† aˈrase, v. Obs.
Forms: 6 arace, arrace, arrase.
[a. OF. arase-r to raze, level with the ground, demolish, f. phr. à ras, as if ‘mettre à ras de terre,’ f. ras level:—L. rās-us, f. rād-ĕre to shave, scrape smooth. Cf. erase. In form confused with arace.]
To raze, level with the ground, lay low. Also (? erroneously) To erase, obliterate. Hence arasing, arracyng, vbl. n., levelling with the ground, demolition.
| 1523 State Papers Hen. VIII, IV. 46 The goodly valiaunt exployt..at Gedworth, with the arracyng and destruccion of the same. 1530 Palsgr. 435/2, I arace, I scrape out a worde or a blotte..Je efface. 1532 More Confut. Tindale Wks. 355/2 So that the remembraunce of theire pestylent errours were araced out of englishe mennes heartes. 1553 Let. in Harrington's Nugæ Ant. 175 Sickness whearewith your Lordshipp hath oftentimes bene arrased. [1721 Bailey, Arace, to deface.] |