Middle English Dictionary Entry
atwīten v.
Entry Info
| Forms | atwīten v. Also adwiten, etwiten, ed-. Forms: sg.2 atwist, -wītest; sg. 3 atwit, -wīteð; p. atwōt, -wāt, -wītede; p. pl. atwiten. |
| Etymology | OE ætwītan, -wāt, -witon |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
To attribute (sth.) to (sb.); charge (sth.) against (sb.), blame (sth.) on (sb.); -- with dat. of the person and (a) acc. or (b) that clause of the thing; (c) to make a charge or accusation, speak ill.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)19594 : Sexisce men..mine unhæle me atwiten.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)25023 : He atwit [Otho: atwiteþ] us ure luren, þat we ifeor habbeoð forloren.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)2332 : Heo biwende hire aȝein sumdel iwreððet, ant etwat ham hare wop.
- c1225(?c1200) SWard (Bod 34)14/134 : Hu ha wið hokeres edwiteð [Roy: etwiteð] & upbreideð euchan his sunnen.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)17b : Ȝe ne edwiten [Nero: etwiteð] him his unþeaw.
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)597 : Ȝet þu atuitest [Jes-O: atwitest] me mine mete An seist þat ich fule wiȝtes ete.
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)751 : Wi atuitestu [Jes-O: at witestu] me mine unstrengþe?
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)1234 : Wi schal he me his sor atwite?
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)4328 : Þat was iuel y-smite: In vnworþschip it worþ þe at-wite.
- c1330 Body & S.(5) (Auch)p.36 : Ȝif þou it me wilt atwite.
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)82/1742 : And fet his wif forþ..And hire misddedes hire atwot.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)66 : Huanne me atwyt ane man oþer his zennes oþer his folies.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)198 : Þus he ssel ham attwyte þe workes of merci þet hi naȝt habbeþ y-do.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.285 : Sumtyme..a theeff..Atwitith Fortune his iniquite.
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)14191 : Þenne ne mai þe atwite þe hæne ne þe riche, þat þu æi hæhne burhȝe hæðene monne habbe bi-tæht.
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)1332 : Ah ȝet þu..me chist an wel grimliche me at wist, Þat ich singe bi manne huse An teache wif breke spuse.
- c1300(c1250) Floris (Cmb Gg.4.27)97/492 : Ne schal me neure at-wite me, Þat ihc beo of luue vntrewe.
- c1425 Glo.Chron.A (Hrl 201)p.33 : Þis word..atwytede [Clg: atweste; B: atwiste, vr. atwited] hym & ys stat, þat he nadde hym self noþing.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)8.165 : Men wil hym atwite That he in gardyns leet pershe þe holsum flours.
- a1450 SLeg.Suppl.Bod.(Bod 779)377/435 : Ne challe me neuer herafter in courte at-wyte me þat..I as a couard fle.
c
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)94/244 : Þe fyfte heste scheweþ þe Þat þou ne schalt nauȝt smyte..Ne nauȝt foules he [read: foulleche] at-wyte.
2.
(a) To accuse, reproach, taunt, or twit (sb.); (b) to charge (sb. with a fault, etc.); -- with of phrase.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)26585 : Ofte heo heom on smiten, ofte heo heom atwiten.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)13a : Ȝef ei edwit [Nero: etwit] ham, þenne seggeð ha [etc.].
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)9240 : He was wroþ..For Merlin hadde him atwite.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)103/138 : So may god an-swerye þe, Wanne þou hym at-wyst.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.196 : Thei ar but foolis..that..me atwite.
- c1450 How mankinde dooþ (Lamb 853)396 : Þe synnes þat y loued, now haten me; To Conscience þei adwiten me.
b
- a1450(a1449) Lydg.WTongue (Hnt EL 26.A.13)81 : Somme folke wil hym atwyten of foli.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.SPuer(1) (LdMisc 683)28 : Be nat to hasty..Of gredynesse lyst men þe wolde atwight.
- a1500(?c1440) Lydg.HGS (Lnsd 699)489 : Men may..wrongly hem attwite Of sich occasiouns wher he is nat to wite.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)40/1132 : Oure foman aredy haueþ, Aȝeynys þat we goþ hennes, Ta-tuite.
Note: New spelling
Note: See OD under Tatuite