Wit is a form of intelligent humour—the ability to say or write things that are clever and typically funny.[1] Someone witty is a person who is skilled at making clever and funny remarks.[1][2] Forms of wit include the quip, repartee, and wisecrack.
A quip is an observation or saying that has some wit but perhaps descends into sarcasm, or otherwise is short of a point. A witticism also suggests the diminutive.
Repartee is the wit of the quick answer and capping comment: the snappy comeback and neat retort.
Metaphysical poetry as a style was prevalent in the time of English playwright William Shakespeare, who admonished pretension with the phrase "Better a witty fool than a foolish wit".[3] It may combine word play with conceptual thinking, as a kind of verbal display requiring attention, without intending to be laugh-out-loud funny. Indeed wit in verse can be a thin disguise for more poignant feelings. English poet John Donne is the representative of this style.[4]
Other usesedit
More generally, one's wits are one's intellectual powers of all types. Native wit—meaning the wits with which one is born—is closely synonymous with common sense. To live by one's wits is to be an opportunist, but not always of the scrupulous kind. To have one's wits about one is to be alert and capable of quick reasoning. To be at the end of one's wits ("I'm at wits' end") is to be immensely frustrated.[citation needed]
Look up native wit in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
^. Oxford Dictionaries. Archived from the original on July 19, 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
^Salingar, Leo (1976). Shakespeare and the Traditions of Comedy. Cambridge University Press. pp. 245–246. ISBN978-0-521-29113-2.
^Daley, Koos (1990). The Triple Fool: A Critical Evaluation of Constantijn Huygens' Translations of John Donne. De Graaf. p. 58. ISBN978-90-6004-405-6.
Bibliographyedit
Jefferson, D. W. (1951). "Tristram Shandy and the Tradition of Learned Wit". Essays in Criticism. Vol. 1. pp. 225–49.
January 01, 1970
this, article, about, form, humor, other, uses, disambiguation, wisecrack, redirects, here, other, uses, wisecrack, disambiguation, look, wiktionary, free, dictionary, form, intelligent, humour, ability, write, things, that, clever, typically, funny, someone, . This article is about the form of humor For other uses see Wit disambiguation Wisecrack redirects here For other uses see Wisecrack disambiguation Look up wit in Wiktionary the free dictionary Wit is a form of intelligent humour the ability to say or write things that are clever and typically funny 1 Someone witty is a person who is skilled at making clever and funny remarks 1 2 Forms of wit include the quip repartee and wisecrack The feast of reason James Gillray 1797 Contents 1 Forms 2 Other uses 3 See also 4 References 4 1 BibliographyForms editAs in the wit of Dorothy Parker s set the Algonquin Round Table witty remarks may be intentionally cruel as also in many epigrams and perhaps more ingenious than funny A quip is an observation or saying that has some wit but perhaps descends into sarcasm or otherwise is short of a point A witticism also suggests the diminutive Repartee is the wit of the quick answer and capping comment the snappy comeback and neat retort Metaphysical poetry as a style was prevalent in the time of English playwright William Shakespeare who admonished pretension with the phrase Better a witty fool than a foolish wit 3 It may combine word play with conceptual thinking as a kind of verbal display requiring attention without intending to be laugh out loud funny Indeed wit in verse can be a thin disguise for more poignant feelings English poet John Donne is the representative of this style 4 Other uses editMore generally one s wits are one s intellectual powers of all types Native wit meaning the wits with which one is born is closely synonymous with common sense To live by one s wits is to be an opportunist but not always of the scrupulous kind To have one s wits about one is to be alert and capable of quick reasoning To be at the end of one s wits I m at wits end is to be immensely frustrated citation needed nbsp Look up native wit in Wiktionary the free dictionary nbsp Wikiquote has quotations related to wit See also editHartford Wits New Oxford Wits Oxford Wits Wit film Wit play References edit a b wit Merriam Webster Retrieved 2012 05 27 wit Oxford Dictionaries Archived from the original on July 19 2012 Retrieved 29 May 2015 Salingar Leo 1976 Shakespeare and the Traditions of Comedy Cambridge University Press pp 245 246 ISBN 978 0 521 29113 2 Daley Koos 1990 The Triple Fool A Critical Evaluation of Constantijn Huygens Translations of John Donne De Graaf p 58 ISBN 978 90 6004 405 6 Bibliography edit Jefferson D W 1951 Tristram Shandy and the Tradition of Learned Wit Essays in Criticism Vol 1 pp 225 49 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wit amp oldid 1206386526, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
