▪ I. † wi, n. Obs.
Forms: 1 wiᵹ, 3 wiȝ, wyȝ, wi.
[OE. w{iacu}ᵹ str. n. = OFris. wîch, OS. wîg (MLG. wîch), OHG., MHG. wîc, ON. v{iacu}g:—OTeut. *wīgom, f. pre-Teut. weig- (:waig-: wig-) to fight:—Indo-Eur. wī̆k- to be strong.
The form weig- is represented by OE. w{iacu}ᵹan to fight, OS., OFris. wîgand, OHG. wîgant pr. pple. used as n. warrior, ON. v{iacu}gr brave in war, neut. v{iacu}gt wight a.; waig- by OE. wǽᵹan, OHG. weigen (:*waigjan) to afflict, ON. veig strength, strong drink, drinking glass (cf. OS. wêgi, OE. wǽge cup); wig- by OE. wiga warrior, wy, Goth. wigana dat. sing., waihjô battle. The Indo-Eur. wī̆k- is represented by L. vincere, perf. t. vīcī to conquer, OIr. fichim to fight.]
Battle, conflict; transf. a military force or troop. Also attrib. as in wi-ax, a battle-axe.
| Beowulf 1080 Wiᵹ ealle fornam Finnes þeᵹnas nemne feaum anum. c 897 ælfred Gregory's Past. C. 3 Hu him ða speow æᵹðer ᵹe mid wiᵹe ᵹe mid wisdome. c 1205 Lay. 1567 Þe bearn..igrap..ana wiæx swiðe stronge. Ibid. 25365 Þer com mid muchle wiȝe [c 1275 wyȝe] Irtac king of Turckie. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 1854 Emor his fader,..And his burȝe-folc fellen in wi. |
▪ II. † wi, int. Obs.
[Cf. we int.]
An exclamation used to introduce an anxious question or a statement of something regrettable.
| a 1200 Moral Ode 90 He þurþ-sicheþ uches monnes þonc: wi hwat scal us to rede? Ibid. 106 Wi hwi weren ho biȝeten to hwon weren ho iborene þet sculen bon to deþe idemet? c 1200 Ibid. 104 (Trin. Coll. MS.), Wi swo fele beð icleped, swo fewe beð icorene. a 1300 Cursor M. 3752 ‘Consail me, fader, how to liue.’ ‘Wi, quatkin consail mai i þe giue?’ Ibid. 5013 ‘Him sal deliuer your yongeist child.’ ‘Wi how sal beniamin come þare?’ Ibid. 23845 Wi qui þan mak we us sa kene? |
▪ III. wi
obs. form of why.