Light-witted
adj ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 Having a feeble or weak intellect.
"When the Maior of the Citie, the two Dukes, and the two chiefe Juſtices, were ſet in Guyldhall for the performance of their commiſſion, and began to call the empanels for the enquirie, as the vſe and other is, diuers light witted, and leſſe brayned perſons of the citie, priuely armed them, and by the ringing of Bow bell, thought to aſſemble together a great multitude of their minde and opinion, and ſo by force and might to take from the kepers all ſuch priſoners, as were before apprehended, for the late committed robbery and riot, as they were goyng to their triall or arreignment."
Example
More examples"When the Maior of the Citie, the two Dukes, and the two chiefe Juſtices, were ſet in Guyldhall for the performance of their commiſſion, and began to call the empanels for the enquirie, as the vſe and other is, diuers light witted, and leſſe brayned perſons of the citie, priuely armed them, and by the ringing of Bow bell, thought to aſſemble together a great multitude of their minde and opinion, and ſo by force and might to take from the kepers all ſuch priſoners, as were before apprehended, for the late committed robbery and riot, as they were goyng to their triall or arreignment."
Etymology
From Middle English light-witted, from light (adjective) + witted (“having intelligence or understanding”, adjective), from the noun wit. See more at light, wit, -ed.
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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.