wit Hear it!

wit¹ Definition

wit (wit)

noun

  1. Obsolete the mind
    1. powers of thinking and reasoning; intellectual and perceptive powers
    2. mental faculties with respect to their state of balance, esp. in their normal condition of sanity
  2. alert, practical intelligence; good sense
    1. the ability to make lively, clever remarks in a sharp, amusing way
    2. the ability to perceive incongruous relationships and express them in a surprising or epigrammatic manner
    3. a person characterized by wit
    4. writing or speech expressing wit; esp., any clever disparagement or raillery
  3. Archaic intellect; reason

Etymology: ME < OE, akin to Ger witz: for IE base see wise

wit¹ Idioms

at one's wits' end

at a point where one's mental resources are exhausted; at a loss as to what to do

keep one's wits about one

or have one's wits about one

to remain mentally alert; function with undiminished acumen, as in an emergency

live by one's wits

to live by trickery or craftiness

wit² Definition

wit (wit)

transitive verb, intransitive verb wist, wit·ting

Archaic to know or learn: wit is conjugated in the present indicative: (I) wot, (thou) wost or wot(t)est, (he, she, it) wot or wot(t)eth, (we, ye, they) wite or witen

Etymology: ME witen < OE witan, to know: see wise

wit² Idioms

to wit

that is to say; namely

wit Synonyms

wit

n.

  1. Clever humor

    humor, wittiness, smartness, whimsicality, jocularity, pleasantry, drollery, waggery, banter, burlesque; see also humor 1.

  2. An example of wit, sense 1

    satire, irony, badinage, witticism, sally, whimsy, repartee, bon mot, joke, aphorism, jest, quip, epigram, pun, wisecrack*, gag*. *

  3. One who possesses wit, sense 1

    humorist, punster, epigrammatist, comedian, banterer, clever fellow, life of the party, wag, wisecracker*, wise guy*.

wit refers to the ability to perceive the incongruous and to express it in quick, sharp, spontaneous, often sarcastic remarks that delight or entertain; humor is applied to the ability to perceive and express that which is comical, ludicrous, or ridiculous, but connotes kindliness, geniality, sometimes even pathos, in the expression and a reaction of sympathetic amusement from the audience; irony refers to the humor implicit in the contradiction between literal expression and intended meaning or in the discrepancy between appearance and reality in life; satire applies to the use, especially in literature, of ridicule, sarcasm, irony, etc. in exposing and attacking vices or follies; repartee refers to the ability to reply or retort with quick, skillful wit or humor

at one's wits' end
have<strong> or </strong>keep one's wits about one

be ready, be alert, take precautions, be on one's guard, keep one's cool*; see also watch out 2.

live by one's wits

use sharp practices, live dangerously, take advantage of all opportunities; see prosper, trick.

wit Usage Examples

Object

u: I would love to know wot u think as 2 why it has been rated that high.

Converse of object

  • self-deprecate: We moan with merriment, with purpose, with self-deprecating wit.
  • combine: A literary debut which combines wit with barbed insight f. .
  • pit: The game should prove advantageous for the experienced Dungeons and Dragons player who cannot find a Dungeon Master against which to pit wits.
  • appreciate: And it will work for more mature readers because you can appreciate the wit, as well as the visual jokes.
  • match: The JLA and Titans match wits with Batman Enemies and the Injustice League.
  • have: The property has a spacious double living room wit...

Preposition: as

expert: America line's luxurious a place to wit as experts planned by the.

Adjective modifier

  • acerbic: Roddy Renfrew started the ball rolling with a set of gentle, tho occasionally more acerbic, wit.
  • razor-sharp: Famous for his razor-sharp wit he once said: " Wit ought to be a glorious treat, like caviar.
  • caustic: Wilder's caustic wit was famous, but he wasn't above bullying.
  • biting: Added pleasures are a biting wit, a sly subtlety and a merciless eye for social satire.
  • wry: He is an erudite writer, with the wry wit of the man of the world rather than the university wit more common nowadays.
  • sardonic: Often extreme, even mischievous in language with a sardonic wit, his actions were gentler than his words as his letters show.

Modifies a noun

  • h: You will have regular meetings with them to discuss your progress and help you wit h any issues connected with your studies.
  • ..: Discus wanted Baby discus wanted will collect any where wit...

Noun used with modifier

  • rapier: This was, once again, treated like rapier wit.
  • trademark: This is an easy read full of Pratchett's trademark wit.
  • half: Dropping John O'Shea and playing Gary Neville at center half wit Wes Brown, Ferguson seems to have missed the point.

Possessives

end: We were at our wits ' end, not knowing what was wrong with him.

Browse dictionary entries near wit

  1. wistful
  2. wisteria
  3. Wister
  4. wist
  5. wisp
  6. Wisła
  7. wishy-washy
  8. wishing
  9. wishful thinking
  10. wishful
  1. witan
  2. witch
  3. witch doctor
  4. witch elm
  5. witch grass
  6. witch hazel
  7. witch hunt
  8. witch moth
  9. witchcraft
  10. witchery