▪ I. † dite, n.1 Obs. (After 1500 only Sc.)
Also 5 dete, dit, 5–6 dyt(e, Sc. dyit.
[a. OF. dit (12th c. in Littré) saying, speech:—L. dict-um that which is said, saying, word, f. dīcĕre to say; cf. dict. (The final e was app. a phonetic expedient to indicate the length of the ī; but in some 15th c. instances, it is difficult to say whether dite stands for this, or for ditty. See also dit n.1]
1. Something indited or composed and put in writing; a composition, writing; a written message, letter, ‘passage’, etc. to put in dite: to put in writing, put on record.
1340–70 Alex. & Dind. 819 Sone sente he again his sel & his lettrus..To dindimus þe dere king þat þe dite radde. c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. viii. xix. 1 Here Wyntown poyntis in þis Dyte Quhat he gert of þis Tretis wryt. c 1470 Henry Wallace v. 540 Maister Jhone Blayr..That fyrst compild in dyt the Latyne buk Off Wallace lyff. 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. I. 474 In haist ane epistill he gart write..contenand this same dyte. 1578 Ps. cvi. in Scot. Poems 16th C. II. 107 Thy magnitude I will it put in dyte. |
2. A composition in poetic form, or intended to be set to music; a song, a ditty.
a 1325 Prose Psalter xxxix [xl]. 4 And he laide gode worde in my mouþe, dite to our Lord [Vulg. carmen Deo nostro]. c 1386 ? Chaucer Balade of Compleynt 16 Beseching you..Taccepte in worth this litel povre dyte. c 1470 Henry Wallace xi. 1431 All worthi men at redys this rurall dyt, Blaym nocht the buk. 1567 Satir. Poems Reform. iii. 156 Sho the cause is of my wofull dyte. |
3. Manner or mode of composition; form of speech; diction, language. Sc.
c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. iv. Prol. 3 A Tretys made to be publik, Fourme of dyte and fayre spekyng. 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. (1858) I. 4 The kingis grace I knaw is nocht perfite In Latyn toung, and namelie in sic dyte It wilbe tedious..To reid the thing he can nocht vnderstand. 1549 Compl. Scot. vi. 68 The guhilk dreyme i sal reherse in this gros dyit. |
4. Clamour, vociferation. rare.
c 1400 Destr. Troy 5788 Cloudis with the clamour claterit aboue, Of the dit & þe dyn, þat to dethe went. Ibid. 11946 The dyn & the dite was dole for to here. Ibid. 1347, 8680. |
▪ II. dite, n.2
Also dit.
Phr. not to care a dit(e): not to care at all. Cf. doit 2.
1907 Westm. Gaz. 7 Sept. 13/1 ‘Don't care a dite,’ Sylvia said despondently. 1920 Blackw. Mag. Oct. 488/2 ‘I suppose your major won't mind that?’ ‘Not a tuppenny dit.’ |
▪ III. † dite, v. Obs.
Also 5–6 dyt(e.
[a. OF. diter, earlier ditier (12th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), to write, compose:—L. dictāre, freq. of dīcĕre to say, tell (see dictate), mod.F. dicter. Perh. in some cases aphetic form of endite, indite. After 1500 mainly Sc. In early examples often difficult to distinguish from dight v., senses 1, 2, 6.]
1. trans. To compose or put in words (a set speech, poem, or writing); to indite. (Also absol.)
a 1300 Sat. People Kildare xiv. in E.E.P. (1862) 155 Worþ hit wer þat he wer king Þat ditid þis trie þing. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 123/2 Dytyn or indytyn letters and speche, dicto. c 1450 Henryson Mor. Fab. 16 So different are they in properties..My cunning is excluded for to dyte. 1535 Coverdale Ps. xliv. 1 My hert is dytinge of a good matter. 1549 Compl. Scot. x. 82 Quhou beit that the said poietical beuk be dytit oratourly. 1603 Jas. I in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. i. III. 80, I suspecte ye have rather written then dyted it. |
2. = dictate. a. To utter or pronounce to a person (what he is to write). b. To prescribe, lay down, impose, order.
The first quot. is doubtful; it may belong to dight v. 2.
a 1400–50 Alexander 3462 Aȝt daies all bedene he dites in his pistill For reuerence of Rosan to revell & halowe. 1536 Bellenden Cron. Scot. (1821) I. 196 Origenes, ane singular man..with sa properant ingine, that he wald dite fastar than sevin practicians might suffice to write. 1563 Davidson Answ. Kennedy in Wodr. Soc. Misc. (1844) 201 That quhilk the Haly Spirit dytit to them. a 1598 R. Rollock Wks. (1844) II. ix. 103 Pilate insisted earnestly to get Jesus, whom his conscience dited to be innocent, set free. 1643 R. Baillie Lett. & Jrnls. (1841) II. 71 Dr. Strong dytes..his notes on the hard places of Scripture. |
3. To summon, indict.
c 1440 Promp. Parv. 123/2 Dytyn or indytyn for trespace, indicto. c 1450 Henryson Mor. Fab. 43 Ane Schiref stout Whilk..hes with him ane cursed assyse about, And dytes all the poore men vpon land. ? a 1500 Thrie Priests Peblis (Jam.) Thay dyte your Lords, and heryis up your men. 1775 S. J. Pratt Liberal Opinions. (1783) I. 157 The grocer..would dite them for a nuisance. |
▪ IV. dite
obs. form of dight, ditty.