Half-wit
[half-wit, hahf-] /ˈhælfˌwɪt, ˈhɑf-/
noun
1.
a person who is feeble-minded.
2.
a person who is foolish or senseless; dunderhead.
n.
1670s, originally “a would-be wit whose abilities are mediocre;” sense of “simpleton” (one lacking all his wits) is first attested 1755.
Half-wits are fleas; so little and so light,
We scarce could know they live, but that they bite.
[Dryden, “All for Love”]
Phrase out of half wit “half out of one’s mind” was in Middle English (late 14c.). Half-witted “lacking common sense” is from 1640s.
noun
A foolish person: half-wits in the phys ed class (1755+)
Read Also:
- Half-witted
[haf-wit-id, hahf-] /ˈhæfˈwɪt ɪd, ˈhɑf-/ adjective 1. . 2. foolish; stupid.
- Half-year
noun 1.
- Half-liter
[haf-lee-ter, hahf-] /ˈhæfˈli tər, ˈhɑf-/ noun 1. a unit of capacity equal to 500 cubic centimeters.
- Half-line
[haf-lahyn, hahf-] /ˈhæfˌlaɪn, ˈhɑf-/ noun, Mathematics. 1. 1 (def 7b).
- Hali-
combining form 1. a variant of halo- word-forming element meaning “salt, sea,” from Greek hali-, comb. form of hals (genitive halos) “a lump of salt, salt generally,” in Homer, “the sea,” from PIE *sal- “salt” (see salt (n.)).