bilewit

Middle English

Alternative forms

Etymology

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

Adjective

bilewit

  1. simple, innocent
  • bilewitnesse

Old English

Alternative forms

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

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): /ˈbilewit/

Adjective

bilewit

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

Declension

Derived terms

  • bilewitnes

Descendants

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