mother wit

[muhth-er wit]

noun

1. natural or practical intelligence, wit, or sense.

mother wit

noun

1. native practical intelligence; common sense

Word History and Origins

Origin of mother wit¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English moderis wytte

Example Sentences

Gault eventually got there, reclaiming a bit of her mom's "mother wit."

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To understand the limits of my own education and the farther reach of mother wit.

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As for their viewing of Spike Lee’s movie, the scene that Tanne derives from it is a minor masterwork of ironic psychology and mother wit.

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She encouraged me to listen carefully to what country people called mother wit.

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But mother wit and “needs must” trained him in a short time to win the ear of an audience.

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