Wit v.¹

arch. exc. in legal use: see 10 c (b). Pres. t. wot (Sc. and north. dial. wat); pa. t, and pple. wist. Forms: see below. [A Com. Teut. preterite-present verb: OE. witan, 1st and 3rd sing. pres. ind. wát, 2nd pers. wást, pl. witon, pa. t. wisse, wiste, pa. pple. ʓewiten, OFris. wita, wêt, *wast, *witon, witen and witath, wiste (mod. Fris. dialects have various analogical forms, e.g., pa. pple. wist, wust), OS. witan, wêt, wêst, witun, wissa (MLG., MDu. wêten, weet, weets, weten, wiste, gheweten, LG., Du. weten), OHG. wiȥȥan, wiȥan, weiȥ, wiȥ(ȥ)umês, wiȥ(ȥ)un, wissa, wista, (gi)wiȥan (MHG. wiȥȥen, weiȥ, wiȥȥen, wisse, wiste, wesse, weste, wuste, gewiȥȥen, gewist, G. wissen, weiss, weisst, wissen, wusste, gewusst), ON. vita, veit, veizt, vitum, vissa, vitaðr, (Sw. veta, vet, visste, vetat, Da. vide, ved, vidste, vidst), Goth. witan, wait, waist, witum, wissa: f. OTeut. wait-, wīt-:—Indo-Eur. woid-, weid-, wid- to see (? orig. to find), also found in OE. adj. wis (see WIS sb.), WISE sb.¹, WISE a., WITE.

  The OE. preterite-pres. wát, wást, witon, and their equivalents in the other Germanic langs. (= properly, I have seen, hence, I know), correspond to Skr. véda, véttha, vidmá, Gr. οἶδα, οἶδθα, οἶδε, ἴδμεν (ἴσμεν), OSl. vĕdĕ, vĕsi, etc., OPruss. 2nd sing. waisei, 1st pl. waidimai, and are based on Indo-Eur. woid-, wid-. OE. 2nd pers. sing. wást (see A. 2 b below) is an altered form of *wás by analogy with meaht (2nd sing. pres. of MAY v.¹). Similarly OE. wiste is an altered form of earlier wisse after regular weak forms in -te.

  Indo-Eur. woid-, weid-, wid- is represented also by Skr. veda knowledge (see VEDA), vitta- known, vittá- found, Gr. εἶδος appearance, shape, ἰδέα form, εἶδον (:—*ἐϝιδον) I saw, ἀκίδελος invisible, εἰδέναι to know, ἰδεῖν to see, ἄιστος unseen, unknown, L. vidēre to see, OIr. fiad ‘coram,’ fiadu witness, adfiadat they relate, rofetar I know, fiss knowledge, W. gwydd presence, gwyddom we know, OSl. vidĕti to see, vĕdĕti to know, Lith. véidas face, Arm. gitem. I know, egit he found; and (with nasal infix) Skr. vindáti finds, Gr. ἰνδάλλεσθαι to appear, OIr. finnaim I find out.

  The original conjugation, typically represented by to wit or wete, pres. I and he wot, thou wost, we, ye, and they wite, pa. t. wist, pa. pple. witen, presented many apparent anomalies, and various attempts at normalization were made by means of analogical formations and irregular extension of the use of certain forms, with the result that new infinitive and present-stem forms came into existence which it is necessary to treat separately: see WIS v.¹, WIST v., WOT v., and the archaistic WEET v.¹ (For forms combined with prefixed negative ne see NETE, NIST, NITEN, NOST, NOR v.², NUTE.)]

  A.  Inflexional Forms.

  1.  Infinitive. α¹. 1 witan (witenne, -an(n)e, -on(n)e), 3–5 witen, 3–5 wyten, wite, 4–5 wytene, (whyte, wiet), 4–6 wyt(e, wytte, witte, Sc. vit, (1 wiotan, wietan, Northumb. wuta, 3 witene, Orm. witenn, 4 witin, witten, wijt, wyete, Sc. vyt, -e, 5 wiete, whitte), 4–7 witt, 5–6 wytt, 4– wit. α². 4–6 wet, wette, (4 Sc. vet), 5 wetten. β. 4–5 wetyn, 4–6 weit(e, 4–7 wete, 5 weten(e, 5–7 weete, (8–9 arch.) weet, (6 arch. weeten). (See also WEET v.¹, WOT.)

  α¹  c. 888.  Ælfred, Boeth., vii. § 1. Ʒif þu þonne heora þeawas witan wilt. Ibid. (c. 897), Gregory’s Past. C., Pref. 7. Ða ðe niedbeðearfosta sien eallum monnum to wiotonne. Ibid., xv. 92. Mare to wietenne ðonne eow ðearf sie.

c. 1100.  O. E. Chron., an. 1050 (MS. D). Hit is earfoð to witane þara biscopa þe þærtocomon.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 9. Ȝef … me hit mihte witen.

c. 1205.  Lay., 26607. Heo wolden wite þat soðe of Walwain.

c. 1290.  St. Clement, 128, in S. Eng. Leg., 326. He wilnede muche to wyten of god.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 8301. Þou sal wijt on quatkin wise [etc.].

1340.  Hampole, Pr. Consc., 3763. Na man … may wytte Whether [etc.].

1340.  Ayenb., 1. Þet is to wytene.

13[?].  Cursor M., 12204 (Gött.). Hu sal he witt quat tav mai be? Ibid., 19779 (Edin.). Þat petir moȝte witte quat sco were. Ibid., 23635. If þai oht mai witin [v.r. witten] þar.

13[?].  Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 131. Vch wyȝe may wel wit.

1362.  Langl., P. Pl., A. II. 27. Þat þou miht wyte … whuche þei ben.

c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, xix. (Cristofore), 401. Gyf þu vit wil myn cunctre.

c. 1380.  Sir Ferumb., 1367. To whyte what hure wille were.

a. 1400[?].  Morte Arth., 420. Late hyme wiet … I salle … take leue.

1426.  Lydg., De Guil. Pilgr., 4492. To wyten whether … Myn hamer hem touchyd.

c. 1450.  Merlin, 82. She wolde gladly witen what a-mendes the kynge wolde do.

1475[?].  Stonor Papers (Camden), I. 156. I lett you whitte I am grette with the Kyng.

c. 1500.  Three Kings’ Sons, 168. There be none … but wold be glad to wite me do wele.

1526.  Tindale, Matt. xxiii. 8. One ys youre master, that is to wytt Christ.

1533.  Gau, Richt Vay (S.T.S.), 55. Desir notht to vit.

1577.  Fulke, Confut. Purg., 393. You must witte.

1580.  wytte [see β. 1531].

1628.  Digby, Voy. Mediterr. (Camden), 31. To witt.

1795.  wit [see B. 3 c].

  α²  13[?].  Cursor M., 22556 (Edin.). Quen nan sal wet quar þam to nest.

c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, xviii. (Egipciane), 404. God has send me … Þi lyfe, þe stat, al hal to vet.

a. 1400[?].  Morte Arth., 948. To wette of the warlawe, whare that he lengez.

c. 1460.  Play Sacram., 188, in Non-Cycle Myst. Pl., 63. Off yower welfare fayn wet wold we.

1520.  Sir R. Gresham, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. III. I. 234. Yt may pleasse your Grace to wette I have [etc.].

  β.  a. 1300.  Cursor M., 1875 (Cott.). How sal we o þis waters weit [Fairf. wete] Quedir þai be fulli fallen yeit?

13[?].  Northern Passion (MS. I), 648 a. Wele maye we alle wetyn and se Þat it myghte neuyr so be.

c. 1400.  Anturs Arth., 237 (Douce MS.). Yit wetene I wolde What wrathede god moste.

c. 1400.  Melayne, 120. He dose þe wele to weite.

c. 1425.  Noah’s Ark, 131, in Non-Cycle Myst. Pl., 23. How Thou shalt weet all his will.

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 531/1. Wytyn’, or wetyn’, or knowyn’.

1475.  Sir J. Paston, in P. Lett., III. 130. It pleasyd yow to weete of myn heele.

1531.  Elyot, Gov., I. ix. Lettinge you weete [ed. 1580 wytte] that we haue a sonne borne.

1596.  weeten [see B. 10 c (b)].

1600.  weete [see B. 9 b].

1610.  in Picton, L’pool Munic. Rec. (1883), I. 121. You shall … do the Maior … to wete thereof.

1728, 1819.  weet [see B. 10 c (a)].

  2.  Indicative present. a. 1st and 3rd pers. sing. α. 1–6 (8–9 Sc.) wat, 1, 4–6 watt, (1 uat, 1, 3 wæt, 3 what, waht, 4 north. waite, weyte, quat, -e, Sc. vat), 4–5 watte, 4–7 (8 Sc.) wate, 5–9 Sc. and n. dial. wait (6 vait). β. 3–9 wot, (3 wod, 4 woth), 4–5 woot, (whot, 5 whotte, wout), 4–6, 8 wote, 5–6 woote, wotte, 5–7 wott. Also in 1st pers. combined with prefixed pronoun (ichot, chote): see I pron. A. β² and CH pron.

  α.  c. 950.  Lindisf. Gosp., John viii. 55. Ic … conn vel wat [c. 975 Rushw. Gosp. watt] hine.

c. 1200.  Vices & Virtues, 21. He hit wat ðe wat alle þing.

c. 1205.  Lay., 7262. Wel ich hit wæt what Bruttis wæs. Ibid., 28088. Ich what … agan is al mi blisse.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 5060. Mi fader … fars well, i watte. Ibid. (13[?]), 12219 (Gött.). Fire i quat him mai noght brin.

13[?].  Northern Passion (Camb. Gg. 5. 31), 356. I hafe done I ne wate what. Ibid., 1654. Onone pilate a lettyr he wrate, So says saynt Iohne þat wele wayte.

c. 1425.  Wyntoun, Cron., cxviii. 1987 (MS. W.). Quheþer it sa were … I wait nocht.

1583.  Leg. Bp. St. Androis, 172. I watt now what the propheit menis.

1615.  Brathwait, Strappado (1878), 129. Wele I wate.

1724.  Ramsay, Tea-t. Misc. (1733), I. 25. And that’s an unco faut I wate.

1785.  Burns, Halloween, xii. I wat she made nae jaukin.

1825.  Brockett, N. C. Gloss., Wait, wot.

  β.  a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 52. Þeo … wot betere þen ich wot.

a. 1250.  Owl & Night., 1190. Ich … wod al þat to kumen is.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 8298. Wil i wote al þi yerning. Ibid. (13[?]), 2378 (Gött.). His catel wele i woth [Trin. I woot].

13[?].  Guy Warw. (A.), 590. Ichot for soþe he wil me sle.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 77. No prelat whot where he schal be dampnyd.

c. 1385.  Chaucer, L. G. W., 1359, Dido. Wel I woot hit is al in vayne.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 11359. I wotte hit full wele.

1426.  Audelay, Poems, 15. He whot never hou sone God wyl here his bone.

1526.  Tindale, Luke xvi. 4. I woote what to do.

1600.  Holland, Livy, I. i. Neither wote I well, nor if I wist, dare I advouch.

1775.  J. Tait, Land of Liberty, I. xlv. 23. Here oft, I wote, dame Ignorance was seen.

1862.  H. A. Kennedy, Waifs & Strays, 137. I well wot.

  b.  2nd pers. sing. α. 1–4 wast, (1 wæst, uast, 3 Orm. wasst), 3–5 wost, 4–5 woost, woste. Also combined with foll. pron.: 1 wastu, 3 wostu, 4–5 wostow(e. β. See WOT v. γ. 4 Sc. vittis.

  α.  a. 900.  Andreas, 1186. Wæst þe bæles cwealm hatne in helle?

c. 975.  Rushw. Gosp., John iii. 8. Ne wastu hwona cymeð & hwider gað.

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., John xiii. 7. Þu nast nu þæt ic do, ac þu wast syððan.

c. 1205.  Lay., 15836. Nu þu hit wost.

a. 1250.  Owl & Night., 716. Wostu to wan man was ibore?

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 25477. Vnworthi am i, wel þou wast.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. II. 79. Þou woost wel þat Fariseis … ben sclaundrid.

c. 1400.  Rom. Rose, 6075. I bidde thee teche hem, wostowe howe.

1483.  Caxton, Gold. Leg., 124/2. Thou woste not what thou sayest.

  γ.  c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, iii. (Andreas), 508. Bot-gyf þu will hertly trow, Þu vittis nocht þu speris now [nunquam tu ad imaginem hujus veritatis attinges].

  c.  Plural. α¹. 1 witon, weotan, uutu(n, -on, wut(t)on, 2 witan, 2–5 witen (3 Orm. -enn, wuten), 3–5 wyten (3 wuyten, 4 whiten, 5 wittin); 3–5 wite, 4 witte, 5 wyte, wytte; 4 weten, -in, 5 wet, weet, wete. α². 1 wutaþ, witaþ, witteð, wutas, 3 wutez, 3–4 wuteþ, 3–5 witeþ (4 -yþ, wyteþ, wteþ, wites, 5 whiteþ, wittis; 5 weteþ, -iþ, -yþ). β. See WOT v.

  α¹.  c. 900.  trans. Bæda’s Hist., II. v. We weotan þæt we þæs þearfe nabbað.

c. 950.  Lindisf. Gosp., Matt xx. 22. Ne uutuʓe huæt ʓe ʓiwas.

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., John xvi. 30. Nu we witon þæt þu wast ealle ðing.

1154.  O. E. Chron. (Laud), Introd. 3. We witan oþer eʓland.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 19. Nusten heo nawiht swa muchel of him swa we witen.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 7932. Þatt witenn menn inoȝhe.

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 161. Hie wuten … wuderward hie sullen weie holden.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 390. Adam and eue it wite ful ȝare.

c. 1275.  Passion our Lord, 261, in O. E. Misc., 44. Hwat ich to heom seyde, wel wyten heo.

c. 1290.  Beket, 1025, in S. Eng. Leg., 136. Ȝe wuyten wel.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 77. Siþ prelatis witte not where here preiere be acceptable.

1387–8.  T. Usk, Test. Love, I. viii. (Skeat), l. 80. Ye weten wel … that … I defouled never my conscience.

c. 1400.  26 Pol. Poems, iii. 101. Lordis wet neuere what comouns greues.

c. 1400.  Pride of Life, 483, in Non-Cycle Myst. Pl., 104. Ȝe wittin wel þat he is king.

1402.  Jack Upland, in Pol. Poems (Rolls), II. 17. These wretches weet never where to been.

1426.  Lydg., De Guil. Pilgr., 5528. Ye wyte wel.

  α².  c. 950.  Lindisf. Gosp., Mark ii. 10. Þætte … wutað [Rushw. witaþ] ʓie ðætte he mæht hæfeð sunu monnes. Ibid., x. 41. Scitis, wutasʓie [c. 1000 Ags. Gosp. wite ʓe]. Ibid., Luke xxi. 30. Willeð [Rushw. wutað] ʓie þætte neh is ðe summer.

c. 975.  Rushw. Gosp., John iv. 22. We worðiʓað þætte we wutun.

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 252. To wel we hit wuteð.

c. 1290.  Beket, 1005, in S. Eng. Leg., 135. Wel we wutez.

a. 1300.  Leg. Rood, 18. As ȝe witeþ wel.

a. 1340.  Hampole, Psalter, iv. 4. Ȝe seke vanytes: and wites that it is vayne that ȝe luf.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 89. Men wityþ neuere what it meneþ.

a. 1400–40.  R. Glouc. Chron. (Rolls), 122. Ȝe wyteþ [v.rr. weteþ, wetyth, whiteþ].

1409.  in Exch. Rolls Scot., IV. Pref. 209. Gif ony of the foresaide lordis wittis … ony maner of grefe … apperand til other.

  3.  Subjunctive Present. 1–5 wite (pl. witen), (1 wiete, Northumb. witto, -e, -u, 3 wute, 4 wijt, witte, vit), 4–5 wyt, 4–6 wit, wyte, wete, 5 weete.

c. 897.  K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., xxviii. 191. Sua sua hie selfe wieten … ðæt hi hit for Gode don.

c. 950.  Lindisf. Gosp., Luke i. 18. Unde hoc sciam, huona ðis witto?

c. 1000.  Rule St. Benet (1888), 16. He wite þæt he … iarcie hine to ʓescead aʓeldenne.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 5710. Þatt tu ne wite nan.

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 250. God hit wute & he hit wot.

13[?].  in Sir W. Pole, Old Evid. (? 1840), 1. Vit alle men þat þis skrite heris and ses.

1340.  Ayenb., 5. Þis boc is ywrite uor englisse men, þet hi wyte hou hi ssolle ham-zelue ssriue.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 372. Wete lordis well þat [etc.].

c. 1400.  Gamelyn, 644. It is good that we witen what men they be.

a. 1425.  Cursor M., 14348 (Trin.). I wol þat alle witen.

1447.  Bokenham, Seyntys (Roxb.), 33. I wil ye wete Two precyous relykys I her have wyth me.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, VI. viii. 195. I wyl that thou wete and knowe that I am Launcelot du lake.

1545.  Ascham, Toxoph., II. (Arb.), 145. Awaye or a man wite.

1596.  Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., VIII. (S.T.S.), II. 104. To defend him selfe, that … tha steil him nocht doune or he wit.

  4.  Past tense (indic. and subj.). α. 1 wisse, 1–6 wiste, (1, 3 Orm. wisste), 3–6 wyste, 4–6 wyst, (4 wijst, Sc. viste, 4–6 Sc. vist, vyst, 5 wysste), 4– wist. Also in 3rd pers. pl. combined with foll. pron. 4 wistey, wystey. β. 1 pl. westan, 4–6 west (4–5 weste), 6 Sc. weist. γ. 1 wyste, 3–5 wuste, (3 wste), 4–6 wust. δ. 4–5 wost(e. ε. 4 Sc. wyttyt.

  α.  Beowulf, 181. Ne wiston hie drihten god. Ibid., 246. Ne ʓe leafnesword guðfremmendra ʓearwe ne wisson. Ibid., 2519. Ʒif ic wiste.

c. 950.  Lindisf. Gosp., Matt. xxvii. 18. He wisse forðon þæt ðerh æfist saldon hine.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 19. Heo wisten … þet he wes hali.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 521. Illc an … Wisste full wel.

c. 1275.  Passion our Lord, 160, in O. E. Misc., 42. He wyste þat þe Gywes hyne þouhte spille.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 15953. Þan wijst he cummen his maister word. Ibid., 16054. Sir pilate … Wist þam was leif to lei.

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 5068. Bettere wistey nought what for to do. Ibid., 8021. wystey.

a. 1352.  Minot, Poems (ed. Hall), iii. 52. Men … Þat wist both of wele and wo.

13[?].  E. E. Allit. P., B. 152. He ne wyst on worde what he warp schulde.

13[?].  Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 461. Neuer more þen þay wyste fram queþen he was wonnen.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, IV. 771. Quhethir scho … Wenit, or vist it vitterly.

c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, xviii. (Egipciane), 1337. He … vyst it was scho.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 13839. All wiston tho wise … He shuld duly be ded.

c. 1450.  Merlin, 25. When these … men wisten that Vortiger sholde be kynge.

1537.  Q. Margaret, in St. Papers Hen. VIII., V. 120. And … thys Raulme vyst that Ze vold be dysplesyd.

1556.  Aurelio & Isab. (1608), B v. She showed … all that she wiste.

1576.  R. Peterson, G. della Casa’s Galateo, 12. The Count … neuer wyst of his fault.

1865.  Swinburne, Chastelard, I. ii. 200. And that, God wot, I wist not.

  β.  a. 1000.  Judith, 207. Westan beʓen þæt [etc.].

1340.  Ayenb., 72. Þet hi westen be hare wylle.

1539.  St. Papers Hen. VIII., VIII. 172. He west not, whether [etc.].

a. 1585.  Montgomerie, Cherrie & Slae, 178. I … weist not what it meind.

  γ.  c. 1000.  Ags. Ps. (Th.), cvi. 29. Swa he hira willan wyste fyrmest.

c. 1205.  Lay., 525. He … wuste, þat þe king … forð sculde iwenden. Ibid., 1167. His sæ-monnen, þe … þa lawen wusten.

a. 1250.  Owl & Night., 10. Eiþer seide of oþeres custo Þat alere worste þat hi wuste.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 2025. Þo he wste wat he was.

1362.  Langl., P. Pl., A. III. 52. Wust I þat,… þer nis nouþur Wyndou ne Auter, Þat I ne schulde maken oþur mende.

c. 1400.  St. Alexius (Vernon), 326. He wuste he scholde heþen wende.

1555.  Phaër, Æneid., II. (1558), D iij b. Nor what to do I wust.

  δ.  1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VII. 55. Me wost not where me myȝte mete hem.

a. 1450.  Knt. de la Tour (1868), 6. Whanne her fader wost she was with childe.

1492.  Acta Dom. Conc. (1839), 274/2. Robert … maid faith be wost nocht quhare It wes.

  ε.  1375.  Barbour, Bruce, XII. 156. He wyttyt [v.r. askit] at thaim of thair far.

  b.  2nd pers. sing. 1, 4, 6 wistest (1 wistes, subj. wisse, wiste), 4 wystest, (vistes), wiste, 4–5 wyste, wist, 6 wyst.

c. 888.  K. Ælfred, Boeth., v. § 3. Ic wolde þæt þu me sædest hwæþer ðu wisse hwæt þu self wære.

c. 950.  Lindisf. Gosp., John i. 48. Huona … mec wistes ðu?

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Matt. xxv. 26. Ðu wistest þæt ic rype þær ic ne sawe.

13[?].  K. Horn, 240 (Harl.). Tech him alle þe listes þat þou euer wystest [Laud MS. vistes].

1387–8.  T. Usk, Test. Love, I. viii. (Skeat), l. 31. In as fer as thou hem wistest false.

1423.  James I., Kingis Q., xiv. Wist thou thy payne to cum … wele myght thou wepe.

c. 1430.  Chev. Assigne, 186. If þou here dome wyste.

c. 1500.  Melusine, 24. Yf thou wyst and knew the grette meruaylles.

1587.  Golding, De Mornay, ii. (1592), 21. If thou wistest how to vse them.

  5.  Imperative. Stem as in 1; endings: sing. 1–6 -e; occas. combined with foll. pron. 4 witow; pl. 1 -aþ, 1–5 -e (in wite ȝe), 1, 4–5 -eþ, 4–5 -eth, 5 -iþ, -yþ; north. 1 -as, 4 -s, 5 -is, -ys; also sing. and (4– ) pl. without ending.

a. 900.  Cynewulf, Elene, 945. Wite ðu þe ʓearwor þæt ðu … anforlete … lufan dryhtnes.

c. 900.  trans. Bæda’s Hist., IV. viii. Witað ʓe þæt hit swa nis.

971.  Blickl. Hom., 183. Wit þu þonne þæt ic eom dry.

c. 1000.  Ags. Ps. (Th.), iv. 4 [3]. Wite ʓe [scitote] þæt God ʓemyclade his ðone ʓehalʓodan.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 9. Wite ȝe hwet wes sinagoge on þam alde laȝe.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 205. Witt tu þatt icc amm Gabriæl.

1205.  wite þu [see B. 5].

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 4727. Wijt [Gött. wit] yee wel. Ibid., 20275. Has na dred, bot wijts it wele.

13[?].  Bonaventura’s Medit., 254. Weteþ þat he me hated ar ȝow.

c. 1325.  Spec. Gy Warw., 312. Wete þu wel.

c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 68. A gladere wommon … no miȝt go on erþe … witow for soþe.

c. 1400.  Maundev., vi. [v.] (1919), I. 23. And wyte ȝee wel þat [etc.].

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 2775. Wetys hit all wele … Þat þe dayens you derit.

1441.  in Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot., 1450, 69/2. Wittis me to hafe gevin [etc.].

1450–80.  trans. Secr. Secr., Prol. 3. Witith welle that Aristotille made … many wondres.

c. 1489.  Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, xvii. 396. Syr, wyte that charlemagne is come wyth his oost.

1508.  Dunbar, Gold. Targe, 177. Wit ye thay did thair baner hye display.

  6.  Present Participle. α. 1, 4 witende, (1 wittende, weotende), 4 n. dial. witand, wetand (Sc. vittand), 4–6 Sc. wittand; 4–6 witing, wyt-, etc., 5–6 weting, -yng(e, 6– witting.

c. 900.  trans. Bæda’s Hist., I. xxvii. (ed. Schipper), 95/1. No witende [orig. nesciens]. Ibid., IV. iii. (1890), 270. Ne weotendum [orig. nescientibus].

c. 950.  Lindisf. Gosp., John, Introd. 2. Scienti, uitend.

a. 1340.  Hampole, Psalter, x. 4. Witand his priuytes.

c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, v. (Johannes), 86. Wittand na wa.

1412–20.  Lydg., Chron. Troy, I. 2714. Noon … wetyng what sche ment.

1548.  Udall, Erasm. Par. N. T., Pref. 8. Well wetyng that [etc.].

1867.  Bailey, Universal Hymn, 8. Witting nought.

  7.  Past Participle. α. 1–5 witen, (2 wy-, 4 -in), 4–5 witten, 5 wytene, wetyn, -un, -en(e, Sc. 5 witting, 5–6 -in, witne, 6 Sc. wyttin, 8 (?) wit. β. 3, 5 west, 4 weste, 4–6 wyst, 5 wyste, wiste, 4– wist.

  α.  c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Luke xii. 2. Nis nan þing … behydd þæt ne sy witen [Hatton Gosp. ʓewyten].

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 6996. In his time war þe fabus written, Þat yeit er thoru þe bokes witten [Gött. witin, Trin. witen].

a. 1400.  Morte Arth., 869. Hade I wytene of this.

c. 1400.  Ywaine & Gaw., 1810. Sho lete als sho him noght had sene, Ne wetyn that he thar had bene.

c. 1425.  Wyntoun, Cron., cxxxviii. 435. Gif þai had witting, herd, or sene.

c. 1470.  Harding, Chron. LXXVI. v. To be written … euer to be knowen and weten.

c. 1475.  Rauf Coilȝear, 604. And I had wittin.

1560.  A. Scott, Poems (S.T.S.), ii. 32. I wald þat it wer wittin.

1596.  Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., X. (S.T.S.), II. 444. Gif the peple had witne.

17[?].  Jamie Douglas, ii. in Child, Ballads, IV. 98. An I had wit what I wit now.

  β.  a. 1300.  Cursor M., 18130. Als he had wist it noght.

c. 1300.  Harrow. Hell, 33 (Digby MS.). Suþþen haui þoled and west [Harl. MS. wyst] Boþe chele, hounger and þurst.

a. 1320.  K. Horn, 1484 (Harl.). Knyhtes of þe beste Þat he euer hede of weste.

c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., I. xiii. 67. Y haue wiste suche men.

1482[?].  Cely Papers (Camden), 131. And y had west that ȝe would a taked so sor.

1526.  wyst [see HAD-I-WIST].

1792.  [see B. 7].

1844.  wist [see B. 1 d].

  B.  Signification.

  I.  Simple senses.

  1.  trans. To have cognizance or knowledge of; to be aware of; to know (as a fact or an existing thing). a. with simple obj.: = KNOW v. 8, 11 f.

971.  Blickl. Hom., 117. Frunan maran þinges þonne ænʓes mannes ʓemet wære her on eorðan, þæt hit witan mihte.

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., John iv. 10. Ʒif þu wistest godes ʓyfe, & hwæt se is þe cwið to þe, syle me drincan.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 35. Nis nan sunne þet he [sc. the priest] ne con; oðer he heo wat ðurh, þet he heo dude him seolf.

a. 1200.  Moral Ode, 112, in O. E. Hom., I. 167. Þe ðe lest wat biseið ofte mest, þe hit al wat is stille.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 11259. Þiss wast tu wel to soþe.

c. 1250.  Hymn to God, 12, in Trin. Coll. Hom., App. 258. Þu þe wost al ure þoucht, louerd drauȝ us neor þe.

13[?].  E. E. Allit. P., C. 129. Þe welder of wyt, þat wot alle þynges.

c. 1380.  Sir Ferumb., 638. A bettere kniȝt wot y non.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Prol., 389. For aught I woot, he was of Dertemouthe. Ibid., 595. Wel wiste he by the droghte, and by the reyn, The yeldynge of his seed, and of his greyn.

c. 1420.  Sir Amadace (Camden), xxix. The trauthe fulle litulle thay wote.

c. 1460.  Play Sacram., 679. The best Counsayle that I now wott.

c. 1500.  Lancelot, 225. None wist his nome.

1530.  Tindale, Lev. v. 17. Though he wist it not, he hath yet offended.

1568.  Grafton, Chron., II. 105. If ye had wist the cause of our comming.

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., I. i. 13. The perill of this place I better wot then you.

1642.  H. More, Song of Soul, II. liii. You are Heavens Privy-Counsellour, I understond, Which I wist not before.

1753.  Richardson, Grandison, III. xxxi. 347. Wot ye not the indelicacy of an early present, which you are not obliged to make?

1821.  Scott, Kenilw., xxix. I wot that but too well.

  b.  with dependent statement (sometimes anticipated by a pronoun (it, this) as obj., which in the pass. const. becomes the subj.): = KNOW v. 11 a.

Beowulf, 821. Grendel … wiste þe geornor þæt his aldres wæs ende gegongen.

971.  Blickl. Hom., 121. Hie wiston þæt heora eþel … sceolde … ʓeseted weorþan mid halʓum sawlum.

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Gen. xv. 8. Hu mæʓ ic witan þæt ic hyt aʓan sceal?

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Matt. xxv. 24. Ic wat þæt ðu eart heard mann.

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 147. He wiste siker þat hit wurðen solde.

a. 1250.  Owl & Night., 61. Ich wot þat þu art vnMilde Wiþ heom þat ne Muwe from þe schilde.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 3054. Nu ic wot we haue mis-don.

c. 1300.  Havelok, 1345. I wot, he wilen þe nouth werne.

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 5151. Hit haþ ofte be wyst & sen, Þat wraþe bytwyxte kynde haþ ben.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, I. 509. I will blythly apon me ta The state, for I wate that I have rycht.

a. 1400.  Hymns Virg. (1867), 87. Þou woost not to-day þat þou schalt lyue to-morowe.

1426.  Lydg., De Guil. Pilgr., 8776. I wot my sylff yt ys nat so.

1456.  Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 22. Efter Leoun, was chosin a woman pape nocht wittand that scho was a woman.

a. 1516.  More, Rich III., Wks. 37/1. Whose death kyng Edwarde … when he wist it was done, pitiously bewailed.

1530.  Tindale, Gen. xx. 6. I wot it well that thou dydest it in purenesse of thi herte.

1591.  Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., II. v. 16. As witting I no other comfort haue.

1724.  Ramsay, Tea-t. Misc. (1733), I. 8. I wat on him she did na gloom.

1816.  Scott, Old Mort., v. Well wot I thou hast not heard the call of a true preacher.

1899.  R. Gottheil, in Century Mag., Dec., 300/2. They fear that the Zionists will help to turn the tide, witting little that the tide has long since turned and has left them high and dry.

  c.  with dependent question (also ellipt.): = KNOW v. 11. b.

See also WHAT pron. 8 b (quots. a. 1000, c. 1560, 1568, 1570, 1603) and WATNA-WHAT.

Beowulf, 2519. Nolde ic sweord beran,… ʓif ic wiste hu wið ðam aʓlæcean elles meahte ʓylpe wiðgripan.

c. 950.  Lindisf. Gosp., John viii. 14. Ic uat huona ic cuom & huidder ic ʓeonge.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 45. Wel ic wat hwer ic sceal milcien.

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 96. Ne schalt tu neuer more eft witen hu me stont.

a. 1250.  Owl & Night., 1201. Ich wot ȝef treon schule blowe; Ich wat ȝef cornes schule growe.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 64. Wydur to wende ne wat he noght.

1340.  Ayenb., 9. To yelde þet he heþ of oþre manne kueadliche, yef he wot to huam.

1362.  Langl., P. Pl., A. Prol. 12. Þat I was in A Wildernesse, wuste I neuer where.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 452. It is reservyd to God, to wete wiche [sin] is dedly and which is venyal.

c. 1450.  St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 6646. At Rypoun hostelere he was, I ne wate how many ȝere.

1544.  St. Papers Hen. VIII., X. 138. Forbicause … that two of his servauntes wer sick, he wist not wherol [etc.].

1818.  Scott, Rob Roy, xxvi. Whether they speak Gaelic or no I wotna.

1842.  Macaulay, Battle of Lake Regillus, xix. And none wist where he lay.

  d.  with obj. and compl., or acc. and inf.: = KNOW v. 11 c.

Beowulf, 1309. Syðþan he aldorþeʓn unlyfiʓendne, þone deorestan deadne wisse.

c. 888.  Ælfred, Boeth., xxvii. § 1. Forðæm he hine wiste swiðe unʓescead wisne.

a. 1000.  Colloq. Ælfric, in Wr.-Wülcker, 90/2. We witan þe bilewitne wesan.

c. 1205.  Lay., 15060. Anan swa heo me þer witen, awæi heo wulleð wenden.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 1905. Maxencius þo he wste him come he adde of him gret doute.

13[?].  K. Horn, 1372 (Harl.). Of ioie hue ne miste, O lyue ȝef hue þe wiste.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 629. I wot me vnworthy þis wirdis to ffall.

c. 1462.  Paston Lett., II. 87. In faith, my Lorde dyd quyte hym als curageously as ever I wist man do.

1552.  Lyndesay, Monarche, 2698. I haue wyttin gud wemen passe fra hame.

c. 1560.  A. Scott, Poems (S.T.S.), xxii. 10. It dois ȝow ay delyt To wit me in distress.

1571.  Campion, Hist. Irel., vi. (1633), 15. Hee never wist the matter to bee haynous.

1614.  Sylvester, Bethulia’s Rescue, VI. 276. Judith … Whom now the Murdress of his Lord hee wist.

1844.  Mrs. Browning, Lay of Brown Rosary, I. iv. The grey border-stone that is wist To dilate and assume a wild shape in the mist.

  e.  absol., or in parenthetic phrases (see also 11): = KNOW v. 11 e. (See also HAD-I-WIST.)

  I wot (occas. I wit), dial. awat (awyte), is often equivalent virtually to I wis (see WIS v.²).

c. 1000.  Ags. Ps. (Th.), lxxxi[i]. 5 Ne onʓeatan hi, ne ʓeara wistan.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 13607. ‘Hu es it sua þat he seis nu?’ ‘We ne wat, bot ask him-seluen hu.’

a. 1300, 1724.  [see A. 2 α].

c. 1300.  Havelok, 2708. Þou wost ful wel, yif þu wilt wite, Þat aþelwold þe dide site On knes.

c. 1320.  Sir Tristr., 867. Þou lext, ich vnder stand And wot!

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Sompn. T., 182. Elye, wel ye witen In mount Oreb … He fasted longe.

c. 1400.  Beryn, 509. What dogg is þat?… wost þou ere?

c. 1450.  Holland, Howlat, 429. I wryt as I wait.

c. 1475.  Rauf Coilȝear, 262. Als far as I wait, the nicht is furth gane.

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., I. viii. 44. Them to renew, I wote, breeds no delight.

1602.  Warner, Alb. Eng., XI. lxiii. 275. But, well I wot, Loue is a Lordly Feast.

1748.  Thomson, Cast. Indol., I. lxxiv. He led, I wot, the softest way to death.

a. 1774.  I wyt [see WIRE sb. 7].

1775.  [see A. 2 β].

1830.  Tennyson, Second Song Owl. Thy tuwhits are lull’d, I wot.

  † (b).  in subjunctive in phr. God or Crist wite.

  Cf. MHG. wiȥȥe Crist, etc.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 29. Eft, wite crist, heo is ful biter to betene.

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 250. God hit wute & he hit wot [etc.].

c. 1300.  Havelok, 517. God it wite, he shal ben ded.

  2.  intr. with of: To be aware of (as existing, or as happening or having happened); to know of (KNOW v. 18 b). With negative, (a) to have no idea of, not to suspect; (b) to be unaware or unconscious of.

  In later use chiefly in the phr. that I, you (etc.) wot of.

c. 1205.  Lay., 17174. Ich what a wærc mid wundere bi-stonde.

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 88. Ȝare hit is þet ich wuste herof.

c. 1385.  Chaucer, L. G. W., 7. Non … may of it non othere weyis wytyn But as he hath herd seyd or founde it wrytyn.

c. 1400.  Apol. Loll., 40. He þat presumiþ and weniþ to wete verily of a þing.

c. 1460.  Emare, 579. He … wyste of no treson.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, I. x. 49. I wold I had wyst of hem, they shold not haue escaped so.

1596.  Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., X. (S.T.S.), II. 286. Our folk … met with thame … be chance the ane not witting of the vther.

1607.  T. Rogers, 39 Art., Pref. (1625), ¶¶ 1. We not weeting, nor … dreaming of any such matter.

1801.  Wordsw., Prioress’ T., xxvi. Those bad Jews … That of this murder wist.

1866.  Alger, Solit. Nat. & Man, II. 58. Inspired by a splendid hope,… he wist not of hunger or of sneers.

1876.  Mrs. Whitney, Sights & Insights, II. iii. 363. We wit well of many things that we would never prove.

  † b.  To have experience of: cf. KNOW v. 18 a.

13[?].  Cursor M., 20508 (Gött.). I sal fare Þat i sal neuer wilt of care.

c. 1400.  Sowdone Bab., 3270. Gode lete hem never wete of woo!

1423.  James I., Kingis Q., xliv. A … prisoner … That … wote of noght bot wo.

1426.  Audelay, Poems, 2. His soul never schal ponyschyd be, ne never wyt of wo.

  † 3.  Passing into the sense: To become aware of, gain knowledge of, get or come to know; to find out, ascertain, discover; to be informed of, learn, ‘hear’ (at or of a person), esp. in answer to inquiry; hence sometimes virtually equivalent to ‘inquire, ask.’ Cf. KNOW v. 8, 18 b (obs. uses). Obs.

  Often not distinguishable from the simple sense ‘know’ (1 or 2), esp. with will or would (= wish, would like), or with ere, or (= before).

  a.  trans. with simple obj., or in passive.

c. 1000.  [see A. 7 α].

a. 1225.  Leg. Kath., 562. Ȝef ha þe ȝet wule, þen ha wat hire woh, wiðstonden aȝein us.

a. 1300.  K. Horn, 288 (Camb.). To speke wiþ Rymenhild … & witen hure wille.

1340–70.  Alex. & Dind., 4. To oridrace … alixandre wendus, Þere wilde contre was wist & wondurful peple.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Troylus, I. 615. Harmes myghte folwen … If it were wyst.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), IV. 427. Nero … wolde wite … þe nombre of Iewes þat were at Ierusalem.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 13486. Þai … Made hym wise of þe werke, þat þai wiste hade.

1450.  Paston Lett., I. 111. They … sent in to me to weten if thei mytȝ speken with me.

1483.  Caxton, Gold. Leg., 197 b/1. Anone as she wyste the comyng of the holy virgyne she wente to hir.

1535.  Lyndesay, Satyre, 291. Of my name wald ȝe wit the veritie, Forsuith, thay call me Sensualitie.

c. 1560.  A. Scott, Poems (S.T.S.), iii. 19. Lat non knaw ȝo^r intentis; Be verry war or that thay wit ȝo^r myndis.

  b.  with dependent statement or question or obj. and compl. (as in 1 b, c).

1132.  O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.). Þa wiste þe king ðat he feorde mid suicdom.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 41. Ȝif hwa wule witen hwa erest bi-won reste þam wrecche saule … ic eow segge.

c. 1205.  Lay., 271. Witen he wolde þurh þa wiþercraftes wat þing hit were.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 1185. Þe pikes smite hom þoru out ar hii wuste wat hit were.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 13082. Iohn bigan at þam to wijt Quer iesus crist … yeitt Bigan wit werckes him to kiþe.

c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 145. Whanne þis witty werwolf wiste him so schaped.

c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, xi. (Simon & Judas), 366. & bad þe duk þat þai suld vyte quhat he wes þat [þat] had done.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. VI. 213. Now wolde I witen of þe what were þe best.

c. 1430.  Chev. Assigne, 35. Whenne he wysste her with chylde.

1471.  Caxton, Recuyell (Sommer), 136. He began to caste his eyen vpon his peple … for to wete how they were of nombre.

1530.  Tindale, Gen. ix. 24. As soone as Noe was awaked … and wyst what his yongest sonne had done.

1531.  Dial. on Laws Eng., I. xvi. 38. I wolde wytte whether the partie shal be also dischargyd in the common lawe.

1535.  Coverdale, Exod. ii. 4. His sister stode a farre of, to wete what wolde come of him.

1616.  R. C., Times’ Whistle, v. 2094. Diligent enquirie made, they wist At length what was become of him.

1690.  W. Walker, Idiomat. Anglo-Lat., 524. He stood to wit what would be done.

  c.  absol. or intr. with of.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 689. Alle þre he broȝte Þe doȝtren bi vore him to witen of hor þoȝte.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 20194. Quat es ti name…? Gladli þar-of wijt wald i.

1375.  [see A. 4 ε].

a. 1400–50.  Wars Alex., 509. Þis egg, or þe kyng wyst, to þe erth fallis.

c. 1400.  26 Pol. Poems, i. 49. And ȝe wole wyte, thus mowe ȝe lere.

a. 1450.  How Merch. dyd Wyfe betray, 103, in Hazl., E. P. P., I. 201. Yf he wylle algatys wytt, Say in my chaumbyr y lye sore syke.

c. 1520.  Skelton, Magnyf., 22. Where wonnys Welthe, and a man wolde wyt? Ibid., 1654. I speke the softlyer, because he sholde not wete.

1570.  Satir. Poems Reform., x. 279. He come hame agane or euer thay wist.

1629.  Maxwell, trans. Herodian (1635), 52. On a sudden (ere any wist) there rusht among the people the Emperors armed Horsemen.

1795.  Burns, ‘O Lassie,’ 2. O Lassie, are ye sleepin yet, Or are ye waukin, I wad wit?

  † 4.  trans. To have practical knowledge of; to be conversant with or versed in: = KNOW v. 9. Obs.

a. 1000.  Cædmon’s Gen., 445. He … wiste … spræca fela.

a. 1250.  Owl & Night., 195. He wot insiȝt in eche songe Wo singet wel, wo singet wronge.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 18938. For wel þai all langage wist.

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 7166. Tak & lef as þou sest skyle,… Bettere þan y þou wost þe dede.

1340–70.  Alex. & Dind., 516. Swiche maner lorus, Þat þou miht … þe beste lawe kenne. Whan þou hit wisliche wost, wilne hit in herte.

  b.  with to and inf.: To know how, be able: = KNOW v. 12.

1340–70.  Alex. & Dind., 99. Sin we wetin hur wil to worchen … We mowe be soþliche isaid hur seruauntus.

c. 1440.  Generydes, 53. He wyste not them to fynde.

1576.  Foxe, A. & M. (ed. 3), I. 14/2. He either wist not, or lyste not to shew his cunnyng therin.

1594.  Carew, Huarte’s Exam. Wits, v. (1596), 58. No Philosopher as yet wist to giue to euery difference of wit determinatly that which was his.

1893.  F. Thompson, Hound of Heaven, 24. Fear wist not to evade, as Love wist to pursue.

  † 5.  In imperative = ‘be assured,’ ‘you may be certain,’ and later in monitory formulæ and polite phrases (e.g., ye shall wit, please it you to wit) = ‘you must know,’ ‘let me tell you,’ ‘allow me to inform you.’ Obs.

a. 900–1000.  [see A. 5].

c. 1205.  Lay., 15090. Wite þu … þat dead is Vortimer.

c. 1275.  Passion our Lord, 356, in O. E. Misc., 47. Yf Mi kyneriche were ine worlde þisse, Mine men wolde wyþstonde, wite þu myd iwisse.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 10185. Was neuer nan for-soth wijt yee Men of sua mikel cherite.

1363.  Langl., P. Pl., A. II. 60. Hit witen and witnessen þat woneþ vppon eorþe, Þat I, Fauuel [etc.].

c. 1400.  Rom. Rose, 4782. Wite thou this, if thou fle it, it shal flee thee.

c. 1400.  Maundev., vi. [v.] (1919), I. 26. Wyteth wel þat the rewme of Arabye is a full gret contree.

1417.  Hen. V., in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. III. I. 61. We grete yow wel, and wol ye wite that thambassiatours … have been here.

1425.  Paston Lett., I. 21. Preyeng yow to wite that I have resceyved yowr goodly lettres.

c. 1450.  Merlin, 13. Wite well that god shall helpe yow.

1456.  Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 15. Ȝe sall witt that the sevyn angelis signifyis the sevin partis of the tyme.

c. 1470.  Golagros & Gaw., 98. Thow sall rew in thi ruse, wit thow but wene.

1476.  Stonor Papers (Camden), II. 2. Ples it you to wete, this same day I depart to Cales wardes.

1539.  Cromwell, in Merriman, Life & Lett. (1902), II. 196. Please it your excellente Maiestie to witte that [etc.].

1570.  Satir. Poems Reform., x. 57. First thow sall wit, he was sone natural To James the Fyft.

1608.  Shaks., Per., IV. iv. 31. Please you wit: The Epitaph is for Marina writ.

  † 6.  with to and inf.: To be certain or confident, feel sure, expect confidently. (Cf. KNOW v. 10.) Obs.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 2057. He was glad, uor he wuste wel to winne al is wille.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Prol., 224. He was an esy man to yeue penaunce Ther as he wiste to haue a good pitaunce.

c. 1400.  26 Pol. Poems, vii. 41. Ȝif he wiste to heuene to go.

c. 1440.  Jacob’s Well, 177. My conscyens telde me, þat ȝif I had wyst to haue lyued, I wolde noȝt have sorwyd for my synnes.

  † 7.  To experience: = KNOW v. 5 c. Obs. rare.

a. 1450.  Le Morte Arth., 8. Oure eldris … That mykell wiste of wo and wele.

a. 1510.  Douglas, K. Hart, I. 86. This cumlie court … No wandreth wait, ay wenis welth endure.

1792.  A. Wilson, Watty & Meg, 138. Meg … Sic a change had never wist.

  8.  To recognize; to distinguish, discern, detect: = KNOW v. 1, 1 b, 4. Obs. or rare arch.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 781. O wityng bath god and ill Ȝee suld be lauerds at ȝour will.

1340–70.  Alex. & Dind., 1002. Men han wit for to wite þe wikke & þe gode.

c. 1352.  Minot, Poems (ed. Hall), iv. 44. In þat morning fell a myst, And when oure Ingliss men it wist, It changed all þaire chere.

1555.  Phaër, Æneid, I. (1558), B ij. Whan he his mother wist, He folowed fast and cald (alas) what mean you, thus to list In fayned shapps … to apeare?

1842.  Mrs. Browning, Grk. Chr. Poets (1863), 98. If by chance an Attic voice be wist.

  II.  Phrases.

  9.  † a. Do to wit, also without to (DO v. 22 c): to cause (a person) to know, make known to, inform. Also (rarely) give to wit (GIVE v. 29 c). Const. as in 1 and 2. Obs.

c. 1205.  Lay., 3163. Ich do þe wel to witene,… þat mi drihliche lond atwa ich habbe ideled. Ibid., 27150. Arður hafde his hauwares … and sone duden him to witen whuder he wolde wenden.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 1302. He saȝt ðe stede Ðe god him witen in herte dede.

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 14782. Seint Bede doþ vs to wyten Whilk were gode, whilke were elles.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. VIII. 13. I … proyed hem … If þei knewe any contre … Where þat dowel dwelleth, doth me to wytene.

c. 1400.  Maundev. (Roxb.), iii. 8. I do ȝow to wit þat Constantinople es riȝt a faire citee.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, VII. xxvi. 253. Ye myght haue done me to wete of his comynge.

1524.  in Hakluyt, Voy. (1599), II. 77. Wee giue you to weet, that we haue receiued your letters.

1526.  Tindale, 1 Cor. xv. 2. I do you to witt [1611 I declare vnto you] after what maner I preached vnto you.

1600.  Holland, Livy, XXIX. xxiv. He did them to weete and understand, that hee intended … to conduct his armada to Lilybæum.

a. 1604.  Hanmer, Chron. Irel. (1633), 193. We doe you wit, that such a Law and Custome is in England.

1674.  [see DO v. 22 c].

  b.  Let wit, rarely † let to wit (LET v.¹ 12, 13): to let (a person) know (a thing): (a) to inform (one), or to make (something) known (= a); (b) to allow (one) to know, or (something) to be known, to disclose, reveal; † (c) occas. to show, exhibit. Const. as in a. Obs. exc. dial.

c. 1205.  [see LET v.¹ 13].

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 9788. Þe point of is suerd … at canterbury þe monekes lateþ wite, Vor honour of þe holi man.

c. 1340.  Hampole, Prose Treat., 4. He lett me wyete … þat he ne is fundene in þe lande of softly lyfande.

c. 1400.  Rom. Rose, 3145. Thou art wel worthy to haue maugree To late hym of the Roser wite.

c. 1440.  Generydes, 4153. If ye knowe wher that I may hym fynde, Now lete me wete, I prae yow.

a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546), C. I lette the to witte, that the Rodyan people are curteis.

a. 1547.  Surrey, in Tottel’s Misc. (Arb.), 219. I let the wete thou shalt not play with me.

1592.  Kyd, Sp. Trag., IV. iv. Solyman saluteth thee, And lets thee wit by me his highnes will.

1600.  Fairfax, Tasso, V. lxxxvi. From Egypt come they all, this lets thee weete [rhyme fleete].

1794.  [see LET v.¹ 13].

1825.  Brockett, N. C. Gloss., s.v., ‘I’ll ne’er let wit,’ I’ll not inform, or I’ll keep it secret.

1890.  Hall Caine, Bondman, II. i. [He] never let wit of his intention.

  10.  To wit. † a. It is to wit (also to witting): it is to be observed, noted or ascertained; so it were to wit, it needs investigation, one ought to know. Obs.

c. 1320.  Cast. Love, 783. Of þe middel heuȝ is to wite Þe swetnesse and þe feirschipe.

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 431. Hit were to witen Whi þe bataille of Troye was smiten.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. I. 114. It were to wite þe moral sense of þese wordis. Ibid. (c. 1380), Wks. (1880), 328. It were to wite … wheþer priue confession made to prestis be nedeful.

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., III. ii. (Tollem. MS.). Firste it is to wetynge what þinge the soule is. Ibid., XVII. ii. (Add. MS. 27944). It is to wytynge [ed. 1495 wyte] þat a graffe … chaungeþ þe … qualite of þe stok in to his owne … qualite.

c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., II. xiii. 223. For the more cleering of this present answere, it is to wite that a thing is holi in three maners.

1456.  Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 246. Bot quhethir his awin legis ar behaldyn to kepe his assuraunce, in that poynt it is to wit.

1511.  Guylforde’s Pilgr. (Camden), 47. It is to wyt that the Holy Londe … in parte … was called y^e kyngdome of Jude.

1628.  Coke, On Litt., 16. And it is to wit, that this word (inheritance) is not only intended where a man hath Lands or Tenements by discent of inheritage. [Comm.] Et est ascauoire. This kinde of speech is vsed … oftentimes by our Authour … and euer teacheth vs some rule of Law, or generall or sure leading point.

  † b.  That is to wit (also to witting) = AF. cestasavoir literally ‘that is to know’: that is to say, that is, namely: = L. scilicet, videlicet (viz.); occas. = id est (i.e.). Obs. replaced by the simple to wit, c (b).

1340.  Ayenb., 1. Tuaye lettres of þe abece, þet is to wytene A. and b.

c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, i. (Petrus), 403. Twa substance, þat is to wyt, Of devel and man, to-gyddir knete.

a. 1400.  Engl. Gilds (1870), 349. Þese ben þe olde vsages of þe Cite of Wynchestre … Þat is to wetynge, þat [etc.].

1440.  in 3rd Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., 360/2. Ȝeldynge there of by the ȝere to the forseyde Johan, that ys to wetynge, the furste ȝere [6s. 8d.] and every ȝere after [13s. 4d.]

1484.  Caxton, Fables of Poge, v. The whiche parte was iumelle that is to wete double.

1496.  Bk. St. Albans, Fishing, h j. Your harnays. That is to wyte your rodde: your lynes.

1526.  Tindale, Matt. xxiii. 8. For one ys youre master, that is to wytt Christ.

1562.  Turner, Herbal, II. 75. Where of we haue hearde a grete wonder, that is to wete, that that same kynde dieth & lyueth agayn.

1579–80.  North, Plutarch, Theseus (1595), 8. Vpon conditions agreed betweene them: that is to wit, that the Athenians should furnish them with a shippe.

  c.  To wit: (a) ‘To be sure,’ as one may know, truly, indeed. Obs. or rare arch.

c. 1400.  Song of Roland, 850. Ther fell … A straung wedur. A gret derk myst in the myd-day-tym,… the erthe dynnyd doillfully to wet.

c. 1400.  Melayne, 222. Þay … bade hym come owte with þam to fyghte, To witt with owtten wene.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 14002. The worthiest to wete, þat in wer deghit.

1581.  A. Hall, Iliad, IX. 166. No fault so great to wit, Which at the prayer of faultie folkes the Gods do not remit.

1748.  Thomson, Cast. Indol., I. xxv. He was, to weet, a little roguish Page.

1819.  Keats, On Charles Armitage Brown, i. He is to weet a melancholy carle.

  (b)  That is, namely, scilicet.

  In former law practice used to indicate (and placed after the name of) the venue of a trial.

1577.  Wolton, Cast. Christians, B viij b. That common saying…, that the beginning of vertue is of Nature, to wyt of Perfect Nature.

1579.  W. Wilkinson, Confut. Fam. Love, B j. The same testimonye that ye alledge, to weete, that they had Moses and the Prophets.

1596.  Spenser, F. Q., V. x. 1. Some Clarkes doe doubt … Whether this heauenly thing, whereof I treat, To weeten Mercie, be of Iustice part.

1608.  J. King, Serm., 24 March, 12. He … reigned long, to weete, fourty years.

1621.  T. Granger, Eccles. vi. 3. 137. An abortiue child, to wit, one that is borne before his time, and dyeth in his birth.

1657.  Style, Reg. Pract., 351. Incertain words in the Count or Declaration, may be made good … by a plea in Bar. Hill 22 Car. B. r. To wit, by the Defendants taking notice of the meaning of them in his plea.

1711.  Steele, Spect., No. 43, ¶ 9. Accounting for what we frequently see, to wit, that dull Fellows prove very good Men of Business.

1756.  C. Lucas, Ess. Waters, I. 39. In certain degrees of heat, to wit, in thirty three of Fahrenheit’s thermometer, and upwards, water is always fluid.

1765.  G. Wilson, Raymond’s Entries, III. 168. Allen against Harris…. Kent, (to wit).

1823.  Broadsheet (Bodl. G. A. Oxon. b. 112. lf. 80). Oxfordshire to Wit. Sentences of the Prisoners, Who were tried at the Summer Assizes at Oxford.

1832.  Bingham, Rep. Comm. Pleas, VIII. 235. At Martinmas 1830, to wit, on the 23d of November 1830.

1852.  Oxford Chron., 3 July, 1/5. advt., Oxfordshire Election. Proclamation for a Special County Court, Oxfordshire to wit.

1875.  Maine, Hist. Instit., iv. 114. Thrice nine ridges…, to wit, nine of bog, nine of smooth and nine of wood.

  11.  God wot (also † God it wot; † Godwot, God ote, GODDOT): God knows. a. Used to emphasize the truth of a statement. arch. So † Wot Christ.

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 54. God hit wot… more wunder ilomp. Ibid., 330. Wat Crist hit is god riht þet us scheome biuoren monne.

c. 1300.  Havelok, 2527. For he it made, god it woth!

a. 1300–1859.  [see GOD sb. 10 a].

c. 1400.  Anturs Arth., 542 (Ireland MS.). ‘Greselle,’ quod Gauan, ‘gone is, God ote!’

1865.  [see A. 4 α].

1883.  Miss Broughton, Belinda, III. 83. She has good reasons enough, God wot!

1893.  T. E. Brown, Old John, etc., 177. A garden is a lovesome thing, God wot!

  † b.  With dependent interrogative or absol., implying that the thing spoken of is utterly unknown.

1390.  Gower, Conf., I. 3. What schal befalle hierafterward God wot.

c. 1400.  Beryn, 1201. I am I-weddit! ȝe, God woot beste, in what maner & howe!

c. 1400.  Maundev. (Roxb.), xii. 53. I wate noȝt; God wate.

a. 1500.  Peblis to the Play, 7. God wait þai wald þai do þat stound.

1570.  Satir. Poems Reform., xiii. 134. God wait gif ȝe be Jaips to hald in stoir.

1646.  [see GOD sb. 10 b].

  † 12.  To wit (a person) to say: to inform or instruct him. Obs.

  ? A misuse due to confusion with witere, WITTER v. (cf. the reading of later text in quot. c. 1205 s.v.).

a. 1400–50.  Wars Alex., 241. Þat semely qwene Ai of Egipt erd enquirid if he were,… scho wetis if he wald wete hire to say.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 11467. He shuld … spir at hom specially of hor spede fer; If þai hade wille to þe werke, wete hom to say,… glose hit not lengur. Ibid., 13580. He fraynet at þe freke…, Wat whe þat he was, wete hym to say.