† ˈoftˌsithe, adv. Obs.
Forms: 3 oftesiðen, 3–4 ofte siþe, etc.: see oft and sithe: also 4 ofte-syde, of-sith, of-siþe.
[In early ME. oftesiðen:—OE. *ofts{iacu}ðon:—*oftsiðum dat. pl., corresp. to ON. optsinnum many times, oft-times (cf. OE. on ofts{iacu}ðas on many occasions, oft-times); f. oft + s{iacu}ðum dat. pl. of s{iacu}ð time: see sithe. By normal phonetic processes ofte-siðen became oftesiþe, oftsiþe, oftsith, in which the original pl. form was lost, but app. reinstated in the later oft-sithes: see next, and oftensithe in often C.]
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| a 1225 Ancr. R. 418 Of swuche witunge is i-kumen muchel vuel oftesiðen. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 5337 Ofte siþe [MS. Trin. Coll. ofte seþþe, MS. Digby (c 1425) ofte tymes] aboue he was, and bineþe ofter [v.r. oftere] mo. a 1300 Cursor M. 12534 (Cott.) And of-sith [F. oft-siþe, Gött. ofte-syde, Trin. ofte] walawai! he said. c 1305 Oxford Student 17 in E.E.P. (1862) 40 Þeȝ þis child were ȝung, of þis deol ofte siþe hit þoȝte. 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 7460–1 Als oft-sythe als þai here newed þair syn, Als oft-syth þair payn salle new þare bigyn. c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 37 Ese and welþe drawiþ men oftsiþ to synne. c 1448 Hoccleve Balade Dk. York 51 If þat I..my colours sette ofte sythe awry. |