Also 7 adyt, 7–8 audit, addit. [ad. L. adit-us approach, access; f. ad to + itus going, f. ī-re to go.]
1. An approach; spec. a horizontal opening by which a mine is entered, or drained.
1602. Carew, Cornwall, 11 b. They cal it the bringing of an Addit or Audit when they begin to trench without, and carrie the same thorow the ground to the Tynworke, somewhat deeper then the water doth lie, thereby to giue it passage away.
1662. Fuller, Worthies, IV. 3. By Adyts, making their entrance … into the Mountain, at the lowest levell thereof.
1704. Ray, Creation, II. 251. It being impossible to make any Addits or Soughs to drain them.
1841. Trimmer, Pract. Geol. & Min., 237. Many of the beds of coal are worked by means of adits driven into the sides of the hills.
2. The action of approaching or coming to; access, entrance, approach.
1847. Tennyson, Princess, VI. 283. Yourself and yours shall have free adit.
1859. Helps, Friends in C., Ser. II. II. ix. 186. Some means of adit to the imperial Executive.
