witty
See also: Witty
English edit
Etymology edit
From Middle English witty, witti, from Old English wittiġ, witiġ, ġewittiġ (“clever, wise”), from Proto-West Germanic *witīg, *witag, from Proto-Germanic *witagaz, *wītagaz (“knowing, wise, clever”), equivalent to wit + -y. Cognate with Middle Low German wittich, gewittich (“knowing, clever, wise, understanding”), German witzig (“funny, witty”), Norwegian Bokmål vettig, Norwegian Nynorsk vittig (“witty”).
Pronunciation edit
Adjective edit
witty (comparative wittier, superlative wittiest)
- (obsolete) Wise, having good judgement.
- (archaic) Possessing a strong intellect or intellectual capacity; intelligent, skilful, ingenious.
- 1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 7, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:
- It hath beene a witty invention […] to establish and ordaine certaine vaine and worthles markes, therewith to honor and recompence vertue […].
- Clever; amusingly ingenious.
- His speech was both witty and informative.
- Full of wit.
- His frequent quips mark him as particularly witty.
- Quick of mind; insightful; in possession of wits.
- She may have grown older, but she has grown no less witty.
Synonyms edit
Translations edit
possessing a strong intellect or intellectual capacity
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clever; amusingly ingenious
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full of wit
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quick of mind; insightful; in possession of wits
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