wit

1
[ wit ]
/ wɪt /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR wit ON THESAURUS.COM

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

Words nearby wit

wist, wister, wisteria, wistful, wisła, wit, witan, witblits, witch, witch alder, witch ball

Words related to wits

fun, joke, satire, repartee, jest, wisecrack, pleasantry, prank, drollery, levity, lark, raillery, pun, aphorism, banter, burlesque, gag, sally, quip, jocularity

Example sentences from the Web for wits

British Dictionary definitions for wits (1 of 4)

wits
/ (wɪts) /

pl n

(sometimes singular) the ability to reason and act, esp quickly (esp in the phrase have one's wits about one)
(sometimes singular) right mind, sanity (esp in the phrase out of one's wits)
at one's wits' end at a loss to know how to proceed
five wits obsolete the five senses or mental faculties
live by one's wits to gain a livelihood by craftiness and cunning rather than by hard work

British Dictionary definitions for wits (2 of 4)

Wits
/ (wɪts) /

noun

Southern African informal University of the Witwatersrand

British Dictionary definitions for wits (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 wits (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 wits

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.