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whit Definition

whit (hwit, wit)

noun

the least bit; jot; iota: chiefly in negative constructions not a whit the wiser

Etymology: Early ModE respelling of wiht, a wight

whit Synonyms

whit

n.

jot, iota, mite; see bit 1, 3.

whit Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • difference: The fact that she had kids made not a whit of difference.

Converse of object

  • ken: A doot heâs deid aw richt â niver kent whit hit him.
  • know: Sharon'll no know whit 's hit her then.
  • matter: The rationale behind the changes matters not a whit.
  • care: I care not a whit for genre conventions or who shot John?
  • see: Wullie, Ah'll hae a word wi the Heid Byllie an see whit we can dae.
  • make: The fact that she had kids made not a whit of difference.

Adjective modifier

  • dim: Put your knowledge to the test against the locals of Sunderland and sort the smarty pants from the dim whits!

Modifies a noun

  • soud: But as the reid sun gaed doun, whit soud thay see but laund afore the ship?
  • dae: Tell me, whit dae the bureaucrats dae oan a Saturday night?
  • thay: An whan Finn met up wi thaim, he spiert at thaim whaur thay cam frae an whit thay did?
  • ah: Scots language, if you ken whit ah mean?
  • ti: Gunlöd: Ah dinna care ti be telt whit ti dae bi YOU.
  • ye: Gunnar: Gunlöd, is that whit ye want ti happen ti ye?

Noun used with modifier

  • ken: Tho ' wi dinnae ken whit lies ahead, wi are aye keen tae work fur wur daily bread!
  • dae: Ye can dae whit ye lyke wi me â ye canna dae skaith til ma saul.
  • ti: Mebbe YOU wad lyke ti ken whit it feels lyke?
  • ye: Ah tell ye whit it is, Pompitie, sum fowk wad juist hae keepit it ti thairsells, an never lat on.
  • dinnae: Tho ' wi dinnae ken whit lies ahead, wi are aye keen tae work fur wur daily bread!
  • tae: An sae he turned aroon, an walked back tae whit was left o his waddin.
whit Quotes

Now sleeps the crimson petal, now the white; Nor waves the cypress in the palace walk; Nor winks the gold fin in the porphyry font: The fire-fly wakens: waken thou, with me. Now droops the milk-white peacock like a ghost, And like a ghost she glimmers on to me. Now lies the Earth all Dana' to the stars, 842 And all thy heart lies open unto me. Now slides the silent meteor on, and leaves A shining furrow, as thy thoughts in me. Now folds the lily all her sweetness up, And slips into the bosom of the lake: So fold thyself, my dearest, thou, and slip Into my bosom and be lost in me.

—Tennyson