[f. WIT sb.] a. intr. with it: To play the wit; to make witty remarks. b. trans. as a meaningless repetition of the word just used, by way of a vague threat. c. trans. To call (a person) a wit, attribute wit to. (All nonce-uses.)
1654. Gayton, Pleas. Notes, III. v. 92. They beginne to be wanton, and to wit it one upon another.
a. 1662. Heylin, Laud (1668), 260. Others … impute the Republishing of this Declaration to the new Archbishop,… after he took possession of his Graceship, as Burton doth pretend to wit it in his Pulpit Libell.
1679. Shadwell, True Widow, II. 30. Sel. … I think they are all out of their wits…. Prig. Prithee Stanmore be my Second, I’ll wit him with a Pox to him.
1778. Mme. D’Arblay, Diary, 26 Sept. Dr. Johnson. ‘Why, did Dr. Jebb forbid her wine?’ F. B. ‘Yes, sir.’ Dr. Johnson. ‘Well, he was in the right; he knows how apt wits are to transgress that way….’ In this sort of ridiculous manner he wits me eternally.
