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• wight
  wight

  noun

  a human being.
• Wight
  Wight

  noun

  Isle of, an island off the S coast of England, forming an administrative division of Hampshire. 147 sq. mi. (381 sq. km). Newport.

wight

¹ American  

[wahyt] / waɪt /

noun

1. a human being.

2. Obsolete.

   1. a supernatural being, as a witch or sprite.

   2. any living being; a creature.

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wight ² American  

[wahyt] / waɪt /

adjective

British Dialect.

1. strong and brave, especially in war.

2. active; nimble.

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Wight ³ American  

[wahyt] / waɪt /

noun

1. Isle of, an island off the S coast of England, forming an administrative division of Hampshire. 147 sq. mi. (381 sq. km). Newport.

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Wight ¹ British  

/ waɪt /

noun

1. an island and county of S England in the English Channel. Administrative centre: Newport. Pop: 136 300 (2003 est). Area: 380 sq km (147 sq miles)

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wight ² British  

/ waɪt /

noun

1. archaic a human being

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wight ³ British  

/ waɪt /

adjective

1. archaic strong and brave; valiant

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Etymology

Origin of wight¹

before 900; Middle English, Old English wiht; cognate with German Wicht, Old Norse vēttr, Gothic waiht

Origin of wight²

1175–1225; Middle English < Scandinavian; compare Old Norse vīgt, neuter of vīgr able to fight

Example Sentences

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Chief Constable Alexis Boon said he did not recognise this term, telling the BBC he saw officers "day in, day out" doing their job for all communities.

From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026

However Boon, who heads Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, said he was not going to resign over the matter.

From BBC • Jun. 3, 2026

Three of the officers involved are still serving, and one has resigned, a spokesperson for the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary said.

From BBC • Jun. 2, 2026

Robert France, temporary deputy chief constable for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Constabulary, apologised for arresting Nowak in the moments before he died.

From BBC • May 28, 2026

He liked Wight and liked the work; he liked especially one of Wight’s other draftsmen, a southerner named John Wellborn Root, who was four years younger.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

Related Words

• body
• character
• child
• creature
• individual
• life
• mortal