or ambs-ace, ambes-ace, etc., subs. phr. (old colloquial).—1.  Orig. and lit. the throw of two aces; the lowest cast at dice. Hence (2) misfortune; bad luck; nothing. WITHIN AMES-ACE = nearly, very near (GROSE): an emphasised form of ACE, which see for other quots.

1

  1297.  Robert of Gloucester’s Chronicle, 51. Ac he caste þer of AMBES, AS.

2

  [?].  MS. Laud, 108, f. 107.

        Ake i-hered beo swete Jhesu Crist,
Huy casten AUMBES-AS.

3

  [?].  Harrowing of Hell, 21 [MS. Digby, 36, f. 119].

        Stille be thou, Sathanas,
The ys fallen AMBES AAS.

4

  1383.  CHAUCER, The Canterbury Tales, ‘Man of Lawes Tale,’ 25.

        O noble, O prudent folk, as in this cas,
Your bagges ben not filled with AMBES AS,
But with sis cink, that renneth for your chance.

5

  c. 1430.  LYDGATE, Minor Poems (1840), 166.

        Whos chaunce gothe neyther on synk nor sice,
But withe AMBES ACE encresithe his dispence.

6

  d. 1529.  SKELTON, Works, ii. 438.

        This were a hevy case,
A chaunce of AMBESASE,
To se youe broughte so base,
To playe without a place.

7

  1598.  SHAKESPEARE, All’s Well that Ends Well, ii. 3. I had rather be in this choice, than throw AMES-ACE for my life.

8

  1647.  CARTWRIGHT, The Ordinary [DODSLEY, Old Plays (REED), 238].

                  May I
At my last stake (when there is nothing else
To lose the game) throw AMES-ACE thrice together!

9

  1709.  WARD, Terræ Filius, II. 13. ’Tis a meer Scandal for a Man of your Wealth and Reputation, WITHIN AMES ACE of a Scarlet Gown, to shew yourself concern’d at such a Trifle.

10

  1721.  CENTLIVRE, The Gamester, i. 1. My evil genius flings AM’S ACE before me.

11

  1731.  FIELDING, The Lottery, I, 249. If I can but nick this time, AME’S-ACE, I defy thee.

12

  1870.  J. R. LOWELL, Among My Books, I. 192. A lucky throw of words, which may come up the sices of hardy metaphor or the AMBSACE of conceit.

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