Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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

Wanwit, -wyt, n. Also: wanwitt, vanvit, wanewyt, wantwyt. [ME man-wite (a1400), Germ. wahnwitz, Sw. vanvett, Da. vanvid, Norw. vanvit; Wan- prefix and Wit n. Cf. Unwit n.] Lack of sense, folly. Also personified. c1420 Wynt. vi Prol. 48.
Gywe it ware wilfully foryhete, It wald be repute wnkyndnes, Wan wyt [C. Wanwit], or than reklesnes 1456 Hay I 300/16.
Prodigalitee … cummys of grete foly and wan witt c1460 Wisd. Sol. (STS) 237.
It is bettir a pur wys barne na an auld fule kinge, quhilk fore wane-wyt may perys a realme c1460 Thewis Gud Women 112.
Wauerynge betaknis wylsumnes, Wanwyt [Gud Wyf & D. Vanvit], welthe, ore wantonnes a1500 Bernardus 400.
Thar moderis than desyris mariage Quhilk is wanwyt and foly in thar agepersonified a1500 K. Hart 30.
Wantwyt Vanegloir Prodigalitie