Middle English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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

Pronunciation

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

Adjective

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bilewit

  1. simple, innocent
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References

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Old English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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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

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Adjective

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bilewit

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

Declension

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Derived terms

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Descendants

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  • Middle English: bilewit