bilewit

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Middle English

[edit]

Alternative forms

[edit]

Etymology

[edit]

From a conflation of Old English bilewit (innocent, simple) and bilehwīt (simple, honest, sincere).

Pronunciation

[edit]
  • IPA(key): /ˈbiləˌʍiːt/, /ˈbiləˌwit/

Adjective

[edit]

bilewit

  1. simple, innocent
[edit]

References

[edit]

Old English

[edit]

Alternative forms

[edit]

Etymology

[edit]

From Proto-Germanic *biliwit- (gentle-minded), from Proto-Germanic *biliz (merciful, kind) (from Proto-Indo-European *bʰil- (decent, good)) + Proto-Germanic *witją (mind, wit) (from Proto-Indo-European *weyd- (to know)), equivalent to Old English bile- + witt. Related to Middle High German bilwiz (genius, mischievous person, goblin, witch), unbil (unbecoming, improper).

Pronunciation

[edit]

Adjective

[edit]

bilewit

  1. innocent, simple
  2. calm, gentle
  3. merciful, gracious
  4. plausible

Declension

[edit]

Derived terms

[edit]
[edit]

Descendants

[edit]
  • Middle English: bilewit