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Antonyms for half-wit

Grammar : Noun
Spell : half-wit, hahf-
Phonetic Transcription : ˈhælfˌwɪt, ˈhɑf-


Definition of half-wit

Origin :
  • 1670s, originally "a would-be wit whose abilities are mediocre;" sense of "simpleton" (one lacking all his wits) is first attested 1755.
  • Half-wits are fleas; so little and so light,We scarce could know they live, but that they bite.[Dryden, "All for Love"]
  • Phrase out of half wit "half out of one's mind" was in Middle English (late 14c.). Half-witted "lacking common sense" is from 1640s.
  • noun stupid person
Example sentences :
  • "For the family," was Cleena's watchword, and it had already become the half-wit's.
  • Extract from : « Reels and Spindles » by Evelyn Raymond
  • "No half-wit about you," admiringly quoth the carpenter's mate.
  • Extract from : « Blackbeard: Buccaneer » by Ralph D. Paine
  • Allie Mulberry the half-wit was one of the highlights of life in the town.
  • Extract from : « Poor White » by Sherwood Anderson
  • Beside being a half-wit he had something the matter with his legs.
  • Extract from : « Poor White » by Sherwood Anderson
  • For what the half-wit did was what he had seen these others do.
  • Extract from : « The Broken Gate » by Emerson Hough
  • "Hello, Pa," exclaimed the half-wit, and laughed long and loud.
  • Extract from : « The Broken Gate » by Emerson Hough
  • "Now you—now you throw it at me—and I'll hit it," said the half-wit.
  • Extract from : « The Broken Gate » by Emerson Hough
  • You see, he confessed—the half-wit did—before he was killed.
  • Extract from : « The Broken Gate » by Emerson Hough
  • Tug couldnt bring himself to pick trouble with a half-wit, so he determined to throw a scare into him and run him off the ranch.
  • Extract from : « Mason of Bar X Ranch » by Henry Bennett
  • MacNutt had again thrown off his assumed role of a half-wit and was alert and thinking rapidly.
  • Extract from : « Mason of Bar X Ranch » by Henry Bennett

Synonyms for half-wit

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019