phr. arch. [see AN prep., and END.]
† 1. At last, in the end, in fine. Obs.
c. 1320. Cast. Loue, 1224. And hou he hit ouer-com an ende.
2. To the end, right through; straight on, constantly; continuously, consecutively. arch.
c. 1420. Pallad. on Husb., IV. 138. Hele hem light: eke weede hem ofte anende.
1591. Shaks., Two Gent., IV. iv. 66. A slaue, that still an end, turnes me to shame.
1624. Quarles, Job Milit. (1717), 181. Some lag, whilst others gallop on before; All go an-end, some faster, and some slower.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa, VII. 220. [He] would ride an hundred miles an end to enjoy it.
1785. Mrs. Thrale, in Johnsoniana (1845), I. 75. He would follow the hounds fifty miles an end.
† 3. Most an end: almost uninterruptedly, almost always, mostly, for the most part. Obs.
1570–87. Holinshed, Scot. Chron. (1806), II. 257. An armie … which lay must an end at Douglasse.
1658. J. R., Mouffet’s Theat. Ins., 1074. In Europe they are most an end black ones.
1678. Bunyan, Pilgr., II. 115. Knew him! I was a great Companion of his, I was with him most an end.
1691. Clandest. Marr., in Harl. Misc., I. 372. But, most an end, they are not ministers of parishes, but indigent curates.
4. On end, in an upright position. arch.
1593. Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., III. ii. 318. Mine haire be fixt an end, as one distract.
1703. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 149. The whole number of Boards are set an end.
1817. Coleridge, Zapolya, IV. i. His steed, which proudly rears an-end.
c. 1850. Rudim. Nav. (Weale), 92. The topmasts are said to be an-end when they are hoisted up to their usual stations.
