† biˈwit, v. Obs.
Pa. tense biwiste, -wuste. Pa. pple. biwist, -wust.
[OE. bewitan, f. bi-, be- + OE. witan to look.]
trans. To look after, keep, take charge of, guard, protect, keep in safety.
| c 1000 ælfric St. Oswald in Sweet Reader 97/76 An ðæs cyninges þeᵹna ðe his ælmessan bewiste. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 23 Þu scoldest heo [þi limen] biwiten al swa clenliche swa crist ha þe bitahte. c 1275 Pass. Our Lord 538 in O.E. Misc. 52 Hyne biwusten knyhtes voure oþer vyue. |
¶ Also found with strong inflexions, apparently by form-association: see next, and cf. at-wite.
| c 1205 Lay. 13028 He..spæc wið þæne abbod{revsc} þe þat munster biwat. Ibid. 20505 Twa hundred scipene{revsc} þer weoren wel biwitene. |