[f. WITTY + -NESS.] The quality or character of being witty; † intelligence, sagacity; † cleverness, ingenuity; † wisdom, good sense, etc. (see WITTY a. 2–8).

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1533.  J. Heywood, Dial. Wit & Folly (Percy Soc.), 1. Ye show some wytty wyttines.

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1542.  Recorde, Gr. Artes, Pref. a iv. Wittynesse of beastes and byrdes.

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1544.  Betham, trans. Purlilia’s Precepts War, I. clxxxviii. I iv. In which case the wittynesse of ye capitayn & knowledge, is moch requyred.

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1608.  Topsell, Serpents, 264. Theyr [sc. spiders’] wittinesse, pollicie, quicknes and sharpnes of sence.

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1656.  Trapp, Comm. Rom. viii. 6. 635. To be carnally] The quintessence of the fleshes wittiness, or rather wickedness.

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1685.  Baxter, Paraphr. N. T., Mark vii. 28. Not for the Wittiness of her saying, but for her Faith and Importunity.

7

1845.  Mrs. S. C. Hall, in Morn. Chron., 28 May, 6/3. To smile at the wittiness of his [Thomas Hood’s] conceits.

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Mod.  The wittiness of his remarks was refreshing after the dullness of the previous speeches.

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