A Concise Dictionary of Middle English from A.D. 1150 to 1580

by A. L. Mayhew; Walter W. Skeat

[ Whyrlyn], v. to whirl, Prompt.; whirlen, C2; wyrle, S2; quhyrl, S3. Comb.: whirlinge wyndys, whirlwinds, W.—Icel. hvirfla, to whirl.

[ Whyte], sb. white wine, C3.

[ Whyte], adj. white, PP, C2; whit, S, C, PP; hwit, S; wit, S; quhite, S3; quhyt, S3; quite, S2; huyter, comp., S2; whittore, S2. Der.: whytnesse, whiteness, C3. Comb.: Witsunnedei, Whitsunday, S; Witesonetid, Whitsuntide, S2.—AS. hwít: cp. Goth. hweits.

Wi-Wy.

[ Wi], adv. why, S; see [Why].

[ Wicche], sb. sorcerer, magus, sortilegus, also witch, PP; wyche, magus, Prompt., Cath., Voc.; witch, Cath. Comb.: wicchecrafte, PP; wychecraft, Cath., Voc.; wichchecreftes, pl., S.—AS. wicca (m).

[ Wicht], adj. active, vigorous, S3; see [Wight].

[ Wicke], adj. bad, false, S, S2, PP; wicce, S; wycke, S2; wikke, P, C2, C3; wike, S, S2; wic, S2; wik, S2, H. Der.: wickenesse, iniquity, SD; wickenes, S2; wiknes, S2; wickenesses, pl., S2.

[ Wicked], adj. depraved, Cath.; wykkyd, Prompt.; wykkid, H (p. 360); wykked, S2; wikked, C2, P; wikkedly, adv., wickedly, C2.

[ Wid], adj. wide, S; wide, adv., S, PP; wyde, C2, PP; wydder, comp., PP. Der.: wydene, wide, far, S2, PP. Comb.: wydewhere, far and wide, S2, PP; wydewher, C3, G.—AS. wíd; cp. OHG. wít (Tatian).