cat-wittedadj.
Small-minded, obstinate, and spiteful.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > decision > obstinacy or stubbornness > [adjective]
starkOE
moodyOE
stithc1000
stidyc1175
stallc1275
harda1382
stubbornc1386
obstinate?1387
throa1400
hard nolleda1425
obstinant?a1425
pertinacec1425
stablec1440
dour1488
unresigned1497
difficultc1503
hard-necked1530
pertinatec1534
obstacle1535
stout-stomached1549
hard-faced1567
stunt1581
hard-headed1583
pertinacious1583
stuntly1583
peremptory1589
stomachous1590
mulish1600
stomachful1600
obstined1606
restive1633
obstinacious1649
opinionated1649
tenacious1656
iron-sided1659
sturdy1664
cat-witted1672
obstinated1672
unyielding1677
ruggish1688
bullet-headed1699
tough1780
pelsy1785
stupid1788
hard-set1818
thick and thin1822
stuntya1825
rigwiddie1826
indomitable1830
recalcitrant1830
set1848
mule-headed1870
muley1871
capitose1881
hard-nosed1917
tight1928
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > unkindness > spite, malice > [adjective]
loathOE
teenfulOE
nithefulOE
ondfula1200
maliciousa1250
doggedc1300
enviousc1330
venomousa1340
venoma1350
spitous?a1366
despitousc1374
heinous?a1400
unkindlya1400
venomyc1400
sinister1411
sputousc1420
doggish?a1425
cankered?a1439
doggya1450
sinistrous1460
spity1481
despiteful1488
spiteful1490
despiteous?1510
viperious?1510
peevisha1522
envyful1530
viperous1535
viperinec1540
vipered1560
bad-minded1588
uncanny1596
dogged-sprighted1600
toothsome1601
maliced1602
ill-minded1611
virulent1613
ill-hearteda1617
doleful1617
spitish1627
ill-meaning1633
splenial1641
litherlya1643
venomsome1660
slim1668
cat-witted1672
vipereal1750
viperish1755
méchant1813
vicious1825
maliceful1840
mean1841
waspish1855
viperian1866
viperan1877
cattish1883
catty1886
bad mind1904
bitchy1908
the mind > mental capacity > belief > expressed belief, opinion > bias, prejudice > narrow-mindedness > [adjective]
narrowed1599
narrow-minded1611
narrow1612
small1619
narrow1622
tub-brained1634
narrow-souled1641
narrow-spirited1645
narrow-compassed1647
illiberal1649
cat-witted1672
stingy1694
little-minded1707
straitened1712
unenlarged1741
contracted1765
one-eyed1779
unliberalized1793
nippit1808
small-minded1811
narrow-brained1835
narrow visioned1853
thin-minded1862
narrow-gauge1872
one-track1900
narrow-gutted1903
tunnel-visioned1968
1672 O. Walker Of Educ. i. ix. 76 Cat-witted, dissolute, foolish.
1805 R. Anderson Ballads in Cumberland Dial. 89 A silly proud cat-witted fuil.
1862 Leis. Hours in Town 18 Multitudes of men are what in Scotland is called catwitted..It implies a combination of littleness of nature, small self-conceit, readiness to take offence, determination in little things to have one's own way, and general impracticability.
1864 T. Carlyle Hist. Friedrich II of Prussia IV. xvi. ii. 260 Very cat-witted woman.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1889; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
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adj.1672