Obs. Forms: 1–3 wiþer-, wiðer-, 3–4 wither-, wyþer-, (4 weþer-, wiþir-, withere-, -yre-, wiþþer-, quiþer-, wider-, wyder-, widdir-, whydyre-), 4–5 wedir-, wethir-, 5 witer-; 1–2 -winna, 2–4 -wine, 3–4 -win, 3–5 -wynne, 5 -wyn, (-un), 4–5 -wyne. [OE. wiþerwinna = OHG. widarwinno (MHG. -winne), f. wiþer- WITHER-1 + agent-n. of winnan WIN v.1] An enemy, adversary; spec. the Adversary, the Devil.
c. 897. K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., xix. 146. Ðylæs he sie onʓieten ðæt he sie wiðerwinna … ðæs þe he bið ʓesewen ðeow on his ðeʓnunge.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom. (Assmann), I. 120. Ure wiðerwinna is witodlice se deofol.
c. 1205. Lay., 27326. Haðene hundes, goddes wiðer-iwinnen [c. 1275 wiþerwynnes].
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 196. Vre wiðerwines beoð þreo: þe ueond, þe world, & ure owune vleshs.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 6648. Þo þis quene was of londe ydriue þoru hire wiþerwine.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 6284. His folk he has al sauued sund, Þair wiþerwins er broght to grund.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xvi. (Magdalena), 246. How þe ded he tholyt syne, To safe ws fra þe wethirwyne.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 2215. Wrothely he … Woundes these whydyrewyns, werrayede knyghttes.
c. 1400. Melayne, 695. Nowe arte þou werre þan any Sarazene, Goddis awenn wedirwyne.
c. 1450. Lovelich, Grail, xlvii. 42. Thike day Convertyd was … A thowsend & Fyfty Sarrazines that to fore tyme weren wethir-wynes.
