wittyadj.
/ˈwɪti/, U.S. /ˈwɪdi/ a. Said of God or Christ: cf. wise adj. 1 (b). Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > deity > Christian God > nature or attributes of God > [adjective] > knowing or omniscient
wittyOE
wisea1325
all-wittya1425
omniscious1588
omniscient1598
all-knowing1759
OE Beowulf 685 Witig God..halig Dryhten.
OE Exodus 25 He him gesægde soðwundra fela, hu þas woruld worhte witig drihten.
1340 R. Rolle Pricke of Conscience 6280 Swa witty and myghty es he Þat nathyng til hym impossibel may be.
1380 Lay Folks' Catech. (L.) 531 This god is most myȝty þyng þat may be. The most wytty and most ryȝtful.
c1400 N. Love tr. Bonaventura Mirror Life Christ (1908) i. 18 The persone of the sone [is] al wyse and witty.
a1500 R. Henryson tr. Æsop Fables: Preaching of Swallow l. 1663 in Poems (1981) 66 God in all his werkis wittie is.
b. Of human beings: Having good judgement or discernment; wise, sagacious, discreet, prudent, sensible. Obsolete.In quot. ?a1562 adverbially = wisely.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > wisdom, sagacity > prudence, discretion > [adjective]
warec888
wiseOE
adviseda1325
witty1340
prudenta1382
thoughtfula1400
wisea1400
well-advisedc1405
visablea1450
canny1581
judicious1598
serious-minded1694
expedient1828
far-seeing1837
1027–34 Laws Cnut lxxvi Hit wæs ær þyson, þæt þæt cild þe læg on cradele,..þa gitseras letan efen scyldig & hit gewittig wære.]
1340 R. Rolle Pricke of Conscience 588 I hald a man, noght witty Þat here es over-prowde and ioly.
c1380 J. Wyclif Wks. (1880) 10 In þat þei seyn þat an heþene philosofre..is wittiere and trewere þan almyȝti god.
c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 25 Ech witti man muste graunte that the first principal conclusioun bifore sett is trewe.
1531 T. Elyot Bk. named Gouernour i. ii. sig. Bij Ioynynge to hym counsailours, Nestor and the witty Ulisses.
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 3807 Wise in his wordys, witte of counsaille.
?a1562 G. Cavendish Life Wolsey (1959) 33 A..warnyng to vse thy self more wittier hereafter.
a1592 R. Greene Sc. Hist. Iames IV (1598) iv. sig. H2v To haue two meanes, beseemes a wittie man.
1611 Bible (King James) Ecclus. xxi. 12 He that is not wise [margin. or, wittie], will not be taught. View more context for this quotation
2. † b. In unfavourable sense: crafty, cunning, wily, artful; skilful in contriving evil; also, foolishly ingenious in devising something to one's own hurt. Obsolete.
a.
(a) Having (good) intellectual ability; intelligent, clever, ingenious; skilful, expert, capable. Obsolete exc. dialect.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > intelligence, cleverness > [adjective]
keena1000
nimbleOE
wittya1100
smeighc1200
understandingc1200
aperta1330
skillwisea1340
witted1377
intelligiblea1382
well-feelinga1382
knowinga1398
finec1400
large?a1425
well-knowingc1425
of understanding1428
capax1432
sententiousc1440
well-wittedc1450
intellectual?a1475
clean1485
industriousc1487
intellective1509
cleanlyc1540
ingenious?a1560
fine-headed1574
conceited1579
conceitful1594
intelligenced1596
dexter1597
ingenuous1598
intelligent1598
senseful1598
parted1600
thinking1605
dexterical1607
solert1612
apprehensivea1616
dexterous1622
solertic1623
intelligential1646
callent1656
cunning1671
thoughtful1674
perceptive1696
clever1716
uptaking1756
spiritual1807
bright1815
gnostic1819
knowledgeable1825
brainy1845
opulent1851
opening1872
super-cerebral1916
brainiac1976
OE Gifts of Men 74 Sum bið gewittig æt winþege, beorhyrde god.]
a1100 Aldhelm Glosses 39 in A. S. Napier Old Eng. Glosses (1900) 2/2 Per gymnosophistas, þurh wittige plegmen uel gleawe gligmen.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 10545 He wes ihaten Wygar þe Witeȝe wurhte [c1300 Otho þe Wittye wrohte].
1362 W. Langland Piers Plowman A. xi. 5 Wel artou witti,..wisdom to telle To Fayturs or to Fooles.
a1425 tr. Arderne's Treat. Fistula 28 A gode lech and a witty.
c1440 Gesta Romanorum xiv. 45 A wise man, and witty in armys & in alle his werkys.
1553 R. Eden tr. S. Münster Treat. Newe India sig. Fiij In workemanship and artes they are marueylous wyttie.
1560 Bible (Geneva) Wisd. viii. 19 I was a wittie childe [R.V. a child of parts].
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) ii. xxiii. sig. Dd7 He (no more wittie to frame, then blinde to iudge hopes).
1612 F. Bacon Ess. (new ed.) 209 Iudges ought to be more learned, then wittie.
1617 F. Moryson Itinerary iii. 76 Witty Copernicus.
a1656 J. Hales Golden Remains (1673) i. 196 God who is..πολύτροπος εἰς σωτηριὰν ἀνθρώπων..as Clemens speaks..is witty in inventing of means to bring us to him.
1709 M. Prior Henry & Emma 82 In gentle Verse, the Witty told their Flame.
1725 I. Watts Logick i. ii. §4 When we say the Boy is strong or witty, these are proper or inherent Modes.
1785 W. Cowper Task i. 728 Now..show this queen of cities [sc. London], that so fair May yet be foul; so witty, yet not wise.
1886 R. Holland Gloss. Words County of Chester
(b) Of animals: = wise adj. 1 (c): cf. wit n. 5c.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > by nature > [adjective] > intelligent
witty1398
wise1560
ingenious1607
sagacious1759
1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (Bodl.) xviii. xxiv Noþing is more witty and besie þanne hounde.
1600 J. Pory tr. J. Leo Africanus Geogr. Hist. Afr. ix. 336 This wittie beast [sc. the elephant] keepeth in the woods.
1606 B. Jonson Hymenaei 893 At her feete doe witty Serpents move.
1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §978 The Ape also is a Witty Beast, and hath a Dry Braine.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > cunning > [adjective]
warec888
craftyOE
hinderyeapc1000
yepec1000
foxc1175
slya1200
hinderc1200
quaint?c1225
wrenchfulc1225
wiltfula1250
wilyc1330
subtle1340
cautelous138.
sleightful1380
subtile1387
enginousa1393
wilfula1400
wilyc1407
sleighty1412
serpentinec1422
ginnousa1425
wittya1425
semyc1440
artificial?a1475
sleight1495
slapea1500
shrewdc1525
craftly1526
foxy1528
gleering?1533
foxish1535
insidious1545
vafrous1548
wily beguile1550
wilely1556
fine1559
todly1571
practic1585
subdolous1588
captious1590
witryff1598
cautel1606
cunninga1616
versute1616
shiftfula1618
artificious1624
insidiary1625
canny1628
lapwing-like1638
pawky?a1640
tricksome1648
callid1656
versutious1660
artful1663
slim1674
dexterous1701
trickish1705
supple1710
slid1719
vulpinary1721
tricksy1766
trickful1775
sneck-drawing1786
tricky1786
louche1819
sneck-drawn1820
slyish1828
vulpine1830
kokum1839
spidery1843
dodgy1861
ladino1863
carney1881
slinky1951
a1425 tr. Arderne's Treat. Fistula 30 Þat any oþer witty man perceyuyng his werk mow vsurpe it to hymself.
1580 T. Vautrollier tr. M. Luther Comm. Epist. to Galathians (new ed.) 282 They are maruelous witty and wily in finding fault with other mens doings.
1600 W. Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing iv. ii. 25 A maruellous witty fellowe I assure you, but I will go about with him. View more context for this quotation
1608 Bp. J. Hall Characters Vertues & Vices ii. 111 He is..wittie to wrong himselfe.
1638 T. Herbert Some Yeares Trav. (rev. ed.) 19 As simple as they seeme, they are witty enough in craft, revenge, and villany.
a1656 J. Hales Golden Remains (1659) i. 132 They are unexpectedly and..wonderfully prompt and witty to villany, and wickedness.
1681 J. Oldham Satyrs upon Jesuits 129 How 'came I witty to my ruine thus?
1702 C. Beaumont J. Beaumont's Psyche (new ed.) xxi. iv. 315 Witty too in Selfdelusion.
1706 S. Centlivre Love at Venture Epil. You Men are grown so witty in Deceit.
a. Endowed with reason, rational. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > [adjective]
wittyc1300
reasonablec1350
skillwise1357
skilfulc1380
rationala1398
rationablec1480
reasonedc1487
logicala1652
c1300 Kenelm 219 in Early Eng. Poems & Lives Saints (1862) 53 Whan no man nolde þat witti was of him habbe munde A dombe best wiþoute witte hadde aȝe cunde.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 158 Þus was þis witty best werwolf ferst maked.
b. In full possession of one's wits, of sound mind. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > mental health > [adjective]
in (one's right) witc1000
wittyc1000
wisec1290
well-tempered1340
reasonablec1400
safe1402
perfectc1440
well in (also of) one's witsa1450
right in one's geara1500
well-advised1532
sensed1549
unmad1570
well-advised1585
rational1598
solid1606
in one's (right) senses1613
formala1616
of (in) disposing mind or memory1628
compos mentis1631
righta1638
well-hinged1649
well-balanced1652
spacked1673
clear-headed1709
sane1721
unfantastic1794
unmaddened1797
pas si bête1840
lucid1843
unfantastical1862
clothed and in one's right mind1873
right-minded1876
ungiddy1904
clear1950
c1000 Ælfric Lives Saints vii. 428 Wearð..his suna wittig.
1672 R. Wiseman Treat. Wounds i. x. 130 The Child returned to her friends perfectly in health, is a witty Girle, but it's doubted she will be but a dwarf.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > scholarly knowledge, erudition > [adjective]
yleredc897
keena1000
wisec1000
leredc1154
wittya1225
cunningc1325
taughta1382
clergialc1386
wittilyc1400
philosophicala1425
erudite?a1475
clergyable1488
informeda1500
studieda1513
estudied1550
learned1556
well-read?1576
scholarly1583
scholarlike1588
well-digested1602
literated1611
artificial1618
scienced1636
clerk-like1638
scollardicall1654
philosophic1665
virtuosoa1667
virtuousa1680
doct1694
blue-stockinged1791
bluestocking1793
scholared1830
eruditical1832
a1225 Leg. Kath. 532 Ha somet seiden, þt wittiest ha weren of alle þe meistres.
1340–70 Alex. & Dind. 1121 Wise & wittie of lorus.
1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. xvii. 219 The wyttiour that eny wight is..The biterour he shal a-bygge, bote yf he wel worche.
a1425 (c1395) Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Royal) (1850) Deut. i. 13 Witti [L. gnaros] in mennus thingis.
c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Law of Armys (2005) 74 Men yat war symple and nocht witty of perpetuale thingis.
a. (transferred from 2.) Showing or demanding intellectual ability; (later, esp. of discourse) clever, ingenious, or subtle in conception or expression. Also ironically. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > intelligence, cleverness > [adjective] > displaying intelligence
wittya1400
well-conceiveda1500
intelligent1585
understanding1635
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > intelligence, cleverness > sharpness, shrewdness, insight > [adjective] > of speech, action
readya1400
politicc1430
feat1519
handsome?1543
witty1551
political1577
conceited1583
shrewd1761
sagacious1831
kokum1839
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 4677 Ioseph..comandid..Depe celers for to delue, And thoru his aun witti rede Fild þaim wid wines, quite and rede.
1463 in C. L. Kingsford Stonor Lett. & Papers (1919) I. 62 It [sc. the matter] must have wytty gydyng.
1551 R. Record Pathway to Knowl. Pref. Neuer was arte so wonderfull witty..as is good Geometry.
1551 R. Robinson in tr. T. More Vtopia Epist. sig. ✠iiii Ye wittie inuencion, & fine..disposition of ye matter.
?a1562 G. Cavendish Life Wolsey (1959) 7 A mete & an apte person to be preferred to wytty affayers.
1581 G. Pettie tr. S. Guazzo Ciuile Conuersat. (1586) i. 20 The wittie answeres which hee made touching this purpose.
1611 Bible (King James) Prov. viii. 12 I wisedome dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inuentions. View more context for this quotation
1633 G. Herbert Forerunners in Temple ii If I please him, I write fine and wittie.
1653 H. More Antidote against Atheisme i. viii. 20 That's the witty fallacy his unwariness has intangled him in.
1700 J. Locke Ess. Humane Understanding (new ed.) iv. xvii. 409 The Fallacies, that are often concealed in florid, witty or involved Discourses.
b. Skilfully devised for an evil purpose; cunning, crafty; (of torment, etc.) ingeniously contrived, ‘exquisite’. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > cunning > [adjective] > in contrivance or machination > cunningly contrived or devised
compassedc1430
witty1602
machinous1633
finessed1749
1602 2nd Pt. Returne fr. Parnassus i. i. 111 Stale sinnes are stale: now doth the world begin To take sole pleasure in a witty sinne.
1623 P. Massinger Duke of Millaine v. ii. 50 Let me pronounce vpon this wretch all torture That witty cruelty can inuent.
a1625 F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Knight of Malta v. i, in Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Mmmmm3/1 Expect a witty, and a fell revenge.
1649 Bp. J. Taylor Great Exemplar i. Disc. iv. 128 Some..in witty torments excelled the cruelty of many of their persecutors.
1679 T. Hobbes Behemoth (unauthorized ed.) 190 He call'd a Parliament, and gave it the Supreme Power, to the end that they should give it to him again; was not this witty?
1686 J. Scott Christian Life: Pt. II II. vii. 1334 The most witty and exquisite torments.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > common sense > [adjective]
wittyc1380
perceivedc1425
sensible?a1439
sober-minded1534
staida1555
sonsy1568
mother-witted1593
unfoolish1603
capable1609
sober1619
hard-headed1779
commonsensical1792
sensical1795
sober-minded1811
common-sensible1813
savvy1826
common sensed1834
level1869
level-headed1879
square-headed1896
c1380 J. Wyclif Wks. (1880) 220 Þei louen more..þe most witti reulis of ihū crist þan þe vnwitti constitucions of synful..men.
a1475 G. Ashby Active Policy Prince 741 Your manly & wytti diligence.
1553 tr. S. Gardiner De Vera Obed. Bonner's Pref. 3 b What a witti part it is, for a man to suspend his iudgement, and not to be rashe in geuing of sentence.
c1560 T. Ingelend Disobedient Child Peror. G iv Here ye maye learne a wyttie lesson.
c1602 C. Marlowe tr. Ovid Elegies i. viii. sig. B (Trust me) to giue, it is a witty thing.
1656 R. Fletcher tr. Martial Epigrams ix. vi, in Ex Otio Negotium 80 Thou very fain wouldst Priscus wed, I wonder not, 'tis witty so to doe.
1710 Brit. Apollo 25–27 Sept. The Bold assert 'tis Witty to be Brave,..The Timerous Wittily decline all Strife.
7. † b. Sharply critical, censorious, sarcastic. Obsolete or merged in preceding sense.
a. Possessing wit (see wit n. 7); capable of or given to saying (or writing) brilliant or sparkling things, esp. in an amusing way; smartly jocose or facetious.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > intelligence, cleverness > wit, wittiness > [adjective]
quainta1250
conceitive1579
conceited1583
conceity1589
conceitful1594
wittya1616
sharply-conceived1630
smart1639
mercurial1647
spiritual1701
wittified1742
scintillant1764
witful1765
a1616 W. Shakespeare Comedy of Errors (1623) iii. i. 111 I know a wench of excellent discourse, Prettie and wittie . View more context for this quotation
1653 I. Walton Compl. Angler ii. 45 Viat. Is not mine Hoste a witty man? Pisc. Sir, To speak truly, he is not to me; for most of his conceits were either Scripture-jests, or lascivious jests; for which I count no man witty. View more context for this quotation
1684 W. Winstanley England's Worthies 345 Plautus,..by his conversing with jocular Wits,..became so famously witty, or wittily famous, as..he attained to an extraordinary height in the Comique strain.
1738 J. Swift Compl. Coll. Genteel Conversat. p. xiv Whatever Person would aspire to be completely witty, smart, humourous, and polite.
1849 J. A. Froude Nemesis of Faith (ed. 2) 103 We are witty if it be so, not for applause but for affection.
1878 R. Browning La Saisiaz 596 Learned for the nonce as Gibbon, witty as wit's self Voltaire.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > criticism > [adjective] > sharply
sharp?c1225
quipping1542
sharp-fanged1598
wittya1616
spinousa1638
scalding1641
spinose1660
smart1665
acid1756
caustic1771
rapped-out1831
a1616 W. Shakespeare All's Well that ends Well (1623) ii. iv. 31 Go too, thou art a wittie foole. View more context for this quotation
a1633 G. Herbert Priest to Temple (1652) xxvi. 106 Being partiall to themselves, and witty to others.
1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 530. ¶2 Will. Honeycomb, who was so unmercifully witty upon the Women.
1747 S. Richardson Clarissa II. xiii. 72 My mamma..says, I am too witty; Anglicè, too pert.
8. Of speech or writing: Characterized by or full of wit (see wit n. 8); cleverly amusing, ‘sparkling’, smartly facetious or jocular; †sarcastic.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > intelligence, cleverness > wit, wittiness > [adjective] > of speech or writing
smart1585
witty1598
sharp1700
zinging1972
society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > vigour or force > [adjective] > witty
witty1598
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > derision, ridicule, or mockery > caustic or ironic ridicule > [adjective]
satiric1509
satirien1509
satiricala1529
ironical1536
dry1542
Lucianical1561
satirial1579
sardonian1586
ironized1596
sarcasmical1602
ironic1614
Sardinian?1615
sardoin1633
sardonic1638
sarcastical1641
sardan1649
sarcasmous1663
sarcastic1695
witty1700
sarcasmatical1716
caustic1771
nippit1808
Lucianic1820
sardonican1837
quippy1859
sardonical1859
quipsome1881
sarky1912
Lucianesque1969
1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost v. i. 4 Your reasons..haue been..wittie without affection, audatious without impudencie. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Twelfth Night (1623) iii. ii. 41 Be curst and briefe: it is no matter how wittie, so it bee eloquent, and full of inuention. View more context for this quotation
1639 N. N. tr. J. Du Bosc Compl. Woman i. 30 The Melancholy [humour]..is..too grosse for witty conceits and apt replies.
1700 T. Brown Amusem. Serious & Comical xi. 152 Your Gentlemen that speak sharp and witty Things.
1702 R. Steele Funeral ii. 27 This is not one of your Tringham Trangham Witty things, that your Poor Poets write.
1733 J. Swift Apol. Lady Carteret 146 The powder'd courtier's witty sneer.
1744 Corbyn Thomas Ess. Wit, Humour, etc. 37 Satire is a witty and severe Attack of mischievous Habits or Vices.
1829 E. Bulwer-Lytton Devereux I. i. i. 4 He told the wittiest stories in the world, without omitting any thing in them but the point.
1880 ‘Ouida’ Moths I. i. 6 ‘Of course! One always marries girls; how stupid you are,’ said Lady Dolly... The counsellor smiled grimly, ‘And then you will be a grandmother’, he said... ‘I suppose you think that witty,’ said Lady Dolly.
Compounds
Parasynthetic and adverbial, as witty-brained, witty-conceited, witty-feigned, witty-pated, witty-pretty adjs. (all in sense 2, and obsolete or archaic).
ΚΠ
1599 T. Nashe Lenten Stuffe 50 Some politique delegatory Scipio, or witty pated Petito.
1600 N. Breton Strange Fortunes Two Excellent Princes 14 No lesse witty conceited of her dreame, then noting the cariage of her humor.
1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. i. vi. 216 Iapetus wittie-fained sonne.
1606 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. (new ed.) ii. iv. 60 Queint wittie-prettie Toyes.
1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian xi, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. I. 310 The smart witty-pated lawyers.
1820 W. Scott Monastery II. ii*. 81 A witty-brained..and accomplished courtier.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1928; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.OE