þen ought þe lymmer..vmbycaste with his lymer þe whart þat þe deere is into. |
b. To make the circuit of; to go round.
| 13.. E.E. Allit. P. B. 478 When ho fyndez no folde her fote on to pyche, Ho vmbe-kestez þe coste & þe kyst sechez. c 1475 Rauf Coilȝear 410 He vmbekest the countrie outwith the toun. He saw na thing on steir, Nouther fer nor neir. |
2. To enclose, confine.
| c 1440 York Myst. xxxiii. 467, i Mil. All in cordis his coorse vmbycast. ii Mil. Late vs bynde hym in bandis all bare. |
3. To consider, meditate (that, etc.).
| 1375 Barbour Bruce v. 552 He vmbethocht him at the last, And in his hert can vmbecast, That the king had in custum ay [etc.]. c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. vii. viii. 2029 (Wemyss MS.), All þarby Off þat thing thocht gret ferly, And vmbekest in þare entent. |
4. intr. Of a hunting dog: = cast v. 60.
| 1470–85 Malory Arthur xviii. xxi. 764 Whan the hynde came to the welle..the dogges came after and vmbecaste aboute, for she had lost the veray parfyte feaute of the hynde. |