arch. Also 6 wete, 6–7 weete. [repr. ME. wēte(n, var. ff. wite(n inf. and pl. pres. ind. and subj., and wite imperative and sing. pres. subj., of WIT v. (for the other parts of the verb see WOT v., WIST v.). From the middle of the 16th c., if not earlier, the form weet seems to be obsolete in ordinary speech, but down to the second decade of the 17th c. it was frequent as a literary archaism (chiefly poet.), as attributed in the drama to rustic speakers, and as a variant of wit in the phrases to do or give (a person) to wit, (that is) to wit. The archaistic use in the 16th and early 17th c. was confined to the inf., the plural present, and the present participle; but the poets of the 18th c. and later, who have used the word in imitation of Spenser, have often treated it as a regular verb, with 1 sing. pres. I weet, and inflexions weets, weeted.
For the examples of wete before 1550, and of the phrases above-mentioned in which to weet = ‘to wit,’ see WIT v.]
a. trans. To know (a fact, the answer to a question); also with clause as obj. b. intr. To know of something.
In Shaks. only once: see quot. 1606.
a. 1547. Surrey, Æneis, II. 144. Then we in dout to Phebus temple sent Euripilus, to wete the prophesye.
1560. Pilkington, Aggeus, D j. Thy money … shal waste away, thou not weetynge how nor when.
1561. T. Hoby, trans. Castiglione’s Courtyer, III. (1577), O vj b. The innocent children, that could not only be in no fault, but not so much as weetting of their fathers yll dooings.
1575. Gamm. Gurton, II. iii. Tush, man, is Gammers neele found? That chould gladly weete!
1584. R. Scot, Discov. Witchcr., XV. xxvi. (1886), 443. Then would I weet of our witchmongers the reason why.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., I. v. 3. Forth he comes into the commune hall, Where … waite him many a gazing eye, To weet what end to straunger knights may fall. Ibid., I. xii. 3. That aged Sire … looked forth, to weet, if true indeede Those tydings were.
1594. Carew, Huarte’s Exam. Wits, Author’s Pref. Curious parents may haue an art and maner to discouer the wit of their children, and may weet how to set each of them in hand with that science wherein he shall principally profit.
1599. T. M[oufet], Silkwormes, 53. Others diuine that they themselues did weete No other tree could yeelde their silken threede.
1603. G. Owen, Pembrokesh. (1891), 103. When Percellye weareth a hatte All Pembrokeshire shall weete of that.
1606. Shaks., Ant. & Cl., I. i. 39. In which I binde One paine of punishment, the world to weete We stand vp Peerelesse.
1706. Prior, Ode to Queen, iv. Me all too mean for such a Task I weet. Ibid. (1717), Alma, II. 289. Well I weet, thy cruel Wrong Adorns a nobler Poet’s Song. Ibid. (a. 1721), Wandering Pilgr., 5. The gracious Knight full well does weet, Ten farthings ne’er will do, To keep a man each day in meat.
1742. Shenstone, Schoolm., 251. Nor weeting how the Muse should soar on high Wisheth, poor starvling elf! his paper kite may fly.
1747. [G. Ridley], Psyche, x. in Museum, III. 83. Thou weetest not what Med’cines in them are.
1751. Mendez, Seasons, xi. in Pearch, Collect. Poems (1768), II. 238. And while the lambs in fainter voices bleat, Their mothers hang their head, in doleful plight I weet.
1817. Shelley, Rev. Islam, IV. xiv. But, when one meets Another at the shrine, he inly weets, Though he says nothing, that the truth is known.
a. 1846. Lundie, Mission. Life Samoa, iii. 17. Ah! little weet those who dwell at ease among their own people, what the missionary endures!
1861. Patmore, Angel in Ho., II. II. xv. Nature’s infinite ostent Of lovely flowers … That weet not whether any heed.
1865. Swinburne, Poems & Ballads, St. Dorothy, 302. That is a noble scripture, well I weet, That likens women to an empty can.
1886. R. F. Burton, Arab. Nts. (abr. ed.), I. 111. Well weeting that Fortune is fair and constant to no man.
