ほとほとしくに

Old Japanese

Adverb

ほとほとしくに (POTO₂POTO₂sikuni)

1. almost, within
   • c. 759, Man’yōshū, book 7, poem 1403:

     三幣帛取神之祝我鎮齊杉原燎木伐殆之國手斧所取奴

     mi₁NUSA TO₂RI KAMI₂ NO₂ PAPURI ga ITUKU SUGI₂PARA TAKI₁GI₂ KO₂RI POTO₂POTO₂sikuni TEWONO₂ TO₂RAYEnu

     The honoring god priest's dear cedar field; the firewood had almost been holding an axe in its hand.