bilewit

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Middle English[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

Etymology[edit]

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

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /ˈbiləˌʍiːt/, /ˈbiləˌwit/

Adjective[edit]

bilewit

  1. simple, innocent

Related terms[edit]

References[edit]

Old English[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

Etymology[edit]

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[edit]

Adjective[edit]

bilewit

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

Declension[edit]

Derived terms[edit]

Related terms[edit]

Descendants[edit]

  • Middle English: bilewit