witan

[ wit-n, -ahn ]

/ ˈwɪt n, -ɑn /

the members of the national council or witenagemot.

(used with a singular verb) the witenagemot.

Origin of witan

1800–10; Modern English < Old English, plural of wita one who knows, councilor; akin to wit²

Still that the kings and witan have considered the value as well as the number of teamlands seems fairly plain.

Domesday Book and Beyond |Frederic William Maitland
The rights of the old Witan and of the vassals of the new feudal state became fused together.

A History of England Principally in the Seventeenth Century, Volume I (of 6) |Leopold von Ranke
To many charters (laws) we have the signatures of the Witan.

An Essay on the Trial by Jury |Lysander Spooner
To change his own faith was to change the faith of the whole nation, and he thought it well to consult his witan.

Early Britain |Grant Allen

Thou saidst the Atheling summoned an assembly of the Saxon witan?

The Last of the Vikings |John Bowling

witan

/ (ˈwɪtən) /

an assembly of higher ecclesiastics and important laymen, including king's thegns, that met to counsel the king on matters such as judicial problems

the members of this assembly

Also: witenagemot

Old English witan, plural of wita wise man; see wit ², witness