witless

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English

Etymology

From Middle English witles, from Old English witlēas (senseless; witless), from Proto-Germanic *witjalausaz (witless), equivalent to wit +‎ -less. Cognate with Swedish vettlös (senseless; witless; wild), Icelandic vitlaus (senseless; witless; foolish; mad).

Pronunciation

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Adjective

witless (comparative more witless, superlative most witless)

  1. Lacking wit or understanding; foolish.
  2. Indiscreet; not using clear and sound judgment.
  3. Mindless, lacking conscious thought or the capacity for it.
    • 1941, Theodore Roethke, “Open House”, in Open House; republished in The Collected Poems of Theodore Roethke, 1975, →ISBN, page 3:
      Rage warps my clearest cry
      To witless agony.

Usage notes

  • This term is frequently found in phrases such as scared witless, witless with fear, and so on.

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