▪ I. † unˈwit, n. Obs.
[un-1 12 + wit n. Cf. ON. {uacu}vit (MSw. ovit, Norw. uvit), Goth. unwiti; also wanwit, and OE. unᵹewit stupidity.]
1. Lack of wit or practical knowledge; ignorance; stupidity, folly.
| c 1200 Ormin 6003 Ȝiff he nohht ne follȝheþþ witt, Acc unnwitt all wiþþ wille Inn all þatt iss onnȝæn Drihhtin. a 1225 Juliana 22 Hwi destu us ba so wa, þurh þi muchele unwit? a 1300 Cursor M. 13936 Yee wat quat i am, and mi kin, O yur vn-witt quine wald yee blin? 1340 Ayenb. 82 Ȝef wyt of þe wordle ne is bot folye ase zayþ þe wrytinge, and childhede, and onwyt. c 1380 Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. II. 374 God mai not faile on his side for noun-power or unwitt. c 1400 Pilgr. Sowle v. xiv. (MS. Bodl. 770) 99/1 It is verey vnwytte to any erthly creature..to trowen [etc.]. 1468 Chron. Eng. in Hearne R. Glouc. (1724) 482/1 His hondes..shewethe sumwhat vnwyt and necclygence, for he vtterliche leueth the kepyng of hem. |
2. An imprudent or foolish act.
| c 1200 Ormin 8045 Þatt ifell gast maȝȝ oferr þa Þatt follȝhenn barrness þæwess Inn illc unnwitt, inn illc unnitt. a 1300 Cursor M. 13657 Þou caitif for-lorn In sin was..born, Queþer þou wenis vs nu here O þine vn-wittes for to lere. |
Hence † unˈwithead, folly. Obs.
| 1340 Ayenb. 19 Zuych folie is wel y-cleped onwythede. |
▪ II. † unˈwit, v.1 Obs. rare.
[un-1 14.]
intr. To know not; to be ignorant of something.
| c 1374 Chaucer Boeth. v. pr. vi. (1868) 175 Whan þat god knoweþ any þinge to be, he ne vnwoot nat [L. non nesciat] þat þilke þinge wanteþ necessite to be. 1382 Wyclif 2 Cor. i. 8 We wolen not ȝou for to vnwite of oure tribulacioun. |
▪ III. † unˈwit, v.2 Obs.
[un-2 4.]
trans. To deprive of wit or wits.
| 1604 Shakes. Oth. ii. iii. 182 And then..(As if some Planet had vnwitted men) Swords out..In opposition bloody. |