Obs. Also 3–4 witer, 4 wyter, 4–5 wittur. [Late OE. or early ME., a. ON. vitr wise, f. OTeut. wit-: see WIT v.1] Knowing, cunning, wise. Also, cognizant, aware (cf. WISE a. 3 b).
c. 1100. O. E. Chron. (MS. D), an. 1067. Se kyng … wislice hine beþohte swa he full witter wæs.
c. 1205. Lay., 9600. Heo wes witer, heo wes wis.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 168. So made god wid witter miȝt, Al erue,… and wilde der. Ibid., 1308. Ðo wurð ðe child witter and war Ðat ðor sal offrende ben don. Ibid., 2330. Ne wiste ȝe noȝt Ðat ic am o wol witter ðoȝt?
a. 1300. Cursor M., 698. Ne þe nedder was noght bittur Þan, þowf he was euer wittur.
c. 1320. Cast. Love, 75. Ac whose is witer and wys of wit.
a. 1400–50. Wars Alex., 629. Sone wex he witter & wyse.
Hence † Witterhed [-HEAD], † Witterness, wisdom, prudence, knowledge.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 3667. Ches ðe nu her seuenti Wise men to stonden ðe bi, And ic sal hem geuen witter-hed.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 9728. Fader,… þi sun i es O þi strenght and þi witernes. Ibid., 23510. Godd, þat all wate þat es … Vte of his witernes be þai neuer.
