▪ I. † aˈtwite, v.1 Obs.
Forms: inf. 1 ætw{iacu}tan, 3 etwite, 3–6 atwite, 4 atwyȝte, 4–6 attwyte. pa. tense 1–3 ætwát, -witen, 3 etwat, 4 atwot.
[f. at- prefix1 + OE. w{iacu}tan to blame, reproach; cf. OE. oðw{iacu}tan. The modern twit, formerly twite, is an aphetized form of this word.]
1. To cast an imputation upon, reproach, upbraid, blame, taunt, twit; a. with double object (acc. and dative): To reproach a thing to a person.
| a 1000 Beowulf 2304 Siþðan [him]..G{uacu}ðláf and Osláf..ætwiton weána dǽl. 1205 Lay. 19594 Sexisce men..mine unhæle me atwiten. c 1320 Seuyn Sages (W.) 1876 And hire misdedes hire atwot. c 1430 Lydg. Bochas iv. xiv. (1554) 113 a, Thyng most slaundrous theyr nobles tatwite. |
b. a person of a thing, or that, etc.
| c 885 K. ælfred Boeth. Metr. xxvii. 5 Hw{yacu} oðw{iacu}te ȝe wyrde eowre, þæt h{iacu}o ȝeweald nafað? c 1230 Ancr. R. 70 Ne ne etwiteð him of his unðeau. c 1330 Florice & Bl. 485 Thilke dai schal neuer be That men schal at wite me That I schal ben of loue untrewe. c 1524 in Hazl. E.P.P. III. 25 Of gredynes lest men the wolde attwite. 1530 Calisto & Melib. in Hazl. Dodsley I. 85, I marvel greatly thou dost me so atwite Of the doubt, that thou hast of my secretness. |
c. with simple personal obj.
| c 1000 Ags. Ps. lxxiii. 17 Fynd ætw{iacu}tað fæcne Drihtne. 1205 Lay. 26584 Ofte heo heom atwiten. c 1315 Shoreham 106 So may God answerye the Wanne thou hym atwyst. c 1430 Lydg. Bochas vii. iv. (1554) 167 b, Who is defouled, none other should atwite. |
¶ A weak pa. tense atwytede occurs, and an anomalous pa. tense and pple. atwist after wit to know.
| 1297 R. Glouc. 33 Þis word.. atwytede hym & ys stat..He yt vnderstod, þat ys child at wiste ys pouerte. c 1314 Guy Warw. 251 And thou in thine halle me sle, For traisoun it worth atwist the. |
▪ II. † aˈtwite, v.2 Obs. rare—1.
[f. at- prefix2 + OE. w{iacu}tan to go, proceed.]
To depart, go away.
| c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 1649 And god at-wot in-to hise liȝt. |