adv. and prep. Sc. and north. Forms: 6 foir-, for-, fore-anempst, -ane(i)nst, -(a)nent(s, -nence, -nens(t, -nentis, 9 foore-, for(e)- (a)nen(s)t, 6– foment. [f. FORE adv. + ANENT.]
1. Right opposite to, over against; facing.
1524. St. Papers Hen. VIII., VI. 236. For defence of his Borders foranempst Scotland.
1582–8. Hist. James VI. (1804), 204. In the straitt passage foirnent the goldsmyths shopp.
1649. Bp. Guthrie, Mem. (1702), 64. The Earl of Athol drew his People together, (reckon’d to be about 1200) and Encamp’d fornent him.
1807. J. Stagg, Poems, Auld Lang Seyne, 61.
| Till reeght for nenst them up they gat, | |
| An’ rwor’d, now lads for auld lang seyne. |
1864. Glasgow Herald, 11 June. My house is right fornent the tank.
† 2. a. (Ready) against. b. With regard to.
1533. Bellenden, Livy (1822), 15. Reddy fornence all aventuris that micht occur.
1700. Rob. III’s Answ., in Watson’s Collect., II. p. iv.
| But we will do you understand | |
| What we declare fornent Scotland. |
† 3. quasi-adv. Opposite. Obs.
1548. Thomas, Ital. Gram. & Dict. (1567), Dirimpetto, foranenst.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot. (1888), I. 35. The bray foranent vpon Laudian syde.
