Obs. Forms: Inf. 1 ætwítan, 3 etwite, 3–6 atwite, 4 atwyȝte, 4–6 attwyte. Pa. t. 1–3 ætwát, -witen, 3 etwat, 4 atwot. [f. AT- pref.1 + OE. wítan to blame, reproach; cf. OE. oðwítan. The modern TWIT, formerly twite, is an aphetized form of this word.]
1. To cast an imputation upon, reproach, upbraid, blame, taunt, twit; a. with double object (acc. and dative): To reproach a thing to a person.
a. 1000. Beowulf, 2304. Siþðan [him] … Gúðláf and Osláf … ætwiton weána dǽl.
c. 1205. Lay., 19594. Sexisce men … mine unhæle me atwiten.
c. 1320. Seuyn Sages (W.), 1876. And hire misdedes hire atwot.
c. 1430. Lydg., Bochas, IV. xiv. (1554), 113 a. Thyng most slaundrous theyr nobles tatwite.
b. a person of a thing, or that, etc.
c. 885. K. Ælfred, Boeth. Metr., xxvii. 5. Hwý oðwíte ʓe wyrde eowre, þæt hio ʓeweald nafað?
a. 1230. Ancr. R., 70. Ne ne etwiteð him of his unðeau.
c. 1330. Florice & Bl., 485. Thilke dai schal neuer be That men schal at wite me That I schal ben of loue untrewe.
c. 1524. in Hazl., E. P. P., III. 25. Of gredynes lest men the wolde attwite.
1530. Calisto & Melib., in Hazl., Dodsl., I. 85. I marvel greatly thou dost me so atwite Of the doubt, that thou hast of my secretness.
c. with simple personal obj.
c. 1000. Ags. Ps. lxxiii. 17. Fynd ætwitað fæcne Drihtne.
c. 1205. Lay., 26584. Ofte heo heom atwiten.
c. 1315. Shoreham, 106. So may God answerye the Wanne thou hym atwyst.
c. 1430. Lydg., Bochas, VII. iv. (1554), 167 b. Who is defouled, none other should atwite.
¶ A weak pa. t. atwytede occurs, and an anomalous pa. t. and pple. atwist after wit to know.
1297. R. Glouc., 33. Þis word … atwytede hym & ys stat … He yt vnderstod, þat ys child at wiste ys pouerte.
c. 1314. Guy Warw., 251. And thou in thine halle me sle, For traisoun it worth atwist the.
