witty, a.
(ˈwɪtɪ)
Forms: 1 wit(t)iᵹ, 3 witi(ȝ, -eȝ, 3–5 wytti, 3–6 witti, 4–6 wytty, wittye, 4–7 wittie, (4 witthi, Sc. vitty, 5 witte, 6 wyttie, -ye, Sc. (superl.) vittiast), 3– witty.
[OE. wit(t)iᵹ (also ᵹewittiᵹ) = MLG. wetig, OHG. wiz(z)ig (MHG. wizzic), ON. vitugr: f. wit n. + -y1.]
† 1. Having wisdom. a. Said of God or Christ: cf. wise a. 1 (b). Obs.
| Beowulf 685 Witiᵹ god..haliᵹ dryhten. a 1000 Cædmon's Exod. 25 Hu þas woruld worhte witiᵹ drihten. 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 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. c 1400 Love Bonavent. Mirr. i. (1908) 18 The persone of the sone [is] al wyse and witty. c 1480 Henryson Swallow vi, God in all his werkis wittie is. |
† b. Of human beings: Having good judgement or discernment; wise, sagacious, discreet, prudent, sensible. Obs.
In quot. a 1562 advb. = wisely.
| [1027–34 Laws Cnut lxxvi, Hit wæs ær þyson, þæt þæt cild þe læᵹ on cradele,..þa ᵹitseras letan efen scyldiᵹ & hit ᵹewittiᵹ wære.] 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 588, I hald a man, noght witty Þat here es over-prowde and ioly. c 1380 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 10 In þat þei seyn þat an heþene philosofre..is wittiere and trewere þan almyȝti god. c 1400 Destr. Troy 3807 Wise in his wordys, witte of counsaille. c 1449 Pecock Repr. i. v. 25 Ech witti man muste graunte that the first principal conclusioun bifore sett is trewe. 1531 Elyot Gov. i. ii, Ioynynge to hym counsailours Nestor and the witty Ulisses. a 1562 G. Cavendish Wolsey (1893) 46 A..warnyng to use thy self more wittier hereafter. a 1592 Greene Jas. IV, 2022 To haue two meanes beseemes a wittie man. 1611 Bible Ecclus. xxi. 12 He that is not wise [marg. or, wittie], will not be taught. |
2. a. (a) Having (good) intellectual ability; intelligent, clever, ingenious; skilful, expert, capable. Obs. exc. dial.
| [a 1000 Gifts of Men 74 Sum bið ᵹewittiᵹ æt winþeᵹe, beorhyrde god.] a 1100 Aldhelm Gloss. 39 in Napier O.E. Glosses 2/2 Per gymnosophistas, þurh wittiᵹe pleᵹmen uel gleawe gliᵹmen. c 1205 Lay. 21134 He wes ihaten Wygar, þe witeȝe wurhte [c 1275 þe wittye wrohte]. 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. xi. 5 Wel artou witti,..wisdom to telle To Fayturs or to Fooles. a 1425 tr. Arderne's Treat. Fistula, etc. 28 A gode lech and a witty. c 1440 Gesta Rom. xiv. 45 A wise man, and witty in armys & in alle his werkys. 1553 Eden Treat. Newe Ind. (Arb.) 24 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]. a 1586 Sidney Arcadia ii. xxiii. §8 He (no more wittie to frame, then blinde to judge hopes). 1612 Bacon Ess., Of Judicature (Arb.) 451 Iudges ought to be more Learned, then Wittie. 1617 Moryson Itin. iii. 76 Witty Copernicus. a 1656 Hales Golden Rem. (1673) 196 God who is..πολύτροπος εἰς σωτηριὰν ἀνθρώπων..as Clemens speaks..is witty in inventing of means to bring us to him. 1709 Prior Henry & Emma 82 In gentle Verse, the Witty told their Flame. 1725 Watts Logic i. ii. §4 When we say the Boy is strong or witty, these are proper or inherent Modes. 1784 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 Cheshire Gloss. |
(b) Of animals: = wise a. 1 (c): cf. wit n. 5 c.
| 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xviii. xxiv. (Bodl. MS.), Noþing is more witty and besie þanne hounde. 1600 J. Pory tr. Leo's Africa ix. 336 This wittie beast [sc. the elephant] keepeth in the woods. 1606 B. Jonson Hymen., Barriers 163 At her feet doe witty serpents moue. 1626 Bacon Sylva §978 The Ape also is a Witty Beast, and hath a Dry Braine. |
† b. In unfavourable sense: Crafty, cunning, wily, artful; skilful in contriving evil; also, foolishly ingenious in devising something to one's own hurt. Obs.
| a 1425 tr. Arderne's Treat. Fistula, etc. 30 Þat any oþer witty man perceyuyng his werk mow vsurpe it to hymself. 1580 T. Vautrollier Luther on Ep. Gal. 282 They are maruelous witty and wily in finding fault with other mens doings. 1599 Shakes. Much Ado iv. ii. 27 A maruellous witty fellow I assure you, but I will goe about with him. 1608 Bp. Hall Char., Vnconstant 111 He is..wittie to wrong himselfe. 1638 Sir T. Herbert Trav. (ed. 2) 19 As simple as they seeme, they are witty enough in craft, revenge, and villany. a 1656 Hales Golden Rem. (1673) 123 They are unexpectedly, and..wonderfully prompt and witty to villany and wickedness. a 1683 Oldham Passion of Byblis Wks. (1686) 125 How came I witty to my ruin thus? a 1699 J. Beaumont Psyche xxi. iv, Witty too in Self delusion. 1706 S. Centlivre Love at a Venture Epil., You Men are grown so witty in Deceit. |
† 3. a. Endowed with reason, rational. b. In full possession of one's wits, of sound mind. rare.
| c 1000 ælfric Saints Lives vii. 428 Wearð..his suna wittiᵹ. c 1300 Kenelm 219 in E.E.P. (1862) 53 Whan no man nolde þat witti was of him habbe munde A dombe best wiþoute witte hadde aȝe cunde. c 1350 Will. Palerne 158 Þus was þis witty best werwolf ferst maked. 1672 Wiseman 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. |
† 4. Having knowledge, knowing, learned. Obs.
| a 1225 Leg. Kath. 532 Ha somet seiden, þt wittiest ha weren of alle þe meistres. 1340–70 Alex. & Dind. 1121 Wise & wittie of lorus. 1388 Wyclif Deut. i. 13 Witti [Vulg. gnaros] in mennus thingis. 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. xvii. 219 The wyttiour that eny wight is..The biterour he shal a-bygge, bote yf he wel worche. 1456 Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 79 Men that war symple and nocht witty of perpetuale thingis. |
† 5. (transf. from 2.) Showing or demanding intellectual ability; (later, esp. of discourse) clever, ingenious, or subtle in conception or expression. Also ironically. Obs.
| 13.. Cursor M. 4677 (Gött.) Ioseph..comandid..Depe celers for to delue, And thoru his aun witti rede Fild þaim wid wines, quite and rede. 1463 Stonor Papers (Camden) I. 62 It [sc. the matter] must have wytty gydyng. 1551 Recorde Pathw. Knowl. Pref., Neuer was arte so wonderfull witty..as is good Geometry. 1551 R. Robinson tr. More's Utopia Ep. Transl. (1895) 18 The wittie inuencion, and fine..disposition of the matter. a 1562 G. Cavendish Wolsey (1893) 5 A mete & apte person to be preferred to wytty affayers. 1581 G. Pettie tr. Guazzo's Civ. Conv. i. (1586) 20 The wittie answeres which hee made touching this purpose. 1611 Bible Prov. viii. 12, I wisedome dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inuentions. 1633 G. Herbert Temple, Forerunners ii, If I please him, I write fine and wittie. 1653 H. More Antid. Ath. i. viii. §2 (1712) 22 That's the witty Fallacy his unwariness has intangled him in. 1700 Locke Hum. Und. iv. xvii. §4 (ed. 4) 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’. Obs.
| 1602 2nd Pt. Return fr. Parnass. i. i. 111 Stale sinnes are stale: now doth the world begin To take sole pleasure in a witty sinne. 1619 Fletcher Knt. Malta v. i, Expect a witty, and a fell revenge! 1623 Massinger Dk. Milan v. ii, Let me pronounce vpon this wretch all torture That witty cruelty can inuent. 1649 Jer. Taylor Gt. Exemp. i. Disc. iv. 128 Some..in witty torments excelled the cruelty of many of their persecutors. c 1670 Hobbes Behemoth (1679) 254 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? 1681–6 J. Scott Chr. Life (1747) III. 612 The most witty and exquisite Torments. |
† 6. (transf. from 1 b.) Showing, or springing from, good judgement or discernment; wise, discreet, sensible. Obs.
| c 1380 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 220 Þei louen more..þe most witti reulis of ihū crist þan þe vnwitti constitucions of synful..men. a 1475 G. Ashby Active Policy 741 Your manly & wytti diligence. 1553 M. Wood tr. Gardiner's 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. c 1560 Ingelend Disob. Child Peror. G iv, Here ye maye learne a wyttie lesson. a 1593 Marlowe Ovid's Elegies i. viii, Trust me, to giue, it is a witty thing. 1656 R. Fletcher tr. Martial ix. Epigr. vi, Thou very fain wouldst Priscus wed, I wonder not, 'tis witty so to doe. 1710 Brit. Apollo III. No. 79. 3/1 The Bold assert 'tis Witty to be Brave,..The Timerous Wittily decline all Strife. |
7. 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.
| 1590 Shakes. Com. Err. iii. i. 110, I know a wench of excellent discourse, Prettie and wittie. 1653 Walton 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. 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. 1731–8 Swift Pol. Conversat. Introd. 14 Whatever Person would aspire to be completely witty, smart, humourous, and polite. 1849 Froude Nem. Faith (ed. 2) 103 We are witty if it be so, not for applause but for affection. 1878 Browning La Saisiaz 596 Learned for the nonce as Gibbon, witty as wit's self Voltaire. |
† b. Sharply critical, censorious, sarcastic. Obs. or merged in prec. sense.
| 1601 Shakes. All's Well ii. iv. 32 Go too, thou art a wittie foole. 1632 G. Herbert Priest to Temple xxvi. (1652) 106 Being partiall to themselves and witty to others. 1712 Addison Spect. No. 530 ¶2 Will Honeycomb, who was so unmercifully witty upon the Women. 1748 Richardson Clarissa (1768) II. 75 My Mother..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.
| 1588 Shakes. L.L.L. v. i. 4 Your reasons..haue beene..witty without affection, audacious without impudency. 1601 ― Twel. N. iii. ii. 46 Be curst and briefe: it is no matter how wittie, so it bee eloquent, and full of inuention. 1639 N. N. tr. Du Bosq's Compl. Woman i. 30 The Melancholy [humour]..is..too grosse for witty conceits and apt replies. 1700 T. Brown tr. Fresny's Amusem. 152 Your Gentlemen that speak sharp and witty Things. 1702 Steele Funeral ii. 27 This is not one of your Tringham Trangham Witty things, that your Poor Poets write. 1733 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 Lytton Devereux i. i, He told the wittiest stories in the world without omitting anything in them but the point. 1880 ‘Ouida’ Moths i, ‘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. |
9. Comb. (parasynthetic and adverbial), as witty-brained, witty-conceited, witty-feigned, witty-pated, witty-pretty adjs. (all in sense 2, and obs. or arch.).
| 1591 Sylvester Du Bartas i. vi. 746 Japhetus' witty-fained Son. 1599 Nashe Lenten Stuffe 50 Some politique delegatory Scipio, or witty pated Petito. 1600 Breton Strange Fortunes 14 No lesse witty conceited of her dreame, then noting the cariage of her humor. 1606 Sylvester Du Bartas ii. iv. ii. Magnificence 684 Queint witty-pretty Toyes. 1818 Scott Hrt. Midl. xii, The smart witty-pated lawyers. 1820 ― Monast. xv, A witty-brained..and accomplished courtier. |