witan synonyms, witan pronunciation, witan translation, English dictionary definition of witan. See more. witan (English)Origin & history From Old English witan, plural of wita ("wise man"), or more literally "men of wit", "wits". Witan definition, the members of the national council or witenagemot. wise man, adviser, counsellor By using our services, you agree to our use of cookies. 1. wita (Old English)Origin & history From a Germanic base: cognate with Old Frisian wita, Old Saxon giwito, Old High German wizo.Related to wit. The Anglo-Saxon national council or witenagemot. witans). The Witenagemot (Old English witena gemot modern English "meeting of wise men"), also known as the Witan (more properly the title of its members) was a political institution in Anglo-Saxon England which operated from before the 7th century until the 11th century. The Witan (Old English witenagemot, moot or meeting) was the term used to describe the council summoned by Anglo-Saxon kings.These meetings of aldermen, thanes and bishops discussed royal grants of land, church matters, charters, taxation, customary law, defence and foreign policy. witan translation in Old English-English dictionary. witan is the plural of Old English wita, a wise man, a counsellor.It was used by Anglo-Saxons sometimes in composition with gemot (an assembly) to indicate a royal or national conciliar meeting. The Witenaġemot (Old English: witena ġemōt, Old English pronunciation: [ˈwitenɑ jeˈmoːt], modern English / ˈ w ɪ t ə n ə ɡ ə ˈ m oʊ t / "meeting of wise men"), also known as the Witan (more properly the title of its members), was a political institution in Anglo-Saxon England which operated from before the 7th century until the 11th century. The council was similar to the Germanic assembly called Thing.. LIKE and FOLLOW: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/leornendeealdenglisc Twitter: https://twitter.com/LeornendeEE 2. IPA: /ˈwɪtən/ Noun witan (pl. pl.n. The members of the witenagemot in Anglo-Saxon England. witan equals ƿitan: ... Old English may be defined as the period of full endings, Middle English as the period with levelled endings and Modern English as the period of lost endings. The significance of these meetings must, over a long period, have varied. Pronunciation. Due to this fact Old English always presents endings -- in the infinitive, as well. IPA: /ˈwɪta/ Noun wita (masc.) The Witenagemot or Witan was an institution in Anglo-Saxon England, from about the 7th to the 11th century.The name is Old English and means council of the wise men.Originally, Witan was the plural of wita (the wise man); but it was used as a singular. Define witan. Cookies help us deliver our services. (nominative plural witan). Pronunciation.