witless

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”).

Adjective

witless (comparative more witless, superlative most witless)

1. Lacking wit or understanding
2. indiscreet; not using clear and sound judgment.

Usage notes

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

Antonyms

• witful

Derived terms

• witlessly
• witlessness

Translations

Without wit or understanding

• Bulgarian: глупав (bg) (glupav), тъп (bg) (tǎp)
• Catalan: desentenimentat
• Finnish: järjetön (fi), älytön (fi)
• French: stupide (fr)
• German: hirnlos (de), (formally) geistfrei n, nicht klar bei Verstand, dumm (de), blöde (de)
• Persian: بی‌خرد‎ (bi-xerad)

References

“witless”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

Anagrams

• Wiltses, twissel