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Synonyms

witling

American  
[wit-ling] / ˈwɪt lɪŋ /

noun

  1. a person who affects wittiness.


witling British  
/ ˈwɪtlɪŋ /

noun

  1. archaic a person who thinks himself witty

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of witling

First recorded in 1685–95; wit 1 + -ling 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

A beau and witling perished in the throng,     One died in metaphor, and one in song.

From English Literature for Boys and Girls by H. E. (Henrietta Elizabeth) Marshall

The eccentric jackanapes who is by turns the butt and witling of the school stands for once consciously on equal terms with his principal, and can for once even "cheek" the school-bully with perfect impunity.

From Lippincott's Magazine, Vol. 22, September, 1878 by Various

He had no superstitions, but the unaccountable flight of the witling, and the eerie tales offered in explanation and the mystic night of storm in that wild forest waste unstrung him.

From King Spruce, A Novel by Holman Day

But the chopping-boss, his humorous gaze on the witling, remarked: “I reckon I’ll have to rule that song out, after this, ‘Hitchbiddy.’”

From King Spruce, A Novel by Holman Day

The following will exemplify the active meaning of this verb:  Sir Strut, for so the witling throng  Oft called him when at school,  And hitch'd him up in many a song  To sport and ridicule.

From The Dialect of the West of England; Particularly Somersetshire by James Jennings

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