Went¹

Obs. exc. dial. Also 5 weent, 6 Sc. vent, 8 wont, 9 dial. want, wint. [Related to WEND v.¹]

  1.  A course, path, way or passage. Obs. exc. dial.

  In later use esp. in pl. with three and four; also in combs. three-went-way THREE B. III. 2, and FOUR-WENT-WAY.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 136. Ilc sterre … He settes in ðe firmament, Al abuten ðis walkne went.

c. 1369.  Chaucer, Dethe Blaunche, 398 (Fairf.). Hyt forthe went Dovne by a floury grene went Ful thikke of gras. Ibid. (c. 1384), H. Fame, 182. In a forest, as they wente, At a turninge of a wente.

1418–20.  J. Page, Siege Rouen, in Hist. Coll. Citizen Lond. (Camden), 17. Govnnys goode and redy bente, They were layde in many went.

1426.  Lydg., De Guil. Pilgr., 10320. By peryllous weyes and by wentys I hadde had gret adversyte.

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, III. iv. 40. Ontill ane cave we went, Vndir a hingand hewch, in a derne vent. Ibid., 113. And followit furth the samyn went we haue, Quhar so the wynd and sterisman ws draue.

1570.  Levins, Manip., 66/8. A went, lane, viculus.

1596.  Spenser, F. Q., IV. ii. 47. To the three fatall sisters house she went. Farre vnder ground from tract of liuing went.

1640.  Somner, Antiq. Canterb., 20. The Iron crosse, which sometime stood at the East-end of Castle-street, at the meeting of the foure wents.

1682.  Wheler, Journ. Greece, VI. 475. Where these ways part was called by the ancients Τρεῖς Κεφαλαί, or, the Three Heads, signifying I suppose the same we do by Three Wents.

1854.  W. Gaskell, Lect. Lancs. Dial., 20. We have also … ‘wint,’… a passage.

a. 1896.  Bardsley, Dict. Surnames (1901), 802. There are one or two wents, still so called, in my late parish [Ulverston].

  fig.  1513.  Douglas, Æneis, I. Prol. 384. Logitianis knawis heirin myne entent, Ondir quhais boundis lurkis mony strange went.

  † b.  A journey, course of movement. Obs.

1430–40.  Lydg., Bochas, VIII. 2145. [They] … ful accordid be Thoruh Itaille for to make her went Toward Roome.

1596.  Spenser, F. Q., IV. v. 46. But here my wearie teeme nigh ouer spent Shall breath it selfe awhile, after so long a went.

  † 2.  A course of action or plan for attaining some end; a trick, contrivance, device. Obs.

1303.  R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 529. Þe bysshop made a clerk þan wryte Al þat she seyd,… And alle how she made here went.

1390.  Gower, Conf., II. 218. The Steward tok the gold and wente, Withinne his herte and many a wente Of coveitise thanne he caste.

1393.  Langl., Pl P., C. VII. 263. Ich made meny wentes, How ich myght haue hit, al my wit ich caste.

c. 1440.  Capgrave, St. Kath., IV. 929. Thanne do ye wrong ageyn her entent On what-maner wise ȝe make your weent.

  † 3.  A turn or course of affairs; an occasion or chance. Obs.

1338.  R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 63. Do him vnto þe suerd, withouten jugement, If ȝe may Griffyn take bityme at any.

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, III. x. 123. Eneas … The fatis of goddis … Rehersing schew, and syndry strange wentis.

1596.  Spenser, F. Q., VI. vi. 3. He knew the diuerse went of mortall wayes.

  † 4.  A turn or change of direction; a turning about. Obs.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Troylus, II. 63. For which yn wo to bedde he wente, And made er it was day ful many a went. Ibid., V. 1194. Vp on þe walles made he many a wente.

1412–20.  Lydg., Troy Bk., I. 2713. Vn-to hir chambre in hast sche is goon, Where vp and down sche made many went.

1471.  Caxton, Recuyell (Sommer), 219. The monstre wente here and there, And made many wentes wyth oute seeyng and knowing where he wente.

  † b.  ? A turning or winding of a stair. Obs.

a. 1548.  Hall, Chron., Hen. VIII., 73 b. The staier of the saied halpas was caste of passage by the wentes of brode steppes.