*twit*

n. [ Fight + wite. ] (O.Eng. Law) A mulct or fine imposed on a person for making a fight or quarrel to the disturbance of the peace. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. or conj. [ Originally the participle of withstand, with not prefixed. ] Nevertheless; however; although; as, I shall go, notwithstanding it rains. [ 1913 Webster ]

I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant. Notwithstanding, in thy days I will not do it. 1 Kings xi. 11, 12. [ 1913 Webster ]

They which honor the law as an image of the wisdom of God himself, are, notwithstanding, to know that the same had an end in Christ. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

You did wisely and honestly too, notwithstanding
She is the greatest beauty in the parish. Fielding. [ 1913 Webster ]

Notwithstanding that, notwithstanding; although. [ 1913 Webster ]

These days were ages to him, notwithstanding that he was basking in the smiles of the pretty Mary. W. Irving. [ 1913 Webster ]

prep. Without prevention, or obstruction from or by; in spite of. [ 1913 Webster ]

We gentil women bee
Loth to displease any wight,
Notwithstanding our great right. Chaucer's Dream. [ 1913 Webster ]

Those on whom Christ bestowed miraculous cures were so transported that their gratitude made them, notwithstanding his prohibition, proclaim the wonders he had done. Dr. H. More. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Notwithstanding was, by Johnson and Webster, viewed as a participle absolute, an English equivalent of the Latin non obstante. Its several meanings, either as preposition, adverb, or conjunction, are capable of being explained in this view. Later grammarians, while admitting that the word was originally a participle, and can be treated as such, prefer to class it as a preposition or disjunctive conjunction. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- In spite of; despite. -- Notwithstanding, In spite of, Despite. Of these, only notwithstanding can be used postpositively; as, I will go, the weather notwithstanding. With respect to meaning, these words and phrases are often interchanged, but there is a difference between them, chiefly in strength. Notwithstanding is the weaker term, and simply points to some obstacle that may exist; as, I shall go, notwithstanding the rain. In spite or despite of has reference primarily to active opposition to be encountered from others; as, “I'll be, in man's despite, a monarch; ” “I'll keep mine own, despite of all the world.” Shak. Hence, these words, when applied to things, suppose greater opposition than notwithstanding. We should say. ”He was thrust rudely out of doors in spite of his entreaties, ” rather than “notwithstanding”. On the other hand, it would be more civil to say, “Notwithstanding all you have said, I must still differ with you.” [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

v. t. 1. To surpass in wisdom, esp. in cunning. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To defeat or gain an advantage over by superior craft or cunning stratagems; as, the thief outwitted his pursuers and left the country undetected. [ PJC ]

They did so much outwit and outwealth us ! Gauden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The faculty of acquiring wisdom by observation and experience, or the wisdom so acquired; -- opposed to inwit. [ Obs. ] Piers Plowman. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Twitted; p. pr. & vb. n. Twitting. ] [ OE. atwiten, AS. ætwītan to reproach, blame; aet at + wītan to reproach, blame; originally, to observe, see, hence, to observe what is wrong (cf. the meanings of E. animadvert; akin to G. verweisen to censure, OHG. firwīzan, Goth. fraweitan to avenge, L. videre to see. See Vision, Wit. ] To vex by bringing to notice, or reminding of, a fault, defect, misfortune, or the like; to revile; to reproach; to upbraid; to taunt; as, he twitted his friend of falsehood. [ 1913 Webster ]

This these scoffers twitted the Christians with. Tillotson. [ 1913 Webster ]

Aesop minds men of their errors, without twitting them for what is amiss. L'Estrange. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Twitched p. pr. & vb. n. Twitching. ] [ OE. twicchen, fr. (doubtful) AS. twiccian; akin to AS. angeltwicca a worm used for bait, literally, a hook twitcher, LG. twikken to tweak, G. zwicken. Cf. Tweak. ] To pull with a sudden jerk; to pluck with a short, quick motion; to snatch; as, to twitch one by the sleeve; to twitch a thing out of another's hand; to twitch off clusters of grapes. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thrice they twitched the diamond in her ear. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of twitching; a pull with a jerk; a short, sudden, quick pull; as, a twitch by the sleeve. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A short, spastic contraction of the fibers or muscles; a simple muscular contraction; as, convulsive twitches; a twitch in the side. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Far.) A stick with a hole in one end through which passes a loop, which can be drawn tightly over the upper lip or an ear of a horse. By twisting the stick the compression is made sufficiently painful to keep the animal quiet during a slight surgical operation. J. H. Walsh. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, twitches. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Bot.) See Quitch grass. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) (a) The European tree sparrow. (b) The mountain linnet (Linota flavirostris). [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The meadow pipit. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Twit. ] One who twits, or reproaches; an upbraider. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Twittered p. pr. & vb. n. Twittering. ] [ OE. twiteren; of imitative origin; cf. G. zwitschern, OHG. zwizzirōn, D. kwetteren, Sw. qvittra, Dan. quiddre. Cf. Titter. ] 1. To make a succession of small, tremulous, intermitted noises. [ 1913 Webster ]

The swallow twittering from the straw-built shed. Gray. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To make the sound of a half-suppressed laugh; to titter; to giggle. J. Fletcher. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. [ Perhaps influenced by twitch. ] To have a slight trembling of the nerves; to be excited or agitated. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To utter with a twitter. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of twittering; a small, tremulous, intermitted noise, as that made by a swallow. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A half-suppressed laugh; a fit of laughter partially restrained; a titter; a giggle. Hudibras. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A slight trembling or agitation of the nerves. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of one who, or that which, twitters. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A slight nervous excitement or agitation, such as is caused by desire, expectation, or suspense. [ 1913 Webster ]

A widow, who had a twittering towards a second husband, took a gossiping companion to manage the job. L'Estrange. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a twitting manner; with upbraiding. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Twattle. ] Tattle; gabble. L'Estrange. [ 1913 Webster ]