And-vitni

Meaning of Old Norse word "and-vitni"

As defined by the Cleasby & Vigfusson Old Norse to English dictionary:

Old Norse word and-vitni can mean:and-vitni

and-vitni

n. a law term.

and-vitni

I. Icel. contradictory testimony, such as was contrary to law. Thus defined: þat er a. er menn bera gegn því sem áðr er borit, vætti í gegn kvið, eðr kviðr í gegn vætti, svá at eigi má hvárttveggja rétt vera, Grág. i. 59, 60; it was liable to the lesser outlawry, skoluð menn a. bera ok hér á þingi, en ef menn bera, ok varðar þat útlegð, enda á þat einskis at meta, id.; en ef menn bera þat a. varðar þat fjörbaugsgarð, ii. 272; bera þeir a. guðunum, false witness against the gods, 655 xiii. B. I.

and-vitni

II. Norse, where it appears to mean contradictory testimony, such as was usually admissible; ok koma eigi a. móti, n. G. l. ii. 89, v. l.; svá er ef einn ber vitni með manni sem engi beri, en tveir sem tíu, ef maðr uggir eigi a. móti, if one bears witness for a man it is as though no man bore witness for him, but two are as good as ten, if a man doth not fear that contradictory evidence will be brought against him, 150.

Possible runic inscription in Younger Futhark:ᛅᚾᛏ-ᚢᛁᛏᚾᛁ
Younger Futhark runes were used from 8th to 12th centuries in Scandinavia and their overseas settlements