Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

witless

/wˈɪtləs/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.32 in modern English

Syllables: wit-less
IPA: /wˈɪtləs/

10

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

2

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Lacking wit or understanding; foolish.

adj

Indiscreet; not using clear and sound judgment.

adj

Mindless, lacking conscious thought or the capacity for it.

Example Sentences

"Then will we march to all thoſe Indian Mines, My witleſſe brother to the Chriſtians loſt: And ranſome them with fame and vſurie."
"To be his whore, is witles; Out upon't;"
"Rage warps my clearest cry To witless agony."

Etymology

From Middle English witles, from Old English witlēas (“senseless; witless”), from Proto-Germanic *witjalausaz (“witless”), equivalent to wit + -less. Cognate with Swedish vettlös (“senseless; witless; wild”), Icelandic vitlaus (“senseless; witless; foolish; mad”).

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: witles, witlēas, *witjalausaz
Suffix: wit

Inflected Forms

more witless (comparative) most witless (superlative)

Derived Forms

witlessly witlessness

Phrases

witless wonder

Synonyms

nitwitted senseless soft-witted shitless

Antonyms

witful

Questions

How do you pronounce witless?: The recorded pronunciation is /wˈɪtləs/.
What does witless mean?: Lacking wit or understanding; foolish.
Where does witless come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce witless

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “witless”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/wˈɪtləs/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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