adv. Obs. Forms: 3–5 wit(t)er-, wytter-, (3 witerr-, 4 wyter-, wit(t)ir-, wyttir-, witur-, weter-, Sc. vittir-, 5 wyt(t)ur-, -yr-, wetir-, -ur-, witre-, (whiter-, wihtur-); 3–4 -like, -liche, 3–5 -li, etc. (-LY2). [Of Scand. origin (cf. MSw. vitterliga, early Da. vitter-, viderlige, corresp. to the respective adjs. MSw. vitterliker, chiefly neut. -likit, early Da. vitter-, viderlig clear, manifest): cf. WITTER a.2 and v.] Clearly, plainly, evidently; certainly, for certain; without doubt, undoubtedly, truly.
Used esp. as a conventional addition in ME. verse, freq. with the verb wit (to know).
c. 1200. Ormin, 785. & tatt wass witerrlike soþ Þatt Godess enngell seȝȝde. Ibid., 1131. & witt tu wel þatt Latin boc Full witerrlike uss kiþeþþ, Whillc lac wass offredd forr þe preost. Ibid., 3446. [The Magi] wisstenn witerrliȝ þærþurrh þatt swillc new king wass awwnedd.
c. 1205. Lay., 17563. Þu miht ileue me inoh, for þis is witerliche soð.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 358. Lokeð nu hu witterliche ure Louerd sulf hit witneð.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 791. Egipte clerkes … hem lerede, witterlike, Astronomiȝe and arsmetike.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 2003. Þe elleuend winter was, witerli, þer after. Ibid., 16259. Sai me son quer þat þou be godd sun or nan, þat i mai wijt it witerli.
c. 1350. Leg. Rood, iii. 134. And pray him me to certify Of þe oile of mercy weterly.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 1706. Wreȝande hym ful weterly with a wroth noyse.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, X. 350. Thai that I wat vittirly Eftir my wit rehers sall I.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. I. 11. Al þe welþe of þis worlde & þe woo boþe, Wynkyng as it were wyterly ich saw hyt.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), x. 39. Helen wist noȝt witerly whilk was þe crosse þat Criste was done apon.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 9180. Thies wordes, in his wo, witturly he said, Soberly to hym-selfe.
c. 1450. St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 5463. Þat ilk place Whare þe fische lay dry, Þat was cuthberts witterly.
a. 1500. Ratis Raving, 3453. Suppos thai wyst It wytterly, Quhai suld that gold aw werraly.
