wit1

 
Pronunciation: /wɪt/

noun

[mass noun]
  • 1 (also wits) the capacity for inventive thought and quick understanding; keen intelligence: she does not lack perception or native wit he needed all his wits to figure out the way back
  • [with infinitive] good sense: I had the wit to realize that the only way out was up
  • 2a natural aptitude for using words and ideas in a quick and inventive way to create humour: his caustic wit cuts through the humbug
  • [count noun] a witty person: she is such a wit

Phrases

be at one's wits' end

be overwhelmed with problems and at a loss as to what to do next: I’m almost at my wits' end trying to cope with these demands

be frightened (or scared) out of one's wits

be extremely frightened.

gather (or collect) one's wits

allow oneself to think calmly and clearly in a demanding situation: all she needed was a minute of two to gather her wits

have (or keep) one's wits about one

be constantly alert: a signalman had to have his wits about him keep your wits about you or you’ll forget something important

live by one's wits

earn money by clever and sometimes dishonest means, having no regular employment: he lived by his wits and was involved with many shady characters

pit one's wits against

compete mentally with: they formed themselves into teams to pit their wits against each other

Derivatives

witted

adjective
[in combination]: slow-witted

Origin:

Old English wit(t), gewit(t), denoting the mind as the seat of consciousness, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch weet and German Witz, also to wit2