a. Obs. or dial. Forms: 3 anguisuse, -ussus, -uysous, 3–4 anguyssous, 4 angwisous, 4–5 anguisschous, -wischous(e, -uissous, -wissous, -wysshous, -uissheous, 5 anguisshous, -uysshous(e, -wisshous, -wyschschous, 4–6 anguishous. [a. OFr. anguissus, -ussus, -uessous, later -oisseux:—late L. angustiōs-um, f. angustia: see ANGUISH sb. and -OUS.]
1. actively, Fraught with anguish, attended with much suffering; tormenting, distressing.
c. 1230. Ancr. R., 112. Þe anguisuse deaðe ꝥ he schulde þolien.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, III. 816. Ful angwysshous than is … quod she, Condicioun of veyn prosperite.
1481. Caxton, Myrr., IV. xviii. 107. [In helle] is the fyre so ouer moche ardaunt hote and anguysshous.
1554. Philpot, Exam. & Writ. (1842), 415. The thing was … anguishous to his country, and grievous to all good men.
2. passively, Full of anguish, oppressed with pain or grief, sore distressed.
1297. R. Glouc., 222. Kyng Arture was anguysous … Þat þe luþer traytor adde of scaped hym.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Pers. T., 230. My soule was anguissheous withinne me [v.r. angwissous, -uissous, -uysshous, -wisshous].
c. 1450. Lonelich, Grail, xlv. 93. He sawh … Oure lord ful angwischous and al torent.
c. 1450. Merlin, xv. 232. Thei were full anguysshouse for the grete losse that thei hadden.
1875. Gloss. Lanc. Dial., s.v., He lookt quite anguishous, an aw felt sorry for him.
3. Anxious.
c. 1230. Ancr. R., 240. Holie meditaciuns … anguisuse bonen.
a. 1300. Floriz & Bl., 366. Whanne þu lest him þe cupe iseo Wel angussus he wile beo.
c. 1314. Guy Warw., 75. Herhaud to nim angwisous thai were.
1503. Sheph. Kal. (1656), xlii. Feet flat and short, signifieth an anguishous person, of small wisedom.
