bewit

bewit · verb¹

1. Old English · inherited frombewitan
2. Middle English · inherited frombiwitten
3. English todaybewit

From Middle English biwitten, biwiten, biwitien, from Old English bewitan, bewītan, bewitian (“to look over, watch over, take charge of, have charge or direction of, superintend, preside, govern, administer”), equivalent to be- + wit.

bewit · noun²

1. Latin · derived fromboia“neck collar, fetter”
2. Old French · derived frombeue
3. Middle English · inherited frombewette
4. English todaybewit

From Middle English bewette, diminutive of Old French beue, bue, buie, boie (“bond, chain”), from Latin boia (“neck collar, fetter”). Compare buoy.

Words from the same roots