Middle English Dictionary Entry
witlī adv.
Entry Info
| Forms | witlī adv. Also witlẹ̄, witteli. |
| Etymology | From wit n.; some exx. of the form wittelī may belong to wittī̆lī adv. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Wisely, prudently;
(b) skillfully, intelligently.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)8461 : Þen made he [Solomon] noble bokis þre and wittely [Vsp: dughtili] he ham vn-did wiþ ensaumples of tres and gres kid.
- (c1426) Audelay Poems (Dc 302)28/488 : Þai makyn mone men ful mekusly chere With þe grace and þe goodys þat God here hom sende; Wysele and wytle…þe leud þai wyle lere.
- (1465) Paston (EETS)1.129 : I had nought of my livelode for myn exspenses at London this thwolmonyth day; Ye may verely vndirstand þat it is not guided wittely ner discretly, and therfore I pray yow hertly put alle your wittes to-gedir and see for the reformacion of it.
- a1500(?a1400) SLChrist (Hrl 3909)9420 : Bernard in his liking lore ful wittely declares this.
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)1051 : All that he dede was done so wittely…That euery man hym preysid.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)338/41 : If a man assay it wittely, It is full roten inwardly At the colke within.
- a1500 Chartier Quad.(2) (Rwl A.338)154/14 : Our Lorde sendith His grace from hevyn vnto suche as wittely and besely travailid to purchace prosperiteis and honorable worshippis.
b
- ?c1225 Ancr.(Cleo C.6)172/6 : Þe seste, þet þu þer efter þe witluker [Corp-C: wisluker] wite him hwen þuhauest icacht him.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)2.7 : Joon seiþ witteli and soþeli þat he þat is to come after him is made bifore him.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)2.275 : Siþ þis martirdoom of Crist was so swete bifore God, Poul clepiþ it witly siche an offryng bifore God into smelling of swetnesse.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)205/13 : Medle alle þese powdrede wiþ the terrebentyne…and distille it wittely.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)42/88 : Luk nowe þat þou wirke noght wrang, þus wittely, sen I þe wyshe.
- a1475 PPl.A(1) (Ashm 1468)10.4 : Wittely [vrr. witlich; wittylych; Trin-C: Sire dowel dwelliþ…In a castel…Of erþe & eir it is mad…Wiþ wynd & wiþ watir wiȝtliche enioynede].
- a1500 *Ripley CAlch.(Trin-C O.5.31)1953 : Þis hyde stone þis oon thyng þerfore putrifye; whasshe hym with hys owyn brothe tyll whyȝte he be come, þen fermente hym wyttely.