witlessadj.
/ˈwɪtlᵻs/, U.S. /ˈwɪtlᵻs/ Now only literary and somewhat archaic.† 3. Devoid of understanding; having no intellectual faculty; irrational. Obsolete.
1. Lacking wisdom or sense; not guided by reason; unreasonable, foolish, heedless.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > foolishness, folly > [adjective]
dizzyc825
unwisec825
redelessOE
unwittyc1000
daftlikec1175
witlessc1175
canga1225
adoted?c1225
cangun?c1225
egedec1225
cangeda1250
foola1250
snepea1250
aerwittec1275
sotlyc1275
unslyc1275
unwitterc1275
unwilya1300
nicec1300
goosishc1374
unskilfulc1374
follyc1380
lewdc1380
mis-feelinga1382
dottlec1390
foltedc1390
peevishc1400
fona1425
fonnishc1425
foliousa1450
foolisha1450
daft?c1450
doitedc1450
dotyc1450
daffish1470
insapientc1470
gucked?a1500
wanwittya1500
furious1526
insipient1528
seelya1529
dawish?1529
foolage1545
momish1546
base-wittedc1547
stultitiousa1549
follifulc1550
senseless1565
mopish1568
fondish1579
unsensiblea1586
fondly1587
dizzardly1594
follial1596
featlessc1598
fopperly1599
gowkeda1605
inept1604
simple1604
anserine1607
foppish1608
silly ass1608
unsage1608
wisdomless1608
fool-beggeda1616
Gotham1621
noddy1645
badot1653
dosser-headed1655
infrunite1657
nonsensicalc1661
slight1663
sappy1670
datelessa1686
noddy-peaked1694
nizy1709
dottled1772
gypit1804
shay-brained1806
folly-stricken1807
fool-like1811
goosy1811
spoony1813
niddle-noddle1821
gumptionless1823
daftish1825
anserous1826
as crazy as a loon1830
spoonish1833
cheese-headed1836
dotty1860
fool-fool1868
noodly1870
dilly1873
gormless1883
daffy1884
monkey-doodle1886
mosy1887
jay1891
pithecanthropic1897
peanut-headed1906
dinlo1907
boob1911
goofy1921
ding-a-ling1935
jerky1944
jerk1947
jerkish1948
pointy-headed1950
doofus1967
twitty1967
twittish1969
nerkish1975
numpty1992
a1000 Boeth. Metr. xix. 46 Wenað þonne swa gewitlease ðæt hi þa soðan gesælða hæbben.]
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 6197 Ȝiff þin macche iss wis. & god. & tu wittlæs. & wicke.
c1290 S. Eng. Leg. 248/263 Þov witlese wrechche.
c1400 26 Pol. Poems iii. 90 Witteles wordes in ydel spoken.
c1400 Brut ccxiii. 249 Longe berde hertles, peyntede Hode witles, Gay cote graceles, makeþ Englissheman þriftles.
1559 W. Baldwin et al. Myrroure for Magistrates Clarence xiii I was witlesse, wanton, fond, and yong.
1581 Burne in Catholic Tractates (S.T.S.) 170 Ane..confused rabil of vitles Bishopis.
1587 G. Turberville Tragicall Tales f. 73v O wilfull witlesse acte, Which no man well aduisde would do.
a1676 M. Hale Primitive Originat. Mankind (1677) 356 To keep in and regulate the extravagant and witless Spirit of Man.
1724 A. Ramsay Tea-table Misc. (1733) II. 149 Why did I, young witless maid Believe the flatt'ring tale?
1794 W. Godwin Caleb Williams I. vi. 116 Intended (witless and miserable precaution!) for the safeguards of the poor.
1803 J. Porter Thaddeus of Warsaw xxxvi This witless coxcomb.
1860 J. L. Motley Hist. Netherlands (1868) I. v. 153 It was witless to believe that Parma contemplated any such measure.
1879 S. H. Butcher & A. Lang tr. Homer Odyssey 25 Telemachus, even hereafter thou shalt not be craven or witless.
1910 Times 13 July 12/3 Mr. Rolls..had..to drop suddenly to the ground..owing to some witless spectators running into his way.
2. Mentally deficient or deranged; out of one's wits, crazy, lunatic. †Also, stupefied, dazed.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > mental health > mental illness > mental deficiency > [adjective]
witlessc1000
fonda1400
brainless1434
doitedc1450
feeble-minded1534
half-witted1712
fatuous1773
a screw loose1810
losta1822
balmy1851
a shingle short1852
retardate1912
mental1927
subcultural1931
psychological1952
the world > health and disease > mental health > mental illness > [adjective] > insanity or madness > affected with
woodc725
woodsekc890
giddyc1000
out of (by, from, of) wit or one's witc1000
witlessc1000
brainsickOE
amadc1225
lunaticc1290
madc1330
sickc1340
brain-wooda1375
out of one's minda1387
frenetica1398
fonda1400
formada1400
unwisea1400
brainc1400
unwholec1400
alienate?a1425
brainless1434
distract of one's wits1470
madfula1475
furious1475
distract1481
fro oneself1483
beside oneself1490
beside one's patience1490
dementa1500
red-wood?1507
extraught1509
misminded1509
peevish1523
bedlam-ripe1525
straughta1529
fanatic1533
bedlama1535
daft1540
unsounda1547
stark raving (also staring) mad1548
distraughted1572
insane1575
acrazeda1577
past oneself1576
frenzy1577
poll-mad1577
out of one's senses1580
maddeda1586
frenetical1588
distempered1593
distraught1597
crazed1599
diswitted1599
idle-headed1599
lymphatical1603
extract1608
madling1608
distracteda1616
informala1616
far gone1616
crazy1617
March mada1625
non compos mentis1628
brain-crazed1632
demented1632
crack-brained1634
arreptitiousa1641
dementate1640
dementated1650
brain-crackeda1652
insaniated1652
exsensed1654
bedlam-witteda1657
lymphatic1656
mad-like1679
dementative1685
non compos1699
beside one's gravity1716
hyte1720
lymphated1727
out of one's head1733
maddened1735
swivel-eyed1758
wrong1765
brainsickly1770
fatuous1773
derangedc1790
alienated1793
shake-brained1793
crack-headed1796
flighty1802
wowf1802
doitrified1808
phrenesiac1814
bedlamite1815
mad-braineda1822
fey1823
bedlamitish1824
skire1825
beside one's wits1827
as mad as a hatter1829
crazied1842
off one's head1842
bemadded1850
loco1852
off one's nut1858
off his chump1864
unsane1867
meshuga1868
non-sane1868
loony1872
bee-headed1879
off one's onion1881
off one's base1882
(to go) off one's dot1883
locoed1885
screwy1887
off one's rocker1890
balmy or barmy on (or in) the crumpet1891
meshuggener1892
nutty1892
buggy1893
bughouse1894
off one's pannikin1894
ratty1895
off one's trolley1896
batchy1898
twisted1900
batsc1901
batty1903
dippy1903
bugs1904
dingy1904
up the (also a) pole1904
nut1906
nuts1908
nutty as a fruitcake1911
bugged1920
potty1920
cuckoo1923
nutsy1923
puggled1923
blah1924
détraqué1925
doolally1925
off one's rocket1925
puggle1925
mental1927
phooey1927
crackers1928
squirrelly1928
over the edge1929
round the bend1929
lakes1934
ding-a-ling1935
wacky1935
screwball1936
dingbats1937
Asiatic1938
parlatic1941
troppo1941
up the creek1941
screwed-up1943
bonkers1945
psychological1952
out to lunch1955
starkers1956
off (one's) squiff1960
round the twist1960
yampy1963
out of (also off) one's bird1966
out of one's skull1967
whacked out1969
batshit1971
woo-woo1971
nutso1973
out of (one's) gourd1977
wacko1977
off one's meds1986
the world > health and disease > mental health > mental illness > degree or type of mental illness > [adjective] > mentally prostrated or paralysed
witlessc1000
amazedOE
mazeda1325
tottyc1405
tavert1535
moped1606
amazeful1608
bewhatleda1643
anergic1874
labile1883
punchy1932
slug-nutty1933
slap-happy1936
slappy1937
c1000 Sax. Leechd. III. 146 On þam fiftan monþe he [sc. the fœtus] biþ cwica and weaxeð and seo modur lið witleas.
c1290 Beket 1906 in S. Eng. Leg. 161 He eode op and doun ase witles.
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 4414 He verde as a witles mon, hit was deol to be him ney.
1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. xiii. 1 I awaked þere-with, witles nerehande.
c1480 (a1400) St. Placidus 440 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 82 Sa lang witlas stil he stud, til þat nere he dronyt in þat flud.
1508 Golagros & Gawane (Chepman & Myllar) sig. biiiiv Wraithly wroht as thei war witlese and wode.
1571 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Psalmes of Dauid with Comm. (xxxiv. 1) The woord (witlesse)..will well agree, bycause Dauid feyned himself too bee out of his wittes.
16.. Young Musgrave xix, in F. J. Child Eng. & Sc. Pop. Ballads (1885) II. iii. 249/2 She'll gae witless wud.
1899 H. Sutcliffe Shameless Wayne iii. 26 It would never do to leave this witless body to the night-rain and the cold.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > lack of reason, irrationality > [adjective]
skillessc1175
unskilwisec1340
witlessa1382
unreasonablec1384
reasonlessa1450
unrationablea1500
unreasoned1582
irrationable1583
discourseless1620
irrational1661
unreasoning1682
dicked-up1967
ill1979
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Wisd. xv. 18 Thei most wrecchid herien bestes; witles forsothe, comparisouned to these.
c1535 Ploughman's Tale ii. sig. B.iiv They..lyuen worse than wytlesse beestes.
1577 T. Kendall tr. Politianus et al. Flowers of Epigrammes f. 50 This Image..Tongles and witles.
1587 Sir P. Sidney & A. Golding tr. P. de Mornay Trewnesse Christian Relig. xiv. 236 Sillie Soules which go on still like witlesse Beastes.
4.
a. Deficient in understanding; having undeveloped or imperfect intellectual power; unintelligent, undiscerning; stupid, dull-witted.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > [adjective]
unwittyc1000
heartlessa1382
meana1387
conceitless?c1425
insensuat1508
insensate1528
insensible?1531
miskenning1533
unsensible1560
witless1562
unfraught1587
unconceiving1593
stupid1595
small-knowing1598
surd1601
ununderstanding1611
unapprehensible1613
unperceiving?1623
unapprehensive1624
inapprehending1652
incomprehensive1652
inapprehensive1653
impenetrative1684
blind1692
uncomprehensive1694
unpenetrating1701
unmeaning1704
vacant1712
gilly-gaupus1754
unacute1775
unapprehending1794
unpenetrative1795
unwitted1828
uncomprehending1838
irrecognizant1845
vacuous1848
incomprehending1881
mush-headed1884
wantwit1894
doofus1967
acerebral1968
brain-dead1972
goofus1981
the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > stupidity, dullness of intellect > [adjective]
sloweOE
stuntc960
dullOE
hardOE
stuntlyc1000
sotc1050
dillc1175
dulta1225
simplea1325
heavy1340
astonedc1374
sheepishc1380
dull-witteda1387
lourd1390
steerishc1411
ass-likea1425
brainless?a1439
deafc1440
sluggishc1450
short-witted1477
obtuse1509
peakish1519
wearish1519
deaf, or dumb as a beetle1520
doileda1522
gross1526
headlessa1530
stulty1532
ass-headed1533
pot-headed1533
stupid?1541
sheep's head1542
doltish1543
dumpish1545
assish1548
blockish1548
slow-witted1548
blockheaded1549
surd1551
dull-headed1552
hammer-headed1552
skit-brained?1553
buzzardly1561
witless1562
log-headeda1566
assy1566
sottish1566
dastardly1567
stupidious1567
beetle-headed1570
calvish1570
bluntish1578
cod's-headed1578
grout-headed1578
bedaft1579
dull-pated1580
blate1581
buzzard-like1581
long-eared1582
dullard1583
woodena1586
duncical1588
leaden-headed1589
buzzard1592
dorbellical1592
dunstical1592
heavy-headeda1593
shallow-brained1592
blunt-witted1594
mossy1597
Bœotian1598
clay-brained1598
fat1598
fat-witted1598
knotty-pated1598
stupidous1598
wit-lost1599
barren1600
duncifiedc1600
lourdish1600
stockish1600
thick1600
booby1603
leaden-pated1603
partless1603
thin-headed1603
leaden-skulledc1604
blockhead1606
frost-brained1606
ram-headed1608
beef-witted1609
insulse1609
leaden-spirited1609
asininec1610
clumse1611
blockheadly1612
wattle-headed1613
flata1616
logger-headeda1616
puppy-headeda1616
shallow-patedc1616
thick-brained1619
half-headed1621
buzzard-blinda1625
beef-brained1628
toom-headed1629
thick-witted1634
woollen-witted1635
squirrel-headed1637
clod-pated1639
lean-souled1639
muddy-headed1642
leaden-witteda1645
as sad as any mallet1645
under-headed1646
fat-headed1647
half-witted1647
insipid1651
insulsate1652
soft-headed1653
thick-skulleda1657
muddish1658
non-intelligent1659
whey-brained1660
sap-headed1665
timber-headed1666
leather-headeda1668
out of (one's) tree1669
boobily1673
thoughtless1673
lourdly1674
logger1675
unintelligenta1676
Bœotic1678
chicken-brained1678
under-witted1683
loggerhead1684
dunderheaded1692
unintelligible1694
buffle-headed1697
crassicc1700
numbskulled1707
crassous1708
doddy-polled1708
haggis-headed1715
niddy-noddy1722
muzzy1723
pudding-headed1726
sumphish1728
pitcher-souleda1739
duncey1743
hebete1743
chuckheaded1756
dumb1756
duncely1757
imbecile1766
mutton-headed1768
chuckle-headed1770
jobbernowl1770
dowfarta1774
boobyish1778
wittol1780
staumrel1787
opaquec1789
stoopid1791
mud-headed1793
borné1795
muzzy-headed1798
nog-headed1800
thick-headed1801
gypit1804
duncish1805
lightweight1809
numbskull1814
tup-headed1816
chuckle-pate1820
unintellectuala1821
dense1822
ninnyish1822
dunch1825
fozy1825
potato-headed1826
beef-headed1828
donkeyish1831
blockheadish1833
pinheaded1837
squirrel-minded1837
pumpkin-headed1838
tomfoolish1838
dundering1840
chicken-headed1842
like a bump on a log1842
ninny-minded1849
numbheadeda1852
nincompoopish1852
suet-brained1852
dolly1853
mullet-headed1853
sodden1853
fiddle-headed1854
numb1854
bovine1855
logy1859
crass1861
unsmart1861
off his chump1864
wooden-headed1865
stupe1866
lean-minded1867
duffing1869
cretinous1871
doddering1871
thick-head1873
doddling1874
stupido1879
boneheaded1883
woolly-headed1883
leaden-natured1889
suet-headed1890
sam-sodden1891
dopey1896
turnip-headed1898
bonehead1903
wool-witted1905
peanut-headed1906
peanut-brained1907
dilly1909
torpid-minded1909
retardate1912
nitwitted1917
meat-headed1918
mug1922
cloth-headed1925
loopy1925
nitwit1928
lame-brained1929
dead from the neck up1930
simpy1932
nail-headed1936
square-headed1936
dingbats1937
pinhead1939
dim-witted1940
pea-brained1942
clueless1943
lobotomized1943
retarded1949
pointy-headed1950
clottish1952
like a stunned mullet1953
silly (or crazy) as a two-bob watch1954
out to lunch1955
pin-brained1958
dozy1959
eejity1964
out of one's tiny mind1965
doofus1967
twitty1967
twittish1969
twatty1975
twattish1976
blur1977
dof1979
goofus1981
dickheaded1991
dickish1991
numpty1992
cockish1996
1562 A. Brooke tr. M. Bandello Tragicall Hist. Romeus & Iuliet f. 69v Euen from the hory head, vnto the witles childe, She wan the hartes of all.
1617 J. Woodall Surgions Mate 9 I hold none so witlesse which cannot make usethereof, when they once see but the instrument.
1625 S. Purchas Pilgrimes II. vi. i. 777 The Inhabitants..are most base and witlesse people.
1822 W. M. Praed Lillian i. 140 The witless Child grew up alone.
1855 M. Arnold Balder Dead i. 98 Of ignorant witless mind Thou barest me, and unforeseeing soul.
b. Not understanding (something specified or implied); inapprehensive.
ΚΠ
1614 R. Wilkinson Paire of Serm. 2 Witlesse to discerne what he is himselfe.
1637 S. Rutherford Let. 7 Sept. in Joshua Redivivus (1671) 138 A witless and lazie observer of the Lord's way and working.
1855 R. Browning Epist. 143 The man is witless of..The value in proportion of all things.
1856 R. A. Vaughan Hours with Mystics (1860) I. iii. iv. 85 The blue aether..at which to look up with smiles of witless wonder.
5. Not knowing; unaware, unconscious of.In quot. 1827, incapable of.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > absence of perception > [adjective]
unwittingc893
unweeting1303
senseless1560
weetless1579
witless1584
imperceptive1661
inconscious1678
unconscious1712
unminding1714
impercipient1733
unconscient1829
incognizant1837
uncognisant1860
incognitive1862
inconscient1885
1584 in D. Masson Reg. Privy Council Scotl. (1880) 1st Ser. III. 691 Ignorant and wytles of thair rysche and insolent behaviour.
1597 T. Beard Theatre Gods Iudgements ii. ii. 216 Guiltlesse and witlesse of the crime.
1827 T. Hood Plea Midsummer Fairies lxxxi, in Plea Midsummer Fairies & Other Poems 41 His pretty pouting mouth, witless of speech.
1850 P. Crook War of Hats 34 Witless of the storm his words excite.
1872 J. S. Blackie Lays of Highlands 82 He lay all witless of his doom.
6. Devoid of wit (wit n. 8). rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > feeling of weariness or tedium > [adjective] > wearisome or tedious > not witty or humorous
unwitty1637
witless1753
inficete1830
unfacetious1831
jokeless1844
unfunny1858
unhumorous1881
1753 S. Richardson Hist. Sir Charles Grandison II. xxvi. 200 Repartee and smartness; the current wit of that witless place.
1859 Habits Good Society 93 He can no longer claim exemption from solemn dinners,..and witless tea-parties.
7. Alluding to a state of extreme fear. Esp. in colloquial phrase to be scared witless.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > [adjective] > very fearful
black afraid1894
shitless1924
shit-scared1944
poop-scared1972
witless1975
1975 D. Bagley Snow Tiger 19 It's the last job he'll ever have and he's scared witless that he'll lose it.
1982 S. Brett Murder Unprompted ii. 19 ‘How are you feeling?’.. ‘Scared witless, darling.’
Derivatives
ˈwitlessly adv. foolishly, stupidly.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > stupidity, dullness of intellect > [adverb]
sotly1154
blately1513
grossly?1531
dully1533
blockishly1556
bluntly1557
buzzardly1561
sottishly1566
thickly1574
doltishly1580
witlessly1598
stupidiously1600
brainlessly1610
stupidly?1611
insulsely1637
uncleverly1697
numbskully1708
unintelligently1754
stupid?1757
duncishly1826
stockishly1846
sumphishly1850
simple-mindedly1851
obtusely1863
crassly1883
bovinely1900
unperceptively1935
simplistically1939
obtusively1953
dopily1958
gormlessly1958
1598 J. Florio Worlde of Wordes Had not H. S...so witlessly prouoked me.
1608 Bp. T. Morton Preamble Incounter 72 Rather..accounted lyingly witty, than witlesly rash.
1855 A. Manning Old Chelsea Bun-house xix. 317 Everybody conceived themselves safe, as witlessly as they had previously held themselves to be in Danger.
ˈwitlessness n. senselessness, folly, stupidity.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > stupidity, dullness of intellect > [noun]
hardnessOE
stuntnessc1000
sotshipc1050
witlessnessa1100
sotheada1200
dullness1398
bluntness1483
slowness1495
grossnessa1530
stupidity?1541
assishness?1548
dastardness1552
lourderie1555
dastardliness1556
blockishness1561
doltishness1569
sottage1569
sheepishness1574
doltry1581
sottishness1589
doltage1593
dorbellism1593
grout-headry1600
opacity1611
duncery1615
dunstery1615
stupidness1619
hebetude1621
insulsity1623
unintelligence1634
obtuseness1648
jobbernowlism1652
dullery1653
non-intelligence1653
blockheadishness1656
crassness1664
blockheadedness1716
stolidness1727
blockheadism1753
numbskullity1779
nincompoophood1791
duncishness1805
numbskullism1806
foziness1821
noodledum1821
obtusity1823
soft-headedness1823
noodledom1827
duncehood1829
dunderheadedness1830
sumphishness1830
asininity1831
dunderheadism1836
stockishness1837
dullardness1840
fat-headedness1840
stupor1845
duncedom1847
misintelligence1848
nincompoopery1850
wooden-headedness1850
dumminess1852
jolterheadedness1852
ninnyship1852
donkeyism1855
dumbness1860
beef-wittedness1863
crassitude1865
donkeyhood1869
slow-wittedness1869
chuckle-headedness1880
leatherheadedness1880
pinheadedness1884
numbskulledness1885
donkeydom1889
thickheadedness1889
density1894
moronism1922
nitwittedness1931
nitwittery1931
noodleness1931
dopiness1942
squirrel-headedness1955
nincompoopism1957
dim-wittedness1960
clottishness1961
a1100 in A. S. Napier Old Eng. Glosses (1902) 213 Socordia, torpor, dementia, witleasnes.
1599 E. Sandys Europæ Speculum (1632) 178 Divine blessing, which accompanieth good causes, where wickednesse or wilfull witlessenesse doth not barre against it.
1766 J. Fordyce Serm. Young Women II. vii. 40 The admiration raised by ‘a set of features..’, is often by the witlessness of the possessor thrown down in an instant.
1860 E. B. Pusey Minor Prophets 239 Wisdom was turned into witlessness.
1879 S. H. Butcher & A. Lang tr. Homer Odyssey 282 He kicked Odysseus on the hip in his witlessness.
1910 Times Lit. Suppl. 10 Mar. 82/3 An artist..choosing to portray..the havoc and witlessness of mankind.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1928; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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adj.c1000