prefix, repr. OE. wiþer-, OFris. wither-, OS. withar-, OHG. widar- (MHG., G. wider-), = the adv. wiþer (see WITHER a.) used with sbs., adjs. and verbs (cf. WITH- 3), chiefly in the sense (1) against, in opposition or hostility, as in OE. wiþercrist antichrist, wiþercwide contradiction, resistance, wiþersaca WITHERSAKE, wiperwinna WITHERWIN; less commonly in the senses (2) in return or compensation, counter-, as in OE. wiþerléan recompense, wiþertihtle countercharge; and (3) in the opposite direction, back.

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  † 1.  In sense (1), used (esp. by Layamon) in compounds denoting hostile acts or contests, as wiþerblench, -ded [DEED sb.], -gome [GAME sb.], -hap, -ueht [FIGHT sb.], wiþerstrencþ resistance; also in the derived sense ‘adverse, evil,’ as wiþercraft, -laȝe [LAW sb.1], and (in personal designations) wiþerlaȝe [cf. OFris. witherlaga opponent] persecutor, wiþerþeod [THEDE] enemy people; occas. with verbs, as wiþerhalde [HOLD v.] to hold out against, oppose. (Often indistinguishable from WITHER a.) Obs.

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c. 1200.  Ormin, 6905. Ȝiff he léte waxenn þær awihht off wiþerrstrenncþe Onnȝæn hiss aȝhenn oferrking. Ibid., 10227. To fihhtenn forr þe leode, To werenn hemm wiþþ wiþerrþeod.

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c. 1205.  Lay., 272. Witen he wolde þurh þa wiþer-craftes [later text wise craftes] wat þing hit were. Ibid., 405. Þar aros wale & win & wiðer-heppes feola. Ibid., 9275. Ȝif þe king wolde wið heom wiðer-heolden. Ibid., 10968. Þe hæfde þurh his wiðer-laȝen muchel of þine cunne of-slaȝen. Ibid., 16318. Cuð hit is wide of ure wiðer-deden. Ibid., 24700. Summe heo wræstleden and wiðer-gome makeden. Ibid., 28669. Þa weoren wide to-floȝen: ut of þan wiðer-uehte.

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a. 1225.  St. Marher., 5. Þe awaride wiðerlahen leiden swa luðerliche on hire leofliche lich, þet hit brec oueral.

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c. 1250.  Long Life, 12, in O. E. Misc., 156. Nis non so strong … Þat mai ago deaþes wiþer-blench.

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  2.  In sense (2), † witherweȝe v. trans., to weigh again; witherweight Sc. (also wodderweght), a counterbalancing weight. Cf. WITHERNAM.

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1340.  Ayenb., 137. To … wiþnyme his dedes … and telle, and weȝe, and *wyþerweȝe.

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1642.  Row, Hist. Kirk (Wodrow Soc.), p. xx. A *wodderweght to our bell to mak it ring the better.

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1808.  Jamieson, Witherweight,… (witherwecht), the weight thrown into one scale, to counterbalance the paper, or vessel, in the opposite scale, which contains the goods bought.

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1820.  Hogg, Wint. Even. T., I. 270. She’s nae wother-weight nouther.

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  3.  In sense (3), † witherhoked a., barbed [cf. MHG. widerhâke barb, G. -haken, EFris. wërhake]; † witherwise adv. Sc. [WISE sb.1 II], = WITHERSHINS.

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c. 1330.  Arth. & Merl., 5666. Þis dragoun hadde a long taile Þat was *wiþþerhoked.

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1643.  in Dalyell, Darker Superst. Scotl., x. (1834), 459. Shoe turnit hirselff thrie severall tymes round *witherwys, about the fyre.

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