† nethemest, a. Obs.
Forms: 1 nyðe-, niðe-, nioð-, 1–2, 4 neoþe-, 2–4 neþe-, 3 nythe-, 4 nyþe-; 1 -mæsta, -mesta, -mysta, 2–4 -mest(e, 4 -mast(e.
[OE. niþemest, etc., f. the stem niþ- under: see nether and -most.]
Lowest, undermost, furthest down.
| c 888 K. ælfred Boeth. vii. §3 Þa niðemystan ic ᵹebringe æt þæm hehstan, & þa hehstan æt ðæm niðemæstan. 971 Blickl. Hom. 185 Swa swiþe he biþ bedyped on þa neoþemestan helle witu. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 117 He bið eft i⁓niþered on þan neoþemeste pinan. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 219 Þe uuemeste bou is sib þe neþemeste rote. c 1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 287/332 Ase he sat on þis laddre lowe, on þe neþemeste roungue. 13.. Ipotis 390 (Vernon MS.) in Horstm. Altengl. Leg. (1881) 345 In to þe neoþemaste put of helle. c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 3257 Þe heȝeste hiȝt mangurel, þe middel hiȝt launcepre, þe nyþemest was callid hagefray. a 1425 Cursor M. 9926 (Trin.), Hit..ȝyueþ to þe neþemast [v.r. -mest] liȝt. |