Wittol

WIT’l

Definition: A man who meekly and tacitly accepts his wife’s adultery

Origin

This unhappy (or is it?) noun stems from the middle English wetewold, a word compounded of weten meaning to be aware of and wold which was the old suffix of modern cuckold (cuckwold).

Why this word?

This word was suggested to us by Mike Tishkoff; thanks Mike, and I hope I will not be crossing the lines here saying that I hope there’s no fundamental reason for your knowledge of this word…

I love words having the power to take a meaning and add another sense to it. A wittol, basically, is one who is cheated by his wife, a cuckold, but it adds a dimension- the wittol husbands are aware of being such and accept it (peacefully..?).

How to use wittol?

Wittol is a noun, not an adjective! Also, upon uttering it, you must take its second sense into consideration, it must be an accepting cuckold!

“Some wittols accept their rich wives’ infidelity for economic benefits“

“John isn’t home… And besides, don’t worry about him, he is a wittol“

(Forgive me for this terrible example)