WITS

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does wits mean? 

• WITS (noun)
  The noun WITS has 1 sense:

1. the basic human power of intelligent thought and perception

  Familiarity information: WITS used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• WITS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The basic human power of intelligent thought and perception

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

marbles; wits

Context example:

he still had all his marbles and was in full possession of a lively mind

Hypernyms ("wits" is a kind of...):

intelligence (the ability to comprehend; to understand and profit from experience)

 Context examples 

Then, just as I was at my wits’ end, I caught sight of him, alone at one side; so I formed up in front.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

‘Yes,’ said I, ‘I have taken to living by my wits.’

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Laurie and she were always making signs to one another, and talking about 'Spread Eagles' till the girls declared they had both lost their wits.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

I am at my wits’ end.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I did every wild extravagance that could be done, and was a long way beyond the end of my wits when Miss Mills came into the room.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Oh, my Irish wits, could they not help me now, when I needed help so sorely?

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Happy thought! We shall to-night play sane wits against mad ones.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Because no time is to be lost in frightening my old housekeeper out of her wits, because I must go and prepare a dinner for you, to be sure.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

They had best find their wits again, for I shall have work for every man of them ere the sun set.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I recalled his singular conduct of yesterday, and really I began to fear his wits were touched.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)