▪ I. went Obs. exc. dial.
(wɛnt)
Also 5 weent, 6 Sc. vent, 8 wont, 9 dial. want, wint.
[Related to wend v.1]
1. A course, path, way, or passage. Obs. exc. dial.
In later use esp. in pl. with three and four; also in combs. three-went-way three B. III. 2, and four-went-way.
| c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 136 Ilc sterre..He settes in ðe firmament, Al abuten ðis walkne went. c 1369 Chaucer Dethe Blaunche 398 (Fairf.) Hyt forthe went Dovne by a floury grene went Ful thikke of gras. c 1384 ― H. Fame 182 In a forest, as they wente, At a turninge of a wente. 1418–20 J. Page Siege Rouen in Hist. Coll. Citizen Lond. (Camden) 17 Govnnys goode and redy bente, They were layde in many went. 1426 Lydg. De Guil. Pilgr. 10320 By peryllous weyes and by wentys I hadde had gret adversyte. 1513 Douglas æneis iii. iv. 40 Ontill ane cave we went, Vndir a hingand hewch, in a derne vent. Ibid. 113 And followit furth the samyn went we haue, Quhar so the wynd and sterisman ws draue. 1570 Levins Manip. 66/8 A went, lane, viculus. 1596 Spenser F.Q. iv. ii. 47 To the three fatall sisters house she went. Farre vnder ground from tract of liuing went. 1640 Somner Antiq. Canterb. 20 The Iron crosse, which sometime stood at the East-end of Castle-street, at the meeting of the foure wents. 1682 Wheler Journ. Greece vi. 475 Where these ways part was called by the ancients τρεῖς κεϕαλαί, or, the Three Heads, signifying I suppose the same we do by Three Wents. 1854 W. Gaskell Lect. Lancs. Dial. 20 We have also..‘wint’,..a passage. a 1896 Bardsley Dict. Surnames (1901) 802 There are one or two wents, still so called, in my late parish [Ulverston]. |
| fig. 1513 Douglas æneis i. Prol. 384 Logitianis knawis heirin myne entent, Ondir quhais boundis lurkis mony strange went. |
† b. A journey, course of movement. Obs.
| 1430–40 Lydg. Bochas viii. 2145 [They]..ful accordid be Thoruh Itaille for to make her went Toward Roome. 1596 Spenser F.Q. iv. v. 46 But here my wearie teeme nigh ouer spent Shall breath it selfe awhile, after so long a went. |
† 2. A course of action or plan for attaining some end; a trick, contrivance, device. Obs.
| 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 529 Þe bysshop made a clerk þan wryte Al þat she seyd,..And alle how she made here went. 1390 Gower Conf. II. 218 The Steward tok the gold and wente, Withinne his herte and many a wente Of coveitise thanne he caste. 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. vii. 263 Ich made meny wentes, How ich myght haue hit, al my wit ich caste. c 1440 J. Capgrave St. Kath. iv. 929 Thanne do ye wrong ageyn her entent On what-maner wise ȝe make your weent. |
† 3. A turn or course of affairs; an occasion or chance. Obs.
| 1338 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 63 Do him vnto þe suerd, withouten jugement, If ȝe may Griffyn take bityme at any went. 1513 Douglas æneis iii. x. 123 Eneas..The fatis of goddis..Rehersing schew, and syndry strange wentis. 1596 Spenser F.Q. vi. vi. 3 He knew the diuerse went of mortall wayes. |
† 4. A turn or change of direction; a turning about. Obs.
| c 1374 Chaucer Troylus ii. 63 For which yn wo to bedde he wente, And made er it was day ful many a went. Ibid. v. 1194 Vp on þe walles made he many a wente. 1412–20 Lydg. Troy Bk. i. 2713 Vn-to hir chambre in hast sche is goon, Where vp and down sche made many went. 1471 Caxton Recuyell (Sommer) 219 The monstre wente here and there, And made many wentes wyth oute seeyng and knowing where he wente. |
† b. ? A turning or winding of a stair. Obs.
| a 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VIII 73 b, The staier of the saied halpas was caste of passage by the wentes of brode steppes. |
▪ II. went
pa. tense (and pa. pple.) of wend v.1: now used as the pa. tense of go v.
▪ III. † went
app. used as pa. pple. of wind v.
| c 1500 World and Child 46 (Manly), I am not worthely wrapped nor went, But powerly prycked in pouerte. |