wist
pronunciation
How to pronounce wist in British English:
UK [wɪst]
How to pronounce wist in American English:
US [wɪst]
Word Origin
- wist (v.)
- "to know" (archaic), c. 1500, from Old English past tense of witan "to know" (cognates: German wusste, past tense of wissen "to know"); see wit. Had-I-wiste was used c. 1400-1550 in sense "regret for something done rashly or heedlessly;" see wist. Proverbial in expression Had-I-wiste cometh ever too late. Haddywyst comyth euer to late Whan lewyd woordis beth owte y-spronge. ["Commonplace book" in Trinity College, Cambridge, c. 1500]
Example
- 1. And he that was healed wist not who it was : for jesus had conveyed himself away , a multitude being in that place .
- 2. And when the children of israel saw it , they said one to another , it is manna : for they wist not what it was .
- 3. And the woman took the two men , and hid them , and said thus , there came men unto me , but I wist not whence they were .
- 4. And if a soul sin , and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the lord ; though he wist it not , yet is he guilty , and shall bear his iniquity .
- 5. I wist I know how to quit you .