Chapter 1898

Wit (?) , n. [AS. witt , wit ; akin to OFries. wit , G. witz , OHG. wizz\'c6 , Icel. vit , Dan. vid , Sw. vett . &root;133. See Wit , v. ]

1. Mind; intellect; understanding; sense.

Who knew the wit of the Lord? or who was his counselor? Wyclif (Rom. xi. 34).

A prince most prudent, of an excellent And unmatched wit and judgment. Shak.

Will puts in practice what wit deviseth. Sir J. Davies.

He wants not wit the dander to decline. Dryden.

2. A mental faculty, or power of the mind; -- used in this sense chiefly in the plural, and in certain phrases; as, to lose one's wits ; at one's wits' end, and the like . "Men's wittes ben so dull."

Chaucer.

I will stare him out of his wits . Shak.

3. Felicitous association of objects not usually connected, so as to produce a pleasant surprise; also. the power of readily combining objects in such a manner.

The definition of wit is only this, that it is a propriety of thoughts and words; or, in other terms, thoughts and words elegantly adapted to the subject. Dryden.

Wit which discovers partial likeness hidden in general diversity. Coleridge.

Wit lying most in the assemblage of ideas, and putting those together with quickness and variety wherein can be found any resemblance or congruity, thereby to make up pleasant pictures in the fancy. Locke.

4. A person of eminent sense or knowledge; a man of genius, fancy, or humor; one distinguished for bright or amusing sayings, for repartee, and the like.

In Athens, where books and wits were ever busier than in any other part of Greece, I find but only two sorts of writings which the magistrate cared to take notice of; those either blasphemous and atheistical, or libelous. Milton.

Intemperate wits will spare neither friend nor foe. L'Estrange.

A wit herself, Amelia weds a wit . Young.

The five wits , the five senses; also, sometimes, the five qualities or faculties, common wit , imagination , fantasy , estimation , and memory .

Chaucer. Nares.

But my five wits nor my five senses can Dissuade one foolish heart from serving thee. Shak.

Syn. -- Ingenuity; humor; satire; sarcasm; irony; burlesque. -- Wit , Humor . Wit primarily meant mind; and now denotes the power of seizing on some thought or occurrence, and, by a sudden turn, presenting it under aspects wholly new and unexpected -- apparently natural and admissible, if not perfectly just, and bearing on the subject, or the parties concerned, with a laughable keenness and force. "What I want," said a pompous orator, aiming at his antagonist, "is common sense." " Exactly !" was the whispered reply. The pleasure we find in wit arises from the ingenuity of the turn, the sudden surprise it brings, and the patness of its application to the case, in the new and ludicrous relations thus flashed upon the view. Humor is a quality more congenial to the English mind than wit . It consists primarily in taking up the peculiarities of a humorist (or eccentric person) and drawing them out, as Addison did those of Sir Roger de Coverley, so that we enjoy a hearty, good-natured laugh at his unconscious manifestation of whims and oddities. From this original sense the term has been widened to embrace other sources of kindly mirth of the same general character. In a well-known caricature of English reserve, an Oxford student is represented as standing on the brink of a river, greatly agitated at the sight of a drowning man before him, and crying out, "O that I had been introduced to this gentleman, that I might save his life! The, "Silent Woman" of Ben Jonson is one of the most humorous productions, in the original sense of the term, which we have in our language.

Witch <Xpage=1659>

Witch (?) , n. [Cf. Wick of a lamp.] A cone of paper which is placed in a vessel of lard or other fat, and used as a taper. [Prov. Eng.]

Witch <Xpage=1659>

Witch , n. [OE. wicche , AS. wicce , fem., wicca , masc.; perhaps the same word as AS. w\'c6tiga , w\'c6tga , a soothsayer (cf. Wiseacre ); cf. Fries. wikke , a witch, LG. wikken to predict, Icel. vitki a wizard, vitka to bewitch.]

1. One who practices the black art, or magic; one regarded as possessing supernatural or magical power by compact with an evil spirit, esp. with the Devil; a sorcerer or sorceress; -- now applied chiefly or only to women, but formerly used of men as well.

There was a man in that city whose name was Simon, a witch . Wyclif (Acts viii. 9).

He can not abide the old woman of Brentford; he swears she's a witch . Shak.

2. An ugly old woman; a hag.

Shak.

3. One who exercises more than common power of attraction; a charming or bewitching person; also, one given to mischief; -- said especially of a woman or child. [Colloq.]

4. (Geom.) A certain curve of the third order, described by Maria Agnesi under the name versiera .

5. (Zo\'94l.) The stormy petrel.

Witch balls , a name applied to the interwoven rolling masses of the stems of herbs, which are driven by the winds over the steppes of Tartary. Cf. Tumbleweed . Maunder (Treas. of Bot.) -- Witches' besoms (Bot.) , tufted and distorted branches of the silver fir, caused by the attack of some fungus. Maunder (Treas. of Bot.) -- Witches' butter (Bot.) , a name of several gelatinous cryptogamous plants, as Nostoc commune , and Exidia glandulosa . See Nostoc . -- Witch grass (Bot.) , a kind of grass ( Panicum capillare ) with minute spikelets on long, slender pedicels forming a light, open panicle. -- Witch meal (Bot.) , vegetable sulphur. See under Vegetable .

Witch <Xpage=1659>

Witch (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Witched (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Witching .] [AS. wiccian .] To bewitch; to fascinate; to enchant.

[I 'll] witch sweet ladies with my words and looks. Shak.

Whether within us or without The spell of this illusion be That witches us to hear and see. Lowell.

Witchcraft <Xpage=1659>

Witch"craft` (?) , n. [AS. wiccecr\'91ft .]

1. The practices or art of witches; sorcery; enchantments; intercourse with evil spirits.

2. Power more than natural; irresistible influence.

He hath a witchcraft Over the king in 's tongue. Shak.

Witch-elm <Xpage=1659>

Witch"-elm` (?) , n. (Bot.) See Wych-elm .

Witchery <Xpage=1659>

Witch"er*y (?) , n ; pl. Witcheries (<?/) .

1. Sorcery; enchantment; witchcraft.

Great Comus, Deep skilled in all his mother's witcheries . Milton.

A woman infamous . . . for witcheries . Sir W. Scott.

2. Fascination; irresistible influence; enchantment.

He never felt The witchery of the soft blue sky. Wordsworth.

The dear, dear witchery of song. Bryant.

Witch-hazel <Xpage=1659>

Witch"-ha`zel (?) , n. [See Wych-elm , and Hazel .] (Bot.) The wych-elm. (b) An American shrub or small tree ( Hamamelis Virginica ), which blossoms late in autumn.

Witching <Xpage=1659>

Witch"ing , a. That witches or enchants; suited to enchantment or witchcraft; bewitching. "The very witching time of night." Shak . -- Witch"ing*ly , adv.

Witch-tree <Xpage=1659>

Witch"-tree` (?) , n. (Bot.) The witch-hazel.

Witchuck <Xpage=1659>

Wit"chuck` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) The sand martin, or bank swallow. [Prov. Eng.]

Wit-cracker <Xpage=1659>

Wit"-crack`er (?) , n. One who breaks jests; a joker. [Obs.]

Shak.

Witcraft <Xpage=1659>

Wit"craft` (?) , n. 1. Art or skill of the mind; contrivance; invention; wit. [Obs.]

Camden.

2. The art of reasoning; logic. [R.]

Wite <Xpage=1659>

Wite (?) , v. t. [AS. w\'c6tan ; akin to D. wijten , G. ver weisen , Icel. v\'c6ta to mulct, and E. wit ; cf. AS. w\'c6tan to see, L. animad vertere to observe, to punish. <?/<?/<?/<?/. See Wit , v. ] To reproach; to blame; to censure; also, to impute as blame. [Obs. or Scot.]

Spenser.

Though that I be jealous, wite me not. Chaucer.

There if that I misspeak or say, Wite it the ale of Southwark, I you pray. Chaucer.

Wite <Xpage=1659>

Wite , n. [AS. w\'c6te punishment. <?/<?/<?/<?/. See Wite , v. ] Blame; reproach. [Obs. or Scot.]

Chaucer.

Witeless <Xpage=1659>

Wite"less , a. Blameless. [Obs.]

Spenser.

Witen <Xpage=1659>

Wit"en (?) , obs. pl. pres. of Wit .

Chaucer.

Witenagemote <Xpage=1659>

Wit"e*na*ge*mote` (?; 277) , n. [AS. witena gem&omac;t an assembly of the wise; wita a wise man + gem&omac;t assembly.] (AS. Hist.) A meeting of wise men; the national council, or legislature, of England in the days of the Anglo-Saxons, before the Norman Conquest.

Witfish <Xpage=1659>

Wit"fish` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) The ladyfish (a) .

Witful <Xpage=1659>

Wit"ful (?) , a. Wise; sensible. [R.]

Chapman.

With <Xpage=1659>

With (?) , n. See Withe .

With <Xpage=1659>

With (?) , prep. [OE. with , AS. wi<?/ with, against; akin to AS. wi<?/er against, OFries. with , OS. wi<?/ , wi<?/ar , D. weder , we\'88r (in comp.), G. wider against, wieder gain, OHG. widar again, against, Icel. vi<?/ against, with, by, at, Sw. vid at, by, Dan. ved , Goth. wipra against, Skr. vi asunder. Cf. Withdraw , Withers , Withstand .] With denotes or expresses some situation or relation of nearness, proximity, association, connection, or the like. It is used especially: --

1. To denote a close or direct relation of opposition or hostility; -- equivalent to against .

Thy servant will . . . fight with this Philistine. 1 Sam. xvii. 32.

&hand; In this sense, common in Old English, it is now obsolete except in a few compounds; as, with hold; with stand; and after the verbs fight , contend , struggle , and the like.

2. To denote association in respect of situation or environment; hence, among; in the company of.

I will buy with you, talk with you, walk with you, and so following; but I will not eat with you, drink with you, nor pray with you. Shak.

Pity your own, or pity our estate, Nor twist our fortunes with your sinking fate. Dryden.

See where on earth the flowery glories lie; With her they flourished, and with her they die. Pope.

There is no living with thee nor without thee. Tatler.

Such arguments had invincible force with those pagan philosophers. Addison.

3. To denote a connection of friendship, support, alliance, assistance, countenance, etc.; hence, on the side of.

Fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee. Gen. xxvi. 24.

4. To denote the accomplishment of cause, means, instrument, etc; -- sometimes equivalent to by .

That with these fowls I be all to-rent. Chaucer.

Thou wilt be like a lover presently, And tire the hearer with a book of words. Shak.

[He] entertained a coffeehouse with the following narrative. Addison.

With receiving your friends within and amusing them without, you lead a good, pleasant, bustling life of it. Goldsmith.

5. To denote association in thought, as for comparison or contrast.

Can blazing carbuncles with her compare. Sandys.

6. To denote simultaneous happening, or immediate succession or consequence.

With that she told me . . . that she would hide no truth from me. Sir P. Sidney.

With her they flourished, and with her they die. Pope.

With this he pointed to his face. Dryden.

7. To denote having as a possession or an appendage; as, the firmament with its stars; a bride with a large fortune . "A maid with clean hands. "

Shak.

&hand; With and by are closely allied in many of their uses, and it is not easy to lay down a rule by which to distinguish their uses. See the Note under By .

Withal <Xpage=1659>

With*al" (?) , adv. [ With + all .]

1. With this; with that. [Obs.]

He will scarce be pleased withal . Shak.

2. Together with this; likewise; at the same time; in addition; also. [Archaic]

Fy on possession But if a man be virtuous withal . Chaucer.

If you choose that, then I am yours withal . Shak.

How modest in exception, and withal How terrible in constant resolution. Shak.

Withal <Xpage=1659>

With*al" , prep. With; -- put after its object, at the end of sentence or clause in which it stands. [Obs.]

This diamond he greets your wife withal . Shak.

Whatsoever uncleanness it be that a man shall be defiled withal . Lev. v. 3.

Withamit</ <Xpage=1659>

With"am*it<?/ (?) , n. [From its discoverer, H. Witham .] (Min.) A variety of epidote, of a reddish color, found in Scotland.

Withdraw <Xpage=1659>

With*draw" (?) , v. t. [ imp. Withdrew (?) ; p. p. Withdrawn (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Withdrawing .] [ With against + draw. ]

1. To take back or away, as what has been bestowed or enjoyed; to draw back; to cause to move away or retire; as, to withdraw aid, favor, capital, or the like .

Impossible it is that God should withdraw his presence from anything. Hooker.

2. To take back; to recall or retract; as, to withdraw false charges .

Withdraw <Xpage=1659>

With*draw" , v. i. To retire; to retreat; to quit a company or place; to go away; as, he withdrew from the company . "When the sea withdrew ."

King Horn.

Syn. -- To recede; retrograde; go back.

Withdrawal <Xpage=1659>

With*draw"al (?) , n. The act of withdrawing; withdrawment; retreat; retraction.

Fielding.

Withdrawer <Xpage=1659>

With*draw"er (?) , n. One who withdraws; one who takes back, or retracts.

Withdrawing-room <Xpage=1659>

With*draw"ing-room` (?) , n. [See Withdraw , and cf. Drawing-room .] A room for retirement from another room, as from a dining room; a drawing-room.

A door in the middle leading to a parlor and withdrawing-room . Sir W. Scott.

Withdrawment <Xpage=1659>

With*draw"ment (?) , n. The act of withdrawing; withdrawal.

W. Belsham.

Withe <Xpage=1659>

Withe (?; 277) , n. [OE. withe . <?/<?/<?/<?/. See Withy , n. ] [Written also with .]

1. A flexible, slender twig or branch used as a band; a willow or osier twig; a withy.

2. A band consisting of a twig twisted.

3. (Naut.) An iron attachment on one end of a mast or boom, with a ring, through which another mast or boom is rigged out and secured; a wythe.

R. H. Dana, Jr.

4. (Arch.) A partition between flues in a chimney.

Withe <Xpage=1659>

Withe , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Withed (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Withing .] To bind or fasten with withes.

You shall see him withed , and haltered, and staked, and baited to death. Bp. Hall.

Wither <Xpage=1659>

With"er (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Withered (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Withering .] [OE. wideren ; probably the same word as wederen to weather (see Weather , v. & n. ); or cf. G. verwittern to decay, to be weather-beaten, Lith. vysti to wither.]

1. To fade; to lose freshness; to become sapless; to become sapless; to dry or shrivel up.

Shall he hot pull up the roots thereof, and cut off the fruit thereof, that it wither ? Ezek. xvii. 9.

2. To lose or want animal moisture; to waste; to pin<?/ away, as animal bodies.

This is man, old, wrinkled, faded, withered . Shak.

There was a man which had his hand withered . Matt. xii. 10.

Now warm in love, now with'ring in the grave. Dryden.

3. To lose vigor or power; to languish; to pass away. "Names that must not wither ."

Byron.

States thrive or wither as moons wax and wane. Cowper.

Wither <Xpage=1659>

With"er , v. t. 1. To cause to fade, and become dry.

The sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth. James i. 11.

2. To cause to shrink, wrinkle, or decay, for want of animal moisture. "Age can not wither her."

Shak.

Shot forth pernicious fire Among the accursed, that withered all their strength. Milton.

3. To cause to languish, perish, or pass away; to blight; as, a reputation withered by calumny .

The passions and the cares that wither life. Bryant.

Witherband <Xpage=1659>

With"er*band` (?) , n. [ Withers + band .] (Far.) A piece of iron in a saddle near a horse's withers, to strengthen the bow.

Withered <Xpage=1659>

With"ered (?) , a. Faded; dried up; shriveled; wilted; wasted; wasted away. -- With"ered*ness , n.

Bp. Hall.

Withering <Xpage=1659>

With"er*ing (?) , a. Tending to wither; causing to shrink or fade. -- With"er*ing*ly , adv.

Witherite <Xpage=1659>

With"er*ite (?) , n. [So called after Dr. W. Withering .] (Min.) Barium carbonate occurring in white or gray six-sided twin crystals, and also in columnar or granular masses.

Witherling <Xpage=1659>

With"er*ling (?) , n. [ Wither + -ling .] A withered person; one who is decrepit. [Obs.]

Chapman.

Withernam <Xpage=1659>