Wittol, a perfect word that needs reviving.

''Wittol

A wittol is a husband who knows of his wife’s infidelity but does not care that she has become unfaithful. He’s a contented cuckold. ''

According to Collins dictionary, this word is obsolete and is not used or needed.
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Sounds to me like it's time for a revival.

I'm not sure I can agree with Collins that the word is obsolete (I use it all the time to describe myself). I know it appeared in John Barth writings half a century ago. (In a manner that made the difference between the words really clear: Only the wittol knows he is no cuckold.) I would say that it has become obscure. I've tried to make the case before that Cuckold fetishists like us are really Wittols, but people don't seem that interested proper usage.

One of the fun things about the word being so obscure is that you can use it publicly and very, very few know it or the implications. It is a form of risk play, really.
Pantalone, Wittol, oblate, abnegator, fellator, pathic, irrumatiophile,fop, epicene, cotquean, skivvy, thrall, and pilgarlic.

I agree. I once thought the word was relevant to the activities practiced by many on this site. Now I view wittol as an anachronism. Esoterica of infidelity mavens. P(ie OR ea)ce
..............PSEUDO PERSON...YMMV!

I agree...time for a revival!

How interesting!

Well, what's the difference between "cuckold" and "wittol"? Are they synonyms?
It's obvious that English is not my native language. Sorry for any inconvenience. My blog (spanish): http://keratafilia.blogspot.com

No, they are not synonyms. A wittol is a knowing cuckold. Think of it as witting + cuckold. It actually comes from combining the Old English words wittan, which means wise in the sense of knowing ("he's wise to her") and cokewold which is just an archaic spelling and pronunciation of "cuckold."

In its strict sense, a cuckold is someone who has been deceived. He has naturally been unaware of his wife's infidelity, as it was the presumptive normal of medieval and early-modern period morals that no normal man would tolerate such a thing. When some male did, it was considered aberrant enough to have its own word: wittol.

In literature, wittol usually describes pathetic characters who tolerate their wives infidelities because they themselves are aged or infirm while she is not, or, more contemptibly, he is a weakling and she a bossy shrew. Sometimes, men of rank were noted to have cast a blind eye for political or social climbing reamisters. They were also considered wittols, but generally regarded with more condemnation as pimps or otherwise vice-ridden.
Pantalone, Wittol, oblate, abnegator, fellator, pathic, irrumatiophile,fop, epicene, cotquean, skivvy, thrall, and pilgarlic.

Thank you very much for your detailed explanation, MrsBlackBlowupDoll.

At this time perhaps it's necessary to create a word to describe the man who not only knows and tolerates that his wife cheats on him, but also craves and encourages it.


It's obvious that English is not my native language. Sorry for any inconvenience. My blog (spanish): http://keratafilia.blogspot.com