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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Wittin(g, Wyttyng(e, -ing, -yn, vbl. n. Also: wittin(g)e, -yng(e, vitting, -yng, witthing, witing, -yng, wyting(e, vetting, wottein, (vittining). [ME and e.m.E. witand (Cursor M.), wittyng (Manning), wytynge, wityng(e (all Chaucer), weting (1387-8), wyttynge (1502), witting (a1533), ON vitand consciousness, knowledge.] The fact of knowing in senses of Wit v.; knowledge, in senses of Wit n.

1. a. Knowledge, understanding, comprehension. a1400 Leg. S. xxvii 1123.
Godis priuite … He in till His forseyng Reseruit till His awne witting c1420 Ratis R. 68.
Thus nane may wyt quhy that suld bee, … And sic wyting till nane is left Bot till that God that knawis all c1420 Wynt. iv 312.
He prayid till … Appolyne To grawnt hym wyttyng [C. wittynge, W. wittering] quhat kyne [etc.] c1420 Wynt. vii 330.
Come wyttyng till Saynt Margret sone Be revelatyoune, that [etc.]

b. To have, get witting, to have, get knowledge, information or news (of something); to know; to find out or discover; to realise. 1375 Barb. iv 359.
We sall cum thar swa prewely That thai sall haiff na persawyng Na ȝeit witting off our cummyng 1375 Barb. xiv 261 (C) (see Wittering vbl. n.).
Vittyng 1375 Barb. xvi 350 (C).
He had wittyng … That [etc.] a1400 Leg. S. ii 409.
Wittinge a1400 Leg. S. xx 114.
Thane rase the chyld & a-va cane ga As he had wittine of na way a1400 Leg. S. xxvii 1219.
Fra Sanct Machor had witting … of his cumyng [etc.] a1400 Leg. S. xxxi 247.
Prayt thaim … That thai wald trawale … Of his douchtir to get wityng a1400 Leg. S. xxxix 279.
Wytinge c1420 Wynt. i 464.
Quhen that Noe got wyttyng [E. witting, W. wittering] That [etc.] c1420 Wynt. ii 1013 (C).
Wittynge c1420 Wynt. ii 1124 (C).
Wyttynge 1460 Hay Alex. 177.
All men … That of this thing hes witting and knawleg 15.. Clar. ii 403.
The caus … I will not schaw as now, Perchance heirefter ȝe may have witting 15.. Clar. iv 1236.
Of him we have sum knowlege and witing

c. With(out) etc., be, (of, at one's) witting, with(out), etc. one's knowledge. Also ? with omission of the prep.(1) 1375 Barb. iv 767.
Thai ar in sic wenyng, For-owtyne certante off witting [C. vitting] Me think [etc.] 1386 Rot. Sc. II 85/2.
And thar sal not be at the rydinges no harme doynges ne nan of thair bondys at thar wittyng … and gyf any of thair bondys trespas in that maner the lordes sal gar yt be amendyt c1420 Wynt. v 676.
The Grekis … thai bodyis cast In tyll a cysterne depe, quhare thai Lay hyd but wyttyng [E.² wyttyn] 1420 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV 182.
He sall nocht gife hes consent till the fulfillan of the said mariage vithout vittining and consent of the said earll of Mar 1473–4 Reg. Cupar A. I 189.
Halchand na thyng bot with wityng and with licens of the abbot 1474 Acta Aud. 32/1.
Gife the said charter was made & selit be wittin of vmquhile William of Striuelin or nocht 1499 Douglas Chart. 172.
Where it is alleged that the said Criste should haue bene at Canonby this day … the Master aunswered … that it was not be his witting 1533 Boece 372b.
It sall be impute to the fraude of the man gif be his witting the wife committis cryme 1574 Reg. Privy C. II 400.
Gif … ony of the … transgressouris … cum agane within our … boundis … and beis sufferit to remane thairintill … be our witting in that cace we … confes us … culpable 1587 Acts III 464/1.
The cuntrie quhairin the saidis guidis salbe ressett or remane for the space of tuelff houris of [1814 at] his witting to mak redres [etc.] … quhairin gif he failȝeis it salbe lesum to the pairtie harmeit to … persew the cheiff … of that clan … and vpoun sufficient pruiff … that the guidis wer sauld … be the witting and knawlege of the said cheiff [etc.] 1604 Dundee Shipping P. 81.
He his sawld withowt may wottein 1622-6 Bisset II 254/12.
The servand that hes maid covenant … with his maisteris witting(2) 1503–4 Acts II 242/2.
Gif it can be previt that the said cersouris … lat ony mony pas furtht mare than the said xl s. thar witting he sall ansuere tharapone

d. In bearing witness: By, eftir one's witting, according to or in accordance with one's knowledge or information. Also pl.(a) 1424 Lanark & R. 283.
Ather partis sal gife til uther the lelest and the treuast consale bi thair wytting 1433–4 Aberd. B. Rec. MS IV 3 (26 Jan.).
That he was fullely content and paiit thairof eftir thair witting 1456 Peebles B. Rec. I 118.
Wilyam Peblys swer the gret ath be hys wittyng he auch hym nother gold na siluer, and than the thwa lel men swer the gret ath that ath was gud and lel be thair wittyng 1466–7 (1471) Reg. Great S. 214/2.
Oure saide counsale beand the grete aith sworne to gif us lele and trew counsale eftir thare wittin 1497–8 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 81.
To mak leill report eftir his witting in safer as he herde and saw 1519 Wigtown B. Ct. 92a.
The inquest … findis Robeyn Portuus is raif lammis … and at he is … lauchfull gottin … and the breif is haile be thair witthing a1568 Sempill in Sat. P. xlviii 31.
Seure, be my witting, not brunt in the litting c1575 Balfour Pract. 287.
All … persounis that ar … admittit to pas upon assise, sould sweir … thay sall not suith, conceal, lie, nor fals say efter thair witting: And it is requirit, that thay quha sweir, sall sweir that thay have knawlege of the samin thing be thair sicht or heiring, or be report and reherse of … famous persounis(b) 1533 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 135.
Robert Hendersone … depones … that he kenned that the gud vyf had sic ane calderon, and be my vetting, it is the sammynpl. 1513 Rep. Hist. MSS, Var. Coll. V 88.
The said William and … Alexander ar bund … to gyff … counsell … be thair wittingis

2. ? A decision. = Wit n. 6 c. a1538 Abell 118a.
The impriour declarit … at it wes nocht his will na his wittin the forsaid inwasion of Rome … bot it wes done by the Luthirianis of Ducheland