† ˈwitherwin Obs.
Forms: 1–3 wiþer-, wiðer-, 3–4 wither-, wyþer-, (4 weþer-, wiþir-, withere-, -yre-, wiþþer-, quiþer-, wider-, wyder-, widdir-, whydyre-), 4–5 wedir-, wethir-, 5 witer-; 1–2 -winna, 2–4 -wine, 3–4 -win, 3–5 -wynne, 5 -wyn, (-un), 4–5 -wyne.
[OE. wiþerwinna = OHG. widarwinno (MHG. -winne), f. wiþer- wither-1 + agent-n. of winnan win v.1]
An enemy, adversary; spec. the Adversary, the Devil.
| c 897 ælfred Gregory's Past. C. xix. 146 Ðylæs he sie onᵹieten ðæt he sie wiðerwinna..ðæs þe he bið ᵹesewen ðeow on his ðeᵹnunge. c 1000 ælfric Hom. (Assmann) i. 120 Ure wiðerwinna is witodlice se deofol. c 1205 Lay. 27326 Haðene hundes, goddes wiðer-iwinnen [c 1275 wiþer⁓wynnes]. a 1225 Ancr. R. 196 Vre wiðerwines beoð þreo: þe ueond, þe world, & ure owune vleshs. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 6648 Þo þis quene was of londe ydriue þoru hire wiþerwine. a 1300 Cursor M. 6284 His folk he has al sauued sund, Þair wiþerwins er broght to grund. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xvi. (Magdalena) 246 How þe ded he tholyt syne, To safe ws fra þe wethirwyne. ? a 1400 Morte Arth. 2215 Wrothely he..Woundes these whydyrewyns, werrayede knyghttes. c 1400 Melayne 695 Nowe arte þou werre þan any Sarazene, Goddis awenn wedirwyne. c 1450 Lovelich Grail xlvii. 42 Thike day Convertyd was..A thowsend & Fyfty Sarrazines that to fore tyme weren wethir-wynes. |