wit

/wɪt/

noun

  1. 1

    (now usually in the plural) Sanity.

    He's gone completely out of his wits.
  2. 2

    (obsolete usually in the plural) The senses.

  3. 3

    Intellectual ability; faculty of thinking, reasoning.

    Where she has gone to is beyond the wit of man to say.
  4. 4

    The ability to think quickly; mental cleverness, especially under short time constraints.

    My father had a quick wit and a steady hand.
  5. 5

    Intelligence; common sense.

    The opportunity was right in front of you, and you didn't even have the wit to take it!
  6. 6

    Humour, especially when clever or quick.

    The best man's speech was hilarious, full of wit and charm.
  7. 7

    A person who tells funny anecdotes or jokes; someone witty.

    Your friend is quite a wit, isn't he?

verb

  1. 1

    Know, be aware of (constructed with of when used intransitively).

    They are meddling in matters that men should not wit of.

preposition

  1. 1

    Against.

    He picked a fight with the class bully.
  2. 2

    In the company of; alongside, close to; near to.

    He went with his friends.
  3. 3

    In addition to; as an accessory to.

    She owns a motorcycle with a sidecar.
  4. 4

    Used to indicate simultaneous happening, or immediate succession or consequence.

    Jim was listening to Bach with his eyes closed.
  5. 5

    In support of.

    We are with you all the way.
  6. 6

    In regard to.

    He was pleased with the outcome.
  7. 7

    To denote the accomplishment of cause, means, instrument, etc; – sometimes equivalent to by.

    slain with robbers
  8. 8

    Using as an instrument; by means of.

    Find what you want instantly with our search engine.
  9. 9

    Using as nourishment; more recently replaced by on.

  10. 10

    Having, owning.

    It was small and bumpy, with a tinge of orange.
  11. 11

    Affected by (a certain emotion or condition).

    He spoke with sadness in his voice.
  12. 12

    Prompted by (a certain emotion).

    green with envy; flushed with success

Synonyms

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