7.[1] It was the day on which was fulfilled the promise {139} made to
them by CHRIST that "The Comforter, which is the HOLY GHOST, whom the
Father will send in my name, he shall _teach you all things_, and bring
all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." John,
xiv. 26. When "He, the Spirit of Truth, came, who should _guide_ them
_into all truth_." John xvi. 13. And the consequence of this "unction
from the Holy One" was, that they "knew all things," and "needed not
that any man should teach them." 1 John, ii. 20. 27.

_Whit-sonday_ was, therefore, the day on which the Apostles were endued
by God with _wisdom_ and knowledge: and my Query is, whether the root of
the word may not be found in the Anglo-Saxon verb,--

_Witan_, to know, understand (whence our _wit_, in its old meaning of
good sense, or cleverness and the expression "having one's _wits_ about
one," &c.); or else, perhaps, from--

_Wisian_, to instruct, show, inform; (Ger. _weisen_). Not being an
Anglo-Saxon scholar, I am unable of myself to trace the formation of the
word _witson_ from either of these roots: and I should feel greatly
obliged to any of your correspondents who might be able and willing to
inform me, whether that form is deduceable from either of the above
verbs; and if so, what sense it would bear in our present language. I am
convinced, that _wisdom day_, or _teaching day_, would afford a very far
better reason for the name now applied to Pentecost, than any of the
reasons commonly given. I should observe, that I think it incorrect to
say Whit-Sunday. It should be Whitsun (Witesone) Day. If it is Whit
Sunday, why do we say Easter Day, and not Easter Sunday? Why do we say
Whitsun-Tide? Why does our Prayer Book say Monday and Tuesday in
Whitsun-week (just as before, Monday and Tuesday in Easter-week)? And