▪ I. † gnast, n. Obs.
Also 5 gnaste.
[OE. -gnást (in f{yacu}r-gnást) str. masc., spark, cognate with OHG. gneista wk. fem., gneisto wk. masc., also ganeheista (MHG. ganeist(e, gneist(e), ON. gneiste wk. masc. The OHG. ganeheista suggests formation from OTeut. *ga- + ana prep. (= on) + *hait (see hot); some scholars refer the word to the Teut. root *aiđ- to burn (as in OE. ád funeral pyre).]
A spark; the snuff of a candle.
| c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 81 Þe oðer [brond] is aquenched al buten a gnast. 1382 Wyclif Isa. xxix. 5 And shal be..as a gnast thurgh passende, the multitude of hem that aȝen thee hadden maistri. 1412–20 Lydg. Troy-bk. i. iv. (1513) B ij, And as a gnast firste of lytell hate Encauseth flawme of contek and debate. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 277/2 Knast, or gnaste of a kandel (K. knast of candelle), emunctura. 14.. Voc. in Wr.-Wülcker 592/31 Lichinus, gnast of candele. |
▪ II. † gnast, v. Obs.
Forms: 3–6 gnaist(e, gnayste, 4–6 gnaste, 3–6 gnast.
[The early form gnaiste would seem to point to adoption of an ON. *gneista, an ablaut-var. of gn{iacu}sta to gnash the teeth. ON. had also gnastan, gnastran (beside gn{iacu}stan, gn{iacu}stran) gnashing of teeth, and a str. vb. gnesta to crack, clatter. The ultimate origin is prob. onomatopœic, which may account for the anomalous variation in the root-vowel.]
1. intr. = gnash v. 1.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 19434 Þai bigan to gnast with toth. a 1300 E.E. Psalter ii. 1 (Horstm.) Wharfore gnaisted gomes swo. 1340 Hampole Ps. xxxiv. 19 Þai gnaystid on me wiþ þaire tethe. 1382 Wyclif Isa. v. 29 He shal gnasten [L. frendet], and holden the prei. c 1450 Mirour Saluacioun 1756 This hors..gnaisting and neeing hym vndere his fete he keste. 1470–85 Malory Arthur vi. xv, All tho greued and gnasted at syre launcelot. 1508 Fisher 7 Penit. Ps. vi. Wks. (1876) 22 They gnaste with theyr tethe. 1530 Palsgr. 569/1, I gnast with the tethe. I make a noyse by reason I thruste one tothe upon another. |
2. trans. = gnash v. 2.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 19354 Þen be-gan þai for tene þair tethe to gnast. a 1300 E.E. Psalter cxi[i]. 10 (Horstm.) Sinful sal se..And gnaiste his tethe he sal with-al. c 1460 J. Russell Bk. Nurture 301 Good son þy tethe be not pikynge, grisynge, ne gnastynge. |
Hence † ˈgnaster, one who gnashes.
| c 1440 Promp. Parv. 200/2 Gnastere,..fremitor. |