Witty

a. Forms: 1 wit(t)iʓ, 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. (sup.) vittiast), 3– witty. [OE. wit(t)iʓ (also ʓewittiʓ) = MLG. wetig, OHG. wiz(z)ig (MHG. wizzic), vitugr: f. WIT sb. + -Y¹.]

  † 1.  Having wisdom. a. Said of God or Christ: cf. WISE a. 1 (b). Obs.

Beowulf, 685. Witiʓ god … haliʓ dryhten.

a. 1000.  Cædmon’s Exod., 25. Hu þas woruld worhte witiʓ 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 judgment 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 læʓ on cradele … þa ʓitseras letan efen scyldiʓ & hit ʓewittiʓ wære.]

c. 1340.  Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 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.  Having (good) intellectual ability; intelligent, clever, ingenious; skilful, expert, capable. Obs. exc. dial.

[a. 1000.  Gifts of Men, 74. Sum bið ʓewittiʓ æt winþeʓe, beorhyrde god.]

a. 1100.  Aldhelm Gloss., 39, in Napier, O. E. Glosses, 2/2. Þer gymnosophistas, þurh wittiʓe pleʓmen uel gleawe gliʓmen.

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.  trans. 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 σωτησιἀν 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. I (c): cf. WIT sb. 5 c.

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVIII. xxiv. (Bodl. MS.). Noþing is more witty and besie þanne hounde.

1600.  J. Pory, trans. 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 unfavorable sense: Crafty, cunning, wily, artful; skilful in contriving evil; also, foolishly ingenious in devising something to one’s own hurt. Obs.

a. 1425.  trans. Arderne’s Treat. Fistula, etc., 30. Þat any oþer witty man perceyuyng his werk mow vsurpe it to hymself.

1580.  Vautroullier, Luther on Ep. Gal., 282. They are maruelous witty and wily in finding fault with other mens doings.

1599.  Shaks., 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 no man knows by what means, 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.  Mrs. 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 wittiʓ.

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, trans. 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.  Pettie, trans. Guazzo’s Civ. Conv., I. (1586), 20. The wittie answeres which hee made touching this purpose.

1611.  Bible, Prov. viii. 12. I wisdome 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 judgment 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, trans. 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, trans. 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 sb. 7); capable of or given to saying (or writing) brilliant or sparkling things, esp. in an amusing way; smartly jocose or facetious.

1590.  Shaks., 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.  Shaks., 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 sb. 8); cleverly amusing, ‘sparkling,’ smartly facetious or jocular; † sarcastic.

1588.  Shaks., L. L. L., V. i. 4. Your reasons … haue beene … witty without affection, audacious without impudency. Ibid. (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., trans. Du Bosq’s Compl. Woman, I. 30. The Melancholy [humour] … is … too grosse for witty conceits and apt replies.

1700.  T. Brown, trans. 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, -conceited, -feigned, -pated, -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. Ibid. (1820), Monast., xv. A witty-brained … and accomplished courtier.