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witan
[ wit-n, -ahn ]
/ ˈwɪt n, -ɑn /
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noun Early English History.
the members of the national council or witenagemot.
(used with a singular verb) the witenagemot.
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Origin of witan
1800–10; Modern English <Old English, plural of wita one who knows, councilor; akin to wit2
Words nearby witan
wisteria, wistful, wistfully, wistfulness, wit, witan, witbier, witblits, witch, witch alder, witch ball
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use witan in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for witan
witan
/ (ˈwɪtən) /
noun (in Anglo-Saxon England)
an assembly of higher ecclesiastics and important laymen, including king's thegns, that met to counsel the king on matters such as judicial problems
the members of this assembly
Also: witenagemot
Word Origin for witan
Old English witan, plural of wita wise man; see wit ², witness
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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