- half-wit
- noun Date: 1640 a foolish or imbecilic person • half-witted adjective • half-wittedness noun
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
half-wit
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half-wit — half′ wit n. a person who lacks intelligence or good sense; feeble minded or foolish person; fool • Etymology: 1670–80 half′ wit′ted, adj. half′ wit′ted•ly, adv. half′ wit′ted•ness, n … From formal English to slang
half-wit — 1670s, originally a would be wit whose abilities are mediocre; sense of simpleton (one lacking all his wits) is first attested 1755. Half wits are fleas; so little and so light, We scarce could know they live, but that they bite. [Dryden, All for … Etymology dictionary
half-wit — half wit; half wit·ted·ly; half wit·ted·ness; … English syllables
half-wit — half wits 1) N COUNT (disapproval) If you describe someone as a half wit, you think they have behaved in a stupid, silly, or irresponsible way. [INFORMAL] Syn: fool 2) N COUNT A half wit is a person who has little intelligence. [OLD FASHIONED] … English dictionary
Half-wit — ( w[i^]t ), n. A foolish person; a dolt; a blockhead; a dunce. Dryden. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
half-wit — [haf′wit΄] n. a stupid or silly person; fool half witted adj … English World dictionary
half-wit — n informal a stupid person >.half witted adj ▪ I m not half witted, you know … Dictionary of contemporary English
half-wit — /half wit , hahf /, n. 1. a person who is feeble minded. 2. a person who is foolish or senseless; dunderhead. [1670 80] Syn. 2. blockhead, dolt, fool, nitwit, dope, dummy, dimwit. * * * … Universalium
half-wit — half ,wit noun count IMPOLITE someone who is stupid or who has done something stupid … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
half-wit — [n] stupid person blockhead*, cretin, dimwit, dingbat*, dolt, dope*, dork*, dullard, dumbbell*, dummy*, dunce, dunderhead, fool, idiot, ignoramus, imbecile, lamebrain*, moron, nitwit, pea brain*, simpleton; concepts 350,423 … New thesaurus
half´-wit´ted|ness — half wit|ted «HAF WIHT ihd, HAHF », adjective. 1. = feeble minded. (Cf. ↑feeble minded) 2. very stupid; foolish. –half´ wit´ted|ly, adverb. –half´ wit´ted|ness, noun … Useful english dictionary
