First published 1928; not yet revised More entries for wot
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wotverb
Factsheet
What does the verb wot mean?
There are seven meanings listed in OED's entry for the verb wot. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
This word is used in northern English regional dialect and northern Scottish English.
Entry status
OED is undergoing a continuous programme of revision to modernize and improve definitions. This entry has not yet been fully revised.
How common is the verb wot?
About 0.2occurrences per million words in modern written English
| 1750 | 0.45 |
| 1760 | 0.47 |
| 1770 | 0.52 |
| 1780 | 0.56 |
| 1790 | 0.62 |
| 1800 | 0.75 |
| 1810 | 0.78 |
| 1820 | 0.76 |
| 1830 | 0.75 |
| 1840 | 0.75 |
| 1850 | 0.65 |
| 1860 | 0.62 |
| 1870 | 0.67 |
| 1880 | 0.71 |
| 1890 | 0.72 |
| 1900 | 0.72 |
| 1910 | 0.69 |
| 1920 | 0.59 |
| 1930 | 0.47 |
| 1940 | 0.37 |
| 1950 | 0.3 |
| 1960 | 0.23 |
| 1970 | 0.19 |
| 1980 | 0.18 |
| 1990 | 0.18 |
| 2000 | 0.18 |
| 2010 | 0.2 |
How is the verb wot pronounced?
British English
/wɒt/
wot
U.S. English
/wɑt/
waht
Where does the verb wot come from?
Earliest known use
Middle English
The earliest known use of the verb wot is in the Middle English period (1150—1500).
OED's earliest evidence for wot is from before 1300, in Cursor Mundi: a Northumbrian poem of the 14th century.
wot is a variant or alteration of another lexical item.
Etymons: wit v.1
Nearby entries
- wort plant, n.?a1500–1800
- wort porridge, n.1556
- wort refrigerator, n.1846–
- wort stock, n.c1450–1601
- wortworm, n.a1382–1633
- wortyard, n.Old English–
- wory, adj.a1225–1450
- W.O.S.B., n.1945–
- wosith, n.c1200–1330
- wot, pron.1829–
- wot, v.a1300–
- wotcher, int.?1892–
- wothe, n. & adj.a1300–1540
- wothely, adv.?a1400–1540
- wotless, adj.?1594
- wottingly, adv.1530–1851
- wottle day, n.1866–1922
- wottoo, v.1702
- woubit | oobit, n.1483–
- wough, n.¹Old English–
- wough, n.²Old English–1550
Etymology
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Meaning & use
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Pronunciation
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Forms
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Frequency
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Compounds & derived words
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Entry history for wot, v.
wot, v. was first published in 1928; not yet revised.
wot, v. was last modified in September 2024.
Revision of the OED is a long-term project. Entries in oed.com which have not been revised may include:
- corrections and revisions to definitions, pronunciation, etymology, headwords, variant spellings, quotations, and dates;
- new senses, phrases, and quotations which have been added in subsequent print and online updates.
Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into wot, v. in September 2024.
Earlier versions of this entry were published in:
OED First Edition (1928)
OED Second Edition (1989)
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Oxford English Dictionary, s.v. “,” , .
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Citation details
Factsheet for wot, v.
Browse entry
Nearby entries
- wort plant, n.?a1500–1800
- wort porridge, n.1556
- wort refrigerator, n.1846–
- wort stock, n.c1450–1601
- wortworm, n.a1382–1633
- wortyard, n.Old English–
- wory, adj.a1225–1450
- W.O.S.B., n.1945–
- wosith, n.c1200–1330
- wot, pron.1829–
- wot, v.a1300–
- wotcher, int.?1892–
- wothe, n. & adj.a1300–1540
- wothely, adv.?a1400–1540
- wotless, adj.?1594
- wottingly, adv.1530–1851
- wottle day, n.1866–1922
- wottoo, v.1702
- woubit | oobit, n.1483–
- wough, n.¹Old English–
- wough, n.²Old English–1550
