/ˈwɪti/, /ˈwɪti/, [ˈwɪɾi]
OriginFrom 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”).
- 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.”
- obsoleteWise, having good judgement.
- archaicPossessing a strong intellect or intellectual capacity; intelligent, skilful, ingenious.
“It hath beene a witty invention[…]to establish and ordaine certaine vaine and worthles markes, therewith to honor and recompence vertue[…].”
Formswittier(comparative) · wittiest(superlative) · Wittys(plural)