prep. and adv. Forms: α. 1 on efen, on efn, on emn, 2–3 onefent, oneuent, 2–4 onont, 3 onond, 3–5 anont, 4 anen, 4– anent. β. with -e: ? 2–-3 anonde, ononde, 3 onnente, 4 anende, 5–6 -ente. γ. with -es, -s: 2 anundes, 4 anendez, anemptes, -emtis, -entys, -yntes, enence, onence, 4–5 anentes, -ens, -ence(s, 4–6 -entis, 5 aneentes, anentz, -emps, 5–6 -endes. δ. with -t: 4 anentist, anenist, 4– -enst, 5 -emste, -enste, 5–6 annenst, 5–6 anempst, 6 annempst, aneinst, enenst, anendest. [The form-history of this wd. presents several points not fully explained; the primitive form is the OE. phrase on efen, on efn, on emn, with the dative = ‘on even (ground) with, on a level with,’ whence later side by side with, beside, face to face with, opposite, against, towards, in view of, etc.; cogn. w. OS. an eban, MHG. eneben, neben, and (with phonetic -t) nebent. In Eng. also a final -t had been developed by 1200, interchanging with -d, perhaps by form-assoc. with some other word. At the same time this extended form occurs with final -e and -es, after datival and genitival words like on-bute(n, on-ȝeanes. Following the latter class also, the final -s became in 14th c. -st, giving anentist, anentst, anenst, as the midl. form, in literary use in 17th c., and still dialectal. The north preserved the earlier anent, still common in north. dial., and in literary and legal Scotch, whence not unfrequent in literary Eng. during the present century. The early form anende may have been influenced by the prec. phr. AN-END; anont, anond(e, are not explained. The development of meaning is largely parallel to that of again, against.]
A. prep.
I. In line or company with.
† 1. In a line with, side by side with, in company with, beside. Obs. or dial.
a. 800. Beowulf, 2903. Him on efn liʓeð ealdorʓewinna.
a. 1000. Byrht, 181. Þá on emn hyra freán feorh ʓesealdon.
[1883. Easther, Dial. Huddersfield, 4. A cricket-ball in a line with the wicket is anent it.]
† 2. On a level with in position, rank or value; equal to, on a par with. Obs. or dial.
c. 1220. Hali Meid., 9. The poure … þat nabbeð hwerwið buggen ham brudgume onont ham.
c. 1230. Wohunge of ure Lord, in Cott. Hom., 285. Ȝif ich michte a þusandfald ȝiue þe me seluen, nere hit nowt onont te þat ȝef þe seluen for me.
[1883. Easther, Dial. Huddersf., 4. A lass striving to rival a lady in the fashion dresses anent her.]
† 3. In the company of, with, among, beside, by (L. apud, Fr. chez, Ger. neben). Obs. or dial.
1382. Wyclif, Gen. xxxi. 32. Anentist [1388 at] whom euer thow fyndist the goddis, be he slaw. Ibid. (1382), Gal. i. 18. I cam to Jerusalem, for to se Petre, and dwellide anentis [1388 with] him fifteene dayes.
1387. Trevisa, Higden, Rolls Ser. VII. 107. Gretter enence þe kyng [apud regem].
1432–50. trans. Higden (1865), I. 37. Þer were viij. maneres to calcle yeres; iij. anendes men of Ebrewe, thre anendes the Grekes, [etc.].
[1883. Easther, Dial. Huddersf., 4. When one man works in company with another, he works anent him.]
† 4. With (figuratively), according to the way or manner of (L. apud). Obs.
1382. Wyclif, Mark x. 27. Anentis men it is impossible, but not anemptis God; for all thingis ben possible anemptis God.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., I. xii. 63. Accepcioun of persoones is not anentis God.
II. In front of.
† 5. Before the face of, in the sight or presence of (L. coram). Obs. rare.
1382. Wyclif, Gen. xii. 15. The princis … preyseden hir anentys hym. Ibid., 1 Cor. vi. 6. A brother with brothir stryueth in dome, and that anentis vnfeithful men.
† 6. In the mental eyes or sight of; in the consideration, opinion, or reckoning of; before. Obs.
c. 1340. Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 1353. Worldes wysdome … Onence God es bot foly.
1382. Wyclif, Prov. iii. 7. Ne be thou wis anent thiself.
1469. Marg. Paston, in Lett., 601, II. 340. And a nemps God, ye arn as gretly bownd to her as ye were maried.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 280/1. Thou haste founde grace anenste oure lord Jhesu Cryst.
III. Facing, against, towards.
7. Of position: Fronting, opposite, over against, close against, close to. arch. or dial.
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. Poems, A. 1135. A wounde ful wyde … An-ende hys hert.
1366. Maundev., vii. 80. Anen that Vale of Josaphathe … is the Chirche of seynt Stevene.
a. 1450. Myrc, 1961. Bere thyn ost a-nont thy breste.
1513–75. Diurn. Occurr., 164. Wardane of the eist Merchis anentis Ingland.
1610. Holland, Camden’s Brit., I. 542. The shelves or barres of sand be every where anenst the land.
1857. E. Waugh, Lanc. Life, 201. O’er anent this biggin.
1864. Heavysege, Dark Huntsm., 7. The huntsman … Anent me a moment, tall, tarried behind.
In this sense many northern dialects have now fore-nent.
† 8. Of motion: Against, towards. Obs.
c. 1340. Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 5130. He sal come doun … Even onence [v.r. ageyns] Þe mount of Olyvet.
1366. Maundev., xxix. 298. Wylde Bestes … that slen and devouren alle that comen aneyntes hen.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XIX. 512. Tharfor thair ost but mar abaid Buskyt, and ewyn anent thaim raid.
1587. Misfort. Arthur, III. iv. in Hazl., Dodsl., IV. 313. My slender bark shall creep anenst the shore.
† 9. Towards (expressing the bearing of actions, etc.: L. erga). Obs.
c. 1200. Pater N., in Lamb. Hom., 55. Uwilc mon hes undernim, to halden wel anundes him.
c. 1320. Seuyn Sages (W.), 2871. Thou wirkis to thi reproue, Onence thi son that thou sold loue.
1417. Hen. V., in Ellis, Orig. Lett., III. 26, I. 62. How Duc Johan … governeth him anenst us.
1470. Harding, Chron., clxx. Anentes Kyng Bruys to execute his treason.
1513. Bradshaw, St. Werburge (1848), 100. Why suffer ye suche wyckednes done for to be Anendes our felawe?
1525. State Papers, Hen. VIII., VI. 457. Anenst Whom that loue was engendyrd in his hert when ye wer to gedyr.
† 10. In respect of, as regards, as to (limiting or confining the bearing of a statement: L. quoad). Obs.
c. 1230. Wohunge of ure Lord, in Cott. Hom., 273. Onont ti monhad born þu wes of Marie.
c. 1230. Ancr. R., 164. Auh hit, anonde [v.r. onefent] meidelure, mei leosen his holinesse.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., Prol. 1. Correccioun … longith oonli to the ouerer anentis his netherer.
1579. Wardrobe Warr., in Nichol, Prog. Q. Eliz., II. 297. These our lettres … shall be your sufficient warraunte and dischardge in this behalf annempst us, our heires and successors.
† b. In this sense strengthened with as. Obs.
c. 1320. Cast. Loue, 1076. Þu noldest holden hem as a-nont þe.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks. (1869), I. 33. Jesus … was an alien as anentis his godhede.
1390. Swinderby, Protest., in Foxe, A. & M. (1562), I. 538/1. As anences taking away of Temporalities… I say thus.
c. 1410. N. Love, Bonavent. Mirr. (Gibbs MS.), xviii. 46. As anempst sothen deth, hit is spedeful for many men for to haue suche deth.
1463. Plumpton Corr., 7. As anent Scatergood I hafe yett taken a longer continuance.
11. In respect or reference to, respecting, regarding, concerning, about. (Common in Scotch law phraseology, and affected by many English writers.)
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. Poems, A. 696. Anende ryȝtwys men, ȝet saytȝ a gome Dauid in sauter.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 5877. God for-beode þat y anentes þilke neode Any-þyng sayde a-gayne.
1549. Compl. Scotl., 9. He vas speikand vitht hym self anent his auen byssynes.
1609. C. Butler, Fem. Mon., i. (1623), 2. Anent the age of Bees there are divers opinions.
1723. Wodrow, Corr. (1843), III. 43. The process at Glasgow anent Mr. Hervey.
1820. Scott, Abbot, xvii. 132. Nor is it worth while to vex oneself anent what cannot be mended.
1845. Miall, Nonconf., V. 8. The order anent the surplice.
1875. Helps, Anim. & Masters, iii. 63. I do not like to make any violent assertion anent the sayings of philosophers.
† B. adv. (obj. understood). Opposite. Obs. or dial.
1520. Whitinton, Vulgar. (1527), 16 b. Upon the other syde anendest be fysshemongers.
1837. R. Nicoll, Poems, 82. Anent was sair-toiled father’s chair.
1863. Mrs. Toogood, Yorksh. Dial. All yon meadows ower anent belong to grandfather.
