wit

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
wit1

▶noun

• 1 (also wits) the capacity for inventive thought and quick understanding; keen intelligence.

• 2 a natural aptitude for using words and ideas in a quick and inventive way to create humour.

• 3 a witty person.

– phrases
be at one's wits' end be completely at a loss as to what to do.
be frightened (or scared) out of one's wits be extremely frightened.
gather (or collect) one's wits allow oneself to think calmly and clearly in a demanding situation.
have (or keep) one's wits about one be constantly alert.
live by one's wits earn money by clever and sometimes dishonest means, having no regular employment.

– derivatives
-witted adjective.

– origin OE wit(t), gewit(t), denoting the mind as the seat of consciousness, of Gmc origin; rel. to wit2.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
wit2

▶verb (wot, witting; past and past part. wist)

• 1 archaic know.

• 2 (to wit) that is to say.

– origin OE witan, of Gmc origin.