v. Obs. Forms: 1 alút-an, 2–3 alute, 4–5 aloute, 5 alowte. [Alout as a weak. vb. represents formally OE. lútian to lurk, but in sense it answers to the strong alútan to stoop: see LOUT. In either case the a- is A- pref. 1 intensive.]
1. intr. To stoop, to bow down; to fall over.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Luke xxiv. 12. And alútende he ʓeseah þa lin-wæda.
c. 1160. Hatton G., ibid. And alutede, he ʓeseah þa linwæde.
1297. R. Glouc., 476. The thridde … ther after smot anon, & made him a loute al adown.
c. 1480. Caxton, Life of our Ladye (R.). He [statue of Romulus] alowted vpon the same nyght Whan Cryst was bore of a pure virgyne.
2. esp. To bow in deference or worship to.
a. 1260. Hymn, in Rel. Ant., I. 101. That child … to me alute lowe.
c. 1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 1182. All men that to him wol allowte.
c. 1450. J. Russell, Bk. Nurt., in Babees Bk., 139. Kutt þe vpper crust, for youre souerayne, & to hym alowt.
a. 1500. St. Katherine (Halliw.), 8. All they schall alowt to thee, Yf thou wylt alowte to me.
b. (When the cases were levelled, the indirect object appeared as direct, and the verb as if transitive.)
c. 1300. Alisaunder, 851. Þe ludes in þe lond alouten him shal.
1413. Lydg., Pylgr. Sowle, IV. xxix. (1859), 62. Alle folke the alouteth, and obeyeth.
c. 1440. Arth., 117. Heyest & lowest hym Loved & alowte.
