Obs. Forms: 1 fullǽstan, fullésten, fylstan, 2 felsten, 3 fulsten, south. vulsten, filsten. [OE. fullǽstan, fulléstan, fylstan = OS. fullêstian, OHG. folleisten.
The word is a compound of the OTeut. vb. *laistjan to follow, attend upon; with regard to the prefixed element see FOLLOW v.]
trans. To aid, help.
c. 893. K. Ælfred, Oros., III. xi. § 10. Pirrus him forþam swiþost fylste.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Luke v. 7. Hiȝ bicnodon hyra ȝeferan … þæt hi comun ant him fylston [c. 1160, Hatton, felsten].
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 29. Þese two þe ben leihter and lust uulsreþ þe þridde þat is þe flesliche lust.
a. 1275. The Proverbs of Ælfred, 355, in O. E. Misc., 135.
| Þe bet sal he þe filsten | |
| to don al þine wille. |
b. refl. To give one’s aid to.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 193. He deleð him fro gode and fulsteð him to ðe deuel.
