Synonyms for wits


Grammar : Noun
Spell : wit
Phonetic Transcription : wɪt

Top 10 synonyms for wits Other synonyms for the word wits

Définition of wits

Origin :
  • "mental capacity," Old English wit, more commonly gewit, from Proto-Germanic *witjan (cf. Old Saxon wit, Old Norse vit, Danish vid, Swedish vett, Old Frisian wit, Old High German wizzi "knowledge, understanding, intelligence, mind," German Witz "wit, witticism, joke," Gothic unwiti "ignorance"), from PIE *woid-/*weid-/*wid- "to see," metaphorically "to know" (see vision). Related to Old English witan "to know" (source of wit (v.)). Meaning "ability to make clever remarks in an amusing way" is first recorded 1540s; that of "person of wit or learning" is from late 15c. For nuances of usage, see humor.
  • A witty saying proves nothing. [Voltaire, Diner du Comte de Boulainvilliers]Wit ought to be five or six degrees above the ideas that form the intelligence of an audience. [Stendhal, "Life of Henry Brulard"]
  • noun humor
  • noun person who is very funny
Example sentences :
  • She simply lived by her wits, and perhaps by some want of that article in her male friends.
  • Extract from : « Malbone » by Thomas Wentworth Higginson
  • They were bright; there is hardly a street boy living by his wits who isn't.
  • Extract from : « Ester Ried Yet Speaking » by Isabella Alden
  • She went a little pale over her mistakes, but preserved her dignity and her wits.
  • Extract from : « K » by Mary Roberts Rinehart
  • That he had needed a stimulant that day was because he had been soured and would not try with his wits about him.
  • Extract from : « Thoroughbreds » by W. A. Fraser
  • But I isn't got all my wits,' says he, the cry-baby; 'an' God knows I'm doin' my best!'
  • Extract from : « Quaint Courtships » by Various
  • The two blacks were frightened out of their wits; and were of no assistance to me.
  • Extract from : « Ned Myers » by James Fenimore Cooper
  • He must use his wits; but first he must make sure that the two girls were safe.
  • Extract from : « It Happened in Egypt » by C. N. Williamson
  • In the meantime the captain was at his wits' end to know what course was the best to pursue.
  • Extract from : « Georgie's Present » by Miss Brightwell
  • She had bravely striven to keep her fairyhood, and in the battle of wits, had lost.
  • Extract from : « Welsh Fairy Tales » by William Elliott Griffis
  • And if he does go, I'll be at my wits' ends to kape him from settlin' that Jim Barrows.
  • Extract from : « The Widow O'Callaghan's Boys » by Gulielma Zollinger

Antonyms for wits

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