bilewit

Middle English

Alternative forms

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈbiləˌʍiːt/, /ˈbiləˌwit/

Adjective

bilewit

  1. simple, innocent
  • bilewitnesse

References

Old English

Alternative forms

  • belewit, bilewet, bylewit, bylwet, bylwit, bylywit

Etymology

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

  • IPA(key): /ˈbi.le.wit/

Adjective

bilewit

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

Declension

Derived terms

  • bilewitnes

Descendants

  • Middle English: bilewit
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