Wittingly

adv. Forms: see WIT v.¹ A. 6 and WEETINGLY; also 4 wytindeliche. [f. WITTING ppl. a. + -LY².]

  1.  With knowledge or awareness of what one is doing; knowingly, consciously; often implying ‘designedly, deliberately, intentionally.’ (In earlier use freq. conjoined with wilfully or willingly.)

a. 1340.  Hampole, Psalter, xciv. 11. Þai erre in hert. witandly & wilfully.

1340.  Ayenb., 8. Þet we ne wreþþi uader ne moder wytindeliche.

a. 1390.  Wyclif, Rom., Prol. Greuousli to han trespassid, and witendely.

c. 1425.  Audelay, XI Pains Hell, 114, in O. E. Misc., 214. Þai foreswere ham wettanly.

1500–20.  Dunbar, Poems, xc. 21. Thow art nocht abill remissioun for to get, Wittandlie and thow suld ane syn forȝet.

1535.  Joye, Apol. Tindale (Arb.), 23. Not willingly and wetingly to slip ouer siche fautes.

1583.  Stubbes, Anat. Abus., II. (1882), 14. If it were proued that he killed him wittingly, willingly and prepensedly.

1602.  Shaks., Ham., V. i. 13. She drown’d her selfe wittingly.

1603.  Knolles, Hist. Turks (1621), 524. After him … succeeded many valiant men … whom for breuitee I wittingly passe ouer.

1670.  Act 22 Chas. II., c. 1 § 4. Every person who shall wittingly and willingly suffer any such Conventicle … in his … House.

1713.  Derham, Phys.-Theol., V. ix. 347. I have endeavoured to say as little wittingly as I could.

1809.  W. Irving, Knickerb., III. ix. (1861), 109. I would not wittingly dishonour my work by a single falsehood, misrepresentation, or prejudice.

1851.  Gloss. Cumberld., Wittenly, wottenly; designedly.

1872.  Proctor, Ess. Astron., ii. 26. I would by no means desire to imply that Sir John Herschel … wittingly overlooked known facts.

1872.  Freeman, Engl. Const., ii. 105. Wittingly or unwittingly, much of our best modern legislation has … been a case of advancing by the process of going back.

  † 2.  With knowledge; skilfully; wisely. Obs. rare.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, XI. 594. Emang thame that fechtand weir, That thame defendit so vittandly.

1657.  Narr. late Parlt., 23. As was learnedly & wittingly intimated by the Speaker.