English
forewit
Forewit comes from Middle English forwit, and goes back to Old English *forewit.
- Old Englishc. 450–1150*forewitreconstructed
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500forwit
- Englishtodayforewit
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Old Englishc. 450–1150*forewitreconstructed
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500forwit
- Englishtodayforewit
Formed from fore- + wit ‘knowledge, understanding’
Proto-Indo-European *per- ‘before, formerly’
Proto-Germanic *fura- ‘before, in front of, for’
Proto-West Germanic *forē- ‘before, in front of, fore-, pre-’
English fore-
Proto-Indo-European *weyd- ‘to see’
…
Proto-Germanic *witją ‘knowledge’
Proto-West Germanic *witi ‘knowledge’
Old English witt ‘mind, sanity, sense, understanding’
Middle English wit ‘mind, sanity’
English wit
The story
From Middle English forwit, from Old English *forewit, *forewitt (attested in derivative forewitiġ, forewittiġ (‘foreknowing’)), equivalent to fore- + wit (‘knowledge, understanding’).
Every English word from Old English *forewit
Today it means
noun Timely knowledge; precaution; foresight.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Old English *forewit / forewit