 Understood as malevolent beings, they abduct or switch newborns, abduct women, and punish people who have treated them badly.As benevolent beings, they may aid in childbirth or offer good advice.Indeed, though the adjective "wit" means 'white', it may originally refer to the Germanic word "wid", related to English 'wit' and 'wise', and so may be better understood as 'wise women', as they are known in Germany, where they are connected to the Völva.