† fore-witn.
Obsolete.
1. Fore-knowledge, foresight, prudence.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > foresight, foreknowledge > [noun]
foreshowinga1050
foreknowingc1374
foreseeingc1374
fore-wit1377
before-knowingc1384
presciencec1384
fore-wittingc1386
presciencec1395
foresight14..
previdence?a1425
prevision?a1425
prenostication?a1450
precognitiona1500
before-witting1532
foreknowledge1535
fore-fetch1554
presciency1572
fore-wisdom1576
prenotion1588
presension1597
prospecta1616
presensation1653
prospiciency1681
prevoyance1767
onsight1838
preview1855
precog1954
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > foresight, foreknowledge > provident foresight, prudence > [noun]
purveyancec1300
forelook1357
providencea1382
purveyinga1382
provisiona1398
advice?a1439
prospiciencea1500
fore-wit?1504
forecasta1542
providency1602
forethoughtfulness1647
prospection1659
forethought1719
1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. v. 166 Seynt Gregorie..had a gode forwit.
?1504 S. Hawes Example of Vertu sig. bb.iii Thinges..with a forwytte kepte in store.
1546 J. Heywood Dialogue Prouerbes Eng. Tongue i. viii. sig. C Yet is one good forewyt worth two after wits.
1631 W. Gouge Gods Three Arrowes iii. lix. 292 Had the fore-wit of the Aramites beene as good as their after-wit.
2. A leading ‘wit’, a leader in matters of taste or literature.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > intelligence, cleverness > wit, wittiness > [noun] > witty person > leading
fore-wita1637
a1637 B. Jonson Sad Shepherd Prol. 41 in Wks. (1640) III Nor that the Fore-wits, that would draw the rest Vnto their liking, alwayes like the best.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
† fore-witv.
Obsolete.
transitive. To know beforehand.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > foresight, foreknowledge > foresee or foreknow [verb (transitive)]
fore-witc888
foreseec1000
foreshowc1000
seea1200
forelook1340
purvey1340
before-knowa1425
providea1450
previdec1475
provisec1475
foreknow1530
expect1595
previse1597
preview1607
precognize1612
prospect1652
fore-viewa1711
prevision1868
presee1890
c888 Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. xxxix. §5 On þam hean sceopperde þe eall forewat hu hit geweorþan sceal.
c1374 G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde iv. 1043 (1071) Thilke sovereyn purveyaunce, That forwoot alle, withouten ignoraunce.
c1384 G. Chaucer Hous of Fame (Sk.) 45 If the soule..Be so parfit..That hit forwot that is to come.
c1400 Test. Love (1532) iii. 352 God by necessitee forwote al thynges comyng.
Derivatives
fore-ˈwitting n. fore-knowledge.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > foresight, foreknowledge > [noun]
foreshowinga1050
foreknowingc1374
foreseeingc1374
fore-wit1377
before-knowingc1384
presciencec1384
fore-wittingc1386
presciencec1395
foresight14..
previdence?a1425
prevision?a1425
prenostication?a1450
precognitiona1500
before-witting1532
foreknowledge1535
fore-fetch1554
presciency1572
fore-wisdom1576
prenotion1588
presension1597
prospecta1616
presensation1653
prospiciency1681
prevoyance1767
onsight1838
preview1855
precog1954
c1386 G. Chaucer Nun's Priest's Tale 423 Goddis worthy forwetyng Streigneth me needely for to do a thing.
fore-ˈwitter n. one who knows beforehand.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > foresight, foreknowledge > [noun] > one who foreknows or foresees
fore-witterc1374
far-casterc1540
foreknower1548
foreseer1548
precog1954
c1374 G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. v. pr. vi. 178 God byholder and forwiter of alle þinges dwelliþ aboue.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
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n.1377v.c888