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
  3. 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
  5. 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

downhearted, desperate, at a loss, helpless; see hopeless 2, troubled 1.

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 ›