[OE. unwitende (UN-1 10, 5 d), = OS. unwitandi, OHG. unwizzanti, -enti, etc., MHG. unwizzende (G. unwissend), ON. úvitandi (Norw. uvitande, MSw. ovitande, Sw. ovetande, Da. uvidende), Goth. unwitands. Cf. UNWEETING ppl. a.]
Rare after c. 1600, until revived (perhaps after UNWEETING ppl. a.) c. 1800.
1. Having no knowledge or cognizance of a particular fact, thing, etc.; not knowing, unaware, unconscious; hence, unheeding, regardless. Sometimes quasi-adv. (= UNWITTINGLY adv.).
pred. c. 893. K. Ælfred, Oros., V. xiv. (1883), 248. He eac moniʓ tacen self ʓedyde … þeh he hie unwitende dyde. Ibid., V. xv. 250. He oft unwitende sloʓ mid his heafde on þone waʓ.
c. 1375. Cursor M., 19100 (Fairf.). [I] vnderstande Þat ȝe him slogh vn-witande.
1382. Wyclif, Joshua xx. 3. Whoso euer a lijf hath smytun vnwitynge.
c. 1400. Pilgr. Sowle, I. xiii. (Caxton, 1483), 7. He was weschen vnwiting, and nought willyng hym self … that he ne myght … discerne to chesen good ne euyl.
a. 1450. Mirk’s Festial, 30. Scho … toke Seynt Steuen’s bonys ynstude of hyr maystyrs, vnwyttyng.
1513. Douglas, Æneid, III. ix. 53. My falloschip vnwitting forȝet me heir.
c. 1580. Sidney, Ps. XXXV. vii. Then abiects, while I was unwitting quite, Against me swarme.
1613. Fletcher, etc., Hon. Man’s Fort., II. i. I crave your Lordships pardon, your sudden apprehension on my steps made me to frame an answer unwitting and unworthy your respect.
1801. Southey, Thalaba, VIII. ii. His lean fingers play’d, Unwitting, with the grass that grew beside.
1852. Kingsley, Andromeda, 50. No word, once spoken, returneth, Even if uttered unwitting.
1868. Morris, Earthly Par., I. I. 407. From her lips unwitting came a moan.
attrib. 1582. Stanyhurst, Æneis, II. (Arb.), 53. Thee crack rack crashing the vnwitting pastor amazeth.
1833. H. Coleridge, North. Worthies, 5. The danger of which he had been the unwitting cause.
1884. Chr. Commonwealth, 21 Feb., 439/2. Popular practice … imposes that ceremony [sc. baptism] on an unwitting babe.
b. Const. of.
1412–20. Lydg., Chron. Troy, IV. 4863. Þou knewe nouȝt of þat offence, But fully were vnwytinge of þe dede.
1609. Holland, Amm. Marcell., A j. Both of them…, unwitting of so much themselves, giving place to Christ.
1612. Field, Woman a Weathercock, II. i. D 1. This strange shape He altogether is vnwitting of.
1876. Black, Madcap Violet, xxv. Drummond, all unwitting of any change.
1887. Bowen, Æneid, III. 569. On the Cyclops coast, of the course unwitting, we run.
c. With direct object or objective clause.
(a) c. 1400. Sc. Trojan War, II. 712. It plesed to Pryame þe kyng, As wnwittand þar purposyng.
1869. ‘Ouida,’ Tricotrin, xix. ‘But?’ asked the child,… unwitting the frightful truth that lay in the words.
(b) 1810. Scott, Lady of L., III. xx. Children that, unwitting why, Lent the gay shout their shrilly cry. Ibid. (1814), Lord of Isles, V. xv. Unwitting from what source it came.
1866. Sala, Barbary, 229. Quite unwitting that he is to be made king over Israel.
† 2. In absolute constructions. (Also with of.)
a. 1300. Cursor M., 12525. Iesus still him efter stal, Ioseph and mari vnwittand.
1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 56. Petir … wolde haue lettid cristis deþ…, him wnwyttyngge.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Can. Yeom. T., 767 (Ellesm. MS.). He slyly tooke it out…, Vnwityng this preest of his false craft.
c. 1400. Brut, 325. Þe Englissh men … drenchyng al þe men þat were þerin, vnwytyng hem þat þey weren of þat cuntre.
c. 1455. Pecock, Folewer, 134. Whilis y kepe þe contraries of þo deedis so priueli to me, hem it vnwityng.
1456. Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 227. Unwittand his ost, he passis fra his company in the woddis.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, ix. 138. I schryve me of all cursit cumpany, All tymes both witting and vnwitting me.
1586. Hooker, Hist. Irel., in Holinshed, II. 130/1. Others of Mounster, who before (and vnwitting the Butlers) had [etc.].
1598. Stow, Survey, 323. The Lord Gray of Ruthen,… vnwitting the Sergeantes and against their willes (as they said), was first placed.
1622. Mabbe, trans. Aleman’s Guzman d’Alf., II. (1623), 189. Which things,… the Captaine unwitting thereof, I clapt up closely within my trunks.
† 3. Without the knowledge of (also with possessive adjs.), unbeknown to, a person. Obs.
(a) a. 1300. Cursor M., 3874. Bisid lya al night he lai, His vnwitand, til it was dai.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xxix. (Placidas), 53t. Nere-by, his vnwittand, his sonnis twa ware duelland.
1454. Paston Lett., I. 287. My wif delyvered all, myn unwetyng. Ibid. (1470), II. 412. He sente to my Lady…, my onwetyng, or wythout eny preyer of me.
1513. Douglas, Æneid, IV. vi. 51. With dissimulance wenyt thow, wnfaithfull wycht, Thow mycht…, myne vnwitting, steill furth of my land?
(b) 1340. Ayenb., 37. [To] nyme … oþre manne þinges wyþ wrong and onwytinde and wyþ-oute wylle of þe lhorde.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Frankl. T., 223. Vnwityng of this Dorigen at al This lusty Squier … Hadde loued hire.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot. (Rolls), I. 531. That samin nycht … [Donald] Come on the king … With greit power wnwittand of this king. Ibid., III. 23. Tha dressit thame till go Towart his oist…, Onwittand than of ony Scottis wicht.
(c) 1386. Rolls of Parlt., III. 226/1. Alle suche wronges hav ben unwytyng to us.
1531. Elyot, Gov., III. vi. A gentilman,… unwyttynge to any persone, dyd cut of his owne eares.
1556. Chron. Grey Friars (Camden), 17. The othe that he made un to the kynge of Ynglonde unwyttynge unto the pope.
1630. R. N[orton], trans. Camden’s Hist. Eliz., I. 135. The two Earles…, vnwitting to the rest, presently withdrew themselues.
1633. B. Jonson, Tale Tub, IV. i. Ile marry her to you, Vnwitting to this Turfe.
4. Performed unwittingly; unintentional; unpremeditated.
1818. Bentham, Ch. Eng., Introd. 248. Authors of the unwitting and unwilling transgression.
1856. Miss Mulock, J. Halifax, xxxvii. The unwitting indication of some crotchets of mine.
1871. Freeman, Norm. Conq., xviii. IV. 268. Whether this sacrilege was designed or unwitting, it was speedily avenged.
b. Unconscious.
1840. Lowell, Irene, 21. Her large charity (An all unwitting, childlike gift in her).
5. Path. (See quot.)
1822–7. Good, Study Med. (1829), I. 159. Pica … Insulsa, Unwitting pica. [So called] from want of correct taste or discrimination.
