wit

wit
wit1
/wit/, n.
1. the keen perception and cleverly apt expression of those connections between ideas that awaken amusement and pleasure.
2. speech or writing showing such perception and expression.
3. a person having or noted for such perception and expression.
4. understanding, intelligence, or sagacity; astuteness.
5. Usually, wits.
a. powers of intelligent observation, keen perception, ingenious contrivance, or the like; mental acuity, composure, and resourcefulness: using one's wits to get ahead.
b. mental faculties; senses: to lose one's wits.
6. at one's wit's end. See end1 (def. 23).
7. keep or have one's wits about one, to remain alert and observant; be prepared for or equal to anything: to keep your wits about you in a crisis.
8. live by one's wits, to provide for oneself by employing ingenuity or cunning; live precariously: We traveled around the world, living by our wits.
[bef. 900; ME, OE: mind, thought; c. G Witz, ON vit; akin to WIT2]
Syn. 1. drollery, facetiousness, waggishness, repartee. See humor. 4. wisdom, sense, mind.
wit2
/wit/, v.t., v.i., pres. sing. 1st pers. wot, 2nd wost, 3rd wot, pres. pl. wit or wite; past and past part. wist; pres. part. witting.
1. Archaic. to know.
2. to wit, that is to say; namely: It was the time of the vernal equinox, to wit, the beginning of spring.
[bef. 900; ME witen, OE witan; c. D weten, G wissen, ON vita, Goth witan to know; akin to L videre, Gk ideîn to see, Skt vidati (he) knows. See WOT]

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Wit — Wit, n. [AS. witt, wit; akin to OFries. wit, G. witz, OHG. wizz[=i], Icel. vit, Dan. vid, Sw. vett. [root]133. See {Wit}, v.] [1913 Webster] 1. Mind; intellect; understanding; sense. [1913 Webster] Who knew the wit of the Lord? or who was his… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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  • wit — [ wıt ] noun * 1. ) singular or uncount the ability to use words in a clever way to make people laugh: He is a man of great wit, sensitivity, and passion. a dry/biting/acerbic/caustic wit (=the tendency to say clever and slightly cruel things):… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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  • Wit — (w[i^]t), v. t. & i. [inf. (To) {Wit}; pres. sing. {Wot}; pl. {Wite}; imp. {Wist(e)}; p. p. {Wist}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Wit(t)ing}. See the Note below.] [OE. witen, pres. ich wot, wat, I know (wot), imp. wiste, AS. witan, pres. w[=a]t, imp. wiste,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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