WITTOL Meaning and
Definition
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A wittol is a noun that refers to a person (usually a man) who knowingly tolerates or is indifferent to his wife's adultery. This term is derived from the Old English word "witol," which means "wise" or "clever," and was later altered to "wittol" by combining it with the word "willing." A wittol, therefore, can be seen as a person who is aware of his spouse's extramarital affairs but willingly accepts the situation without showing anger or resentment.
The concept of a wittol is often associated with the past eras, particularly when marital relationships were heavily governed by societal expectations and individuals lacked the freedom to assert their desires or make choices independently. In such contexts, a wittol was usually portrayed as a weak or submissive individual, often mocked or ridiculed for turning a blind eye to their partner's unfaithfulness.
The term wittol can also be used more broadly to describe someone who passively accepts or supports the actions or decisions of others, even if they are detrimental to their own interests or well-being. In this sense, the definition transcends the boundaries of marital relationships and can involve any situation where an individual willingly compromises their own interests to accommodate someone else's behavior or preferences.
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A tame cuck-old; one who winks at his wife's infidelity.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Common Misspellings for WITTOL
- wittle
- qittol
- aittol
- sittol
- eittol
- 3ittol
- 2ittol
- wuttol
- wjttol
- wkttol
- wottol
- w9ttol
- w8ttol
- wirtol
- wiftol
- wigtol
- wiytol
- wi6tol
- wi5tol
- witrol
Etymology of WITTOL
The word "wittol" is derived from the Middle English term "wittal", which was originally spelled as "wytewold". It was formed by combining two Old English elements - "witan" meaning "to know" or "to be aware" and "wealdan" meaning "to rule" or "to possess". In the context of the word "wittol", "witan" signifies "to know", and "wealdan" signifies "to possess" or "to rule over". Over time, the spelling of the word evolved to "wittol", combining the two elements to indicate a different connotation.
The original meaning of "wittol" in Middle English referred to a person who was aware or knowledgeable about their spouse's infidelity but passively accepted it, often displaying a lack of jealousy or taking pleasure from the situation.
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