adj.
Pronunciation: ' wi-t ē
Function: adjective
Inflected Form: wit · ti · er ; -est
Date: before 12th century
1 archaic : having good intellectual capacity : INTELLIGENT
2 : amusingly or ingeniously clever in conception or execution <the costumes are sumptuous and witty ― Virgil Thomson> <the musical background is ⋯ often witty ― Wolcott Gibbs>
3 : marked by or full of wit : smartly facetious or jocular <a witty novel>
4 : quick or ready to see or express illuminating or amusing relationships or insights <a witty raconteur>
– wit · ti · ly \ ' wi-t ə -l ē \ adverb
– wit · ti · ness \ ' wi-t ē -n ə s \ noun
synonyms WITTY , HUMOROUS , FACETIOUS , JOCULAR , JOCOSE mean provoking or intended to provoke laughter. WITTY suggests cleverness and quickness of mind <a witty remark>. HUMOROUS applies broadly to anything that evokes usually genial laughter and may contrast with witty in suggesting whimsicality or eccentricity < humorous anecdotes>. FACETIOUS stresses a desire to produce laughter and may be derogatory in implying dubious or ill-timed attempts at wit or humor < facetious comments>. JOCULAR implies a usually habitual fondness for jesting and joking <a jocular fellow>. JOCOSE is somewhat less derogatory than FACETIOUS in suggesting habitual waggishness or playfulness < jocose proposals>.