Wist: meaning, definitions and examples

to know

Wist is an archaic form of the verb 'to know,' primarily used in dialectical or literary contexts. The term conveys a sense of awareness or familiarity with something. It is not commonly used in modern English but can be found in older texts or poetry to instill a sense of antiquity. The word often appears in phrases like 'wist thou?', which means 'did you know?'. Its use is rare in contemporary language, but it can provide an interesting historical insight into the evolution of English.

comprehended, knew, understood

Examples of usage

• Wist thou not of her arrival?

• I wist he would come to the meeting.

• Long ago, he wist the secrets of the forest.

• He wist that the journey would be long.