forewit meaning: definition, etymology

forewit

noun

Etymology From Middle English forwit, from Old English *forewit, *forewitt (attested in derivative forewitiġ, forewittiġ (“foreknowing”)), equivalent to fore- + wit (“knowledge, understanding”).

Timely knowledge; precaution; foresight.

One good forewit is worth two afterwits.

Antonyms: afterwit

forewit

verb

Etymology From Middle English forwiten, from Old English fōrewitan (“to foreknow”), equivalent to fore- + wit (“to know”).

Obsolete To foreknow.

forewit

noun

Etymology From fore- (“prominent, out in front”) + wit (“a clever man”).

One who puts himself forward as a leader in matters of taste or criticism.

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.