Obs. exc. dial. Also 4 lit, 5 litte, lytyn, 6 lyte, 8 light. [app. a. ON. hlíta to trust.]
1. intr. To expect, wait, delay.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 2821 (Cott.). Quen þai sagh loth be to litand þai tok him-self bi þe hand. Ibid. (a. 1300–1400), 10209 (Gött.). Child to gete þai litid [Cott. has littend] lang.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 801. Þen littid þai na langer bot laschid out swerdis.
1413. Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton, 1483), I. xxii. 24. They lyte the redy weyes for to lerne.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 308/1. Lytyn, or longe taryyn, moror.
1855. Robinson, Whitby Gloss., s.v., To wait in expectation of proceeding. ‘I have been liting o’ you this half hour.’
2. To rely on, to trust to.
1570. Levins, Manip., 151/11. To Lyte, or trust, fretus esse.
1674. Ray, N. C. Words, 30. To Lite on: to Rely on.
1683. G. Meriton, Yorksh. Dial., 91 (E. D. S., No. 76). I lited on Hobb, and he lited on me.
1788. W. Marshall, Yorksh., II. 340. Gloss., Light, to rest, depend, or rely. ‘It is not to light on’; it is not to be depended upon.
1855. Robinson, Whitby Gloss., s.v., ‘I suppose, then, I may lite o’ you.’
Hence † Liting vbl. sb., delay.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 26631. Þou sal shriue þe als sone als þou has euer þi synne done,… for liting is ful selcouþ ille.
