Forms: see WIT v.1 A. 6. [f. WIT v.1 + -ING2.]
a. Chiefly in conjunction with wilfully or willing (see WILLING ppl. a. 2 f), advb. = WITTINGLY 1.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XIX. 368. Lyeres … þat were forsworen ofte, Wytynge [v.r., wytyngli] and willefully with þe false helden.
c. 1450. Mirk’s Festial, 138. Þylke þat don aȝeyne þe constytucyons of holy chyrche wytyng, he ys acurset tyll he come to amendement.
1531. Tindale, Expos. 1 John ii. (1538), F viij b. He … whyche wyttynge and wyllynge shutteth hys eyes at the true lyght.
1538. Starkey, England (1878), 66. No man wyttyng and wyllyng wyl hurt hymselfe.
1582. T. Watson, Centurie of Loue, lx. How he witting and wilfully followeth his owne hurt.
1600. Holland, Livy, VI. xl. 245. We … have practised nothing, witting and willing,… prejudiciall to the Communaltie.
b. Chiefly predicatively: Aware, cognizant.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, ix. 138. Both witting and vnwitting me.
a. 1586. Sidney, Two Pastorels, ii. 29. Seely shepheards are not witting What in art of Loue is fitting.
a. 1629. Hinde, J. Bruen, v. (1641), 19. Using men both witting and unwitting.
1894. F. S. Ellis, Reynard Fox, 221. Hither … I … came, To make you witting of the same.
1906. R. E. Vernede, in Macm. Mag., Oct., 885. Scarcely witting, he ran forward.
c. Conscious as an agent; that is consciously what the sb. denotes.
1678. Littleton, Dict., Eng.-Lat., A witwal or wittal, a witting cuckold.
1872. J. G. Murphy, Comm. on Lev. iv. 2. Witting and wilful transgressors.
1912. G. Lowther, in Oxf. & Camb. Rev., Nov., 48. In his own province he [Synge] was a witting artist of marvellous skill.
d. transf. of the action: Done consciously (and so with responsibility), ‘conscious,’ deliberate: often in conjunction with willing.
1553. Bradford, Serm. Repentance (1574), H iij b. This willing and witting offending & synning.
1581. Hanmer, Jesuites Banner, 4 b. Wee are all by nature the children of wrath, yet will you not confesse, that the corruption of nature is voluntary and witting.
1613. Hoby, Countersnarle, 55. These his witting falsifications.
1629. H. Burton, Truth’s Tri., 316. So … fore-knowledge of God, is his witting and willing act or decree.
1872. Maudsley, Pathol. Mind, vi. 288. The notion of witting and wilful vice.
