half-wit

half-wit
a) A person of around half the average intelligence of his or her peers
b) A stupid or inept person

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  • half-wit — half′ wit n. a person who lacks intelligence or good sense; feeble minded or foolish person; fool • Etymology: 1670–80 half′ wit′ted, adj. half′ wit′ted•ly, adv. half′ wit′ted•ness, n …   From formal English to slang

  • half-wit — 1670s, originally a would be wit whose abilities are mediocre; sense of simpleton (one lacking all his wits) is first attested 1755. Half wits are fleas; so little and so light, We scarce could know they live, but that they bite. [Dryden, All for …   Etymology dictionary

  • half-wit — half wit; half wit·ted·ly; half wit·ted·ness; …   English syllables

  • half-wit — half wits 1) N COUNT (disapproval) If you describe someone as a half wit, you think they have behaved in a stupid, silly, or irresponsible way. [INFORMAL] Syn: fool 2) N COUNT A half wit is a person who has little intelligence. [OLD FASHIONED] …   English dictionary

  • Half-wit — ( w[i^]t ), n. A foolish person; a dolt; a blockhead; a dunce. Dryden. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • half-wit — [haf′wit΄] n. a stupid or silly person; fool half witted adj …   English World dictionary

  • half-wit — n informal a stupid person >.half witted adj ▪ I m not half witted, you know …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • half-wit — /half wit , hahf /, n. 1. a person who is feeble minded. 2. a person who is foolish or senseless; dunderhead. [1670 80] Syn. 2. blockhead, dolt, fool, nitwit, dope, dummy, dimwit. * * * …   Universalium

  • half-wit — half ,wit noun count IMPOLITE someone who is stupid or who has done something stupid …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • half-wit — [n] stupid person blockhead*, cretin, dimwit, dingbat*, dolt, dope*, dork*, dullard, dumbbell*, dummy*, dunce, dunderhead, fool, idiot, ignoramus, imbecile, lamebrain*, moron, nitwit, pea brain*, simpleton; concepts 350,423 …   New thesaurus

  • half´-wit´ted|ness — half wit|ted «HAF WIHT ihd, HAHF », adjective. 1. = feeble minded. (Cf. ↑feeble minded) 2. very stupid; foolish. –half´ wit´ted|ly, adverb. –half´ wit´ted|ness, noun …   Useful english dictionary

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