v. Obs. Pa. t. biwiste, -wuste. Pa. pple. biwist, -wust. [OE. bewitan, f. bi-, BE- + OE. witan to look.] trans. To look after, keep, take charge of, guard, protect, keep in safety.
c. 1000. Ælfric, St. Oswald, in Sweet, Reader, 97/76. An ðæs cyninges þeʓna ðe his ælmessan bewiste.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 23. Þu scoldest heo [þi limen] biwiten al swa clenliche swa crist ha þe bitahte.
c. 1275. Pass. Our Lord, 538, in O. E. Misc., 52. Hyne biwusten knyhtes voure oþer vyue.
¶ Also found with strong inflexions, apparently by form-association: see next, and cf. AT-WITE.
c. 1205. Lay., 13028. He … spæc wið þæne abbod; þe þat munster biwat. Ibid., 20505. Twa hundred scipene; þer weoren wel biwitene.
