wit

1
[ wit ]
/ wɪt /

noun

the keen perception and cleverly apt expression of those connections between ideas that awaken amusement and pleasure.
speech or writing showing such perception and expression.
a person having or noted for such perception and expression.
understanding, intelligence, or sagacity; astuteness.
Usually wits.
  1. powers of intelligent observation, keen perception, ingenious contrivance, or the like; mental acuity, composure, and resourcefulness: using one's wits to get ahead.
  2. mental faculties; senses: to lose one's wits; frightened out of one's wits.

Idioms for wit

Origin of wit

1
First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English: “mind, thought”; cognate with German Witz, Old Norse vit; akin to wit2

synonym study for wit

See humor.

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH wit

whit wit

Definition for at one's wit's end (2 of 2)

Origin of end

1
First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English ende; cognate with Old Frisian enda, Middle Dutch e(i)nde, Old Saxon endi, Old High German anti, German Ende, Old Norse endi(r), Gothic andeis “end,” from unattested Germanic anthjá-; akin to Sanskrit ánta- “end”

SYNONYMS FOR end

synonym study for end

5. End, close, conclusion, finish, outcome refer to the termination of something. End implies a natural termination or completion, or an attainment of purpose: the end of a day, of a race; to some good end. Close often implies a planned rounding off of something in process: the close of a conference. Conclusion suggests a decision or arrangement: All evidence leads to this conclusion; the conclusion of peace terms. Finish emphasizes completion of something begun: a fight to the finish. Outcome suggests the issue of something that was in doubt: the outcome of a game. 7. See aim.

OTHER WORDS FROM end

end·er, noun

British Dictionary definitions for at one's wit's end (1 of 4)

end 1
/ (ɛnd) /

noun

verb

See also end up

Derived forms of end

ender, noun

Word Origin for end

Old English ende; related to Old Norse endir, Gothic andeis, Old High German endi, Latin antiae forelocks, Sanskrit antya last

British Dictionary definitions for at one's wit's end (2 of 4)

end 2
/ (ɛnd) /

verb

(tr) British to put (hay or grain) into a barn or stack

Word Origin for end

Old English innian; related to Old High German innōn; see inn

British Dictionary definitions for at one's wit's end (3 of 4)

wit 1
/ (wɪt) /

noun

See also wits

Word Origin for wit

Old English witt; related to Old Saxon giwitt, Old High German wizzi (German Witz), Old Norse vit, Gothic witi. See wit ²

British Dictionary definitions for at one's wit's end (4 of 4)

wit 2
/ (wɪt) /

verb

archaic to be or become aware of (something)

adverb

to wit that is to say; namely (used to introduce statements, as in legal documents)

Word Origin for wit

Old English witan; related to Old High German wizzan (German wissen), Old Norse vita, Latin vidēre to see

Idioms and Phrases with at one's wit's end (1 of 3)

at one's wit's end

Also, at wits' end. Completely puzzled and perplexed, not knowing what to do. For example, I've tried every possible source without success, and now I'm at my wit's end. This idiom, which uses wit in the sense of “mental faculties,” appeared in Piers Ploughman (c. 1377).

Idioms and Phrases with at one's wit's end (2 of 3)

end

Idioms and Phrases with at one's wit's end (3 of 3)

wit

see at one's wit's end; have one's wits about one; live by one's wits; scare out of one's wits; to wit.