† ˈwitterly, 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-, vider- lige, 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 Mandeville (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. |