Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
ONWITTINS, adv. Used as prep. with o: without the knowledge of (Ags. 1808 Jam.). Cf. Outwitten.
[An adv. form in -s from *onwittin, variant of unwitting. This usage, now obs. in Eng., arises from an absolute construction, him unwitting, later his unwitting, unwitting of him, etc.]
