Also 5 Sc., 6 viduite, 6–7 -tie. [a. OF. viduite (AF. veduete; F. viduité = It. viduità), or ad. L. viduitās, f. vidua widow: see -ITY.] The state of being or remaining a widow; the time during which a woman is a widow; widowhood.
1420. Indenture, in J. Campbell, Balmerino, IV. i. (1867), 258. The said Sir Williame is oblist that he sal nocht trete the forsaid [Alesoun?] of Murray … noither in virginite na viduite, til [alienate?] ony parte of hir heritage fra the richtwiss airis.
1574. Waterford Archives, in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 334. Every widowe shoulde have like benefitt … during her viduite…. Aldermen’s widowes shall have but a balives shift during their viduite.
1575. in Agnew, Sheriffs Galloway (1893), I. 404. Patrick McKie shall infeft … Katheren Agnew … in her viduity in all and haill the lands of Larg.
1620. Bp. Hall, Honour Marr. Clergy, I. vi. As for that other which hee imagines, a vow of continued viduitie, it was neither ‘faith’ nor ‘first.’
1647. Trapp, Comm. Corinthians, 79. Yet doth not the apostle simply prefer virginity or viduity before marriage as better.
a. 1726. Gilbert, Law Evidence (1791), 497. If a Woman, who has an Estate during Viduity, makes a Lease for Years [etc.].
1729. Macfarlane’s Geneal. Coll. (S.H.S.), II. 101. Indenture betwixt Marion Oliphant in her Viduity on the One Part and Pat. Gray of Broxmouth on the other Part.
a. 1856. G. Outram, Annuity, Lyrics (1874), 27. There I met a waesome wife Lamenting her viduity.
1896. Abst. Protocols Town Clerks of Glasgow (1896), III. 9, note. Widows of rentallers in the barony were entitled to enjoy their husbands’ lands during viduity.
