verb (used with object)
1.
to taunt, tease, ridicule, etc., with reference to anything embarrassing; gibe at. Synonyms: jeer at, mock, insult, deride.
2.
to reproach or upbraid. Synonyms: chide, scold, rebuke, criticize, revile, castigate.
noun
3.
an act of twitting.
4.
a derisive reproach; taunt; gibe.
Origin:
1520–30; aphetic variant of obsolete atwite, Middle English atwiten, Old English ætwītan to taunt, equivalent to æt- at1 + wītan to blame
1520–30; aphetic variant of obsolete atwite, Middle English atwiten, Old English ætwītan to taunt, equivalent to æt- at1 + wītan to blame
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Twit
is one of our favorite verbs.
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| to spend time idly; loaf. |
| to run away hurriedly; flee. |
Dictionary.com Unabridged
noun Informal.
an insignificant, silly, or bothersome person: Pay no attention to that obnoxious little twit!
noun Informal.
a confused, excited state: to be in a twit about company coming. Synonyms: dither, tizzy, stew.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To twit
Collins
World English Dictionary
twit1 (twɪt) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb , twits, twitting, twitted | |
| 1. | (tr) to tease, taunt, or reproach, often in jest |
| —n | |
| 2. | informal (US), (Canadian) a nervous or excitable state |
| 3. | rare a reproach; taunt |
| [Old English ætwītan, from æt against + wītan to accuse; related to Old High German wīzan to punish] | |
| twit2 (twɪt) | |
| —n | |
| informal chiefly (Brit) a foolish or stupid person; idiot | |
| [C19: from | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
twit
1530, aphetic form of atwite, from O.E. ætwitan "to blame, reproach," from æt "at" + witan "to blame," from P.Gmc. *witanan (cf. O.E. wite, O.S. witi, O.N. viti "punishment, torture;" O.H.G. wizzi "punishment," wizan "to punish;" Du. verwijten, O.H.G. firwizan, Ger. verweisen "to reproach,
reprove," Goth. fraweitan "to avenge"), from PIE base *weid- "to see." For sense evolution, cf. L. animadvertere, lit. "to give heed to, observe," later "to chastise, censure, punish." The noun meaning "foolish, stupid and ineffectual person" is first attested 1934 in British slang, popular 1950s-60s, crossed over to U.S. with British sitcoms. It probably developed from the verb sense of "reproach" but may be influenced by nitwit.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Slang Dictionary
twit definition
|
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Example sentences
The film is a merciless, sometimes hilarious portrait of the aristocracy, though the earl is far from being a twit.
But there's not much either actor can do with this bluntly drawn twit.
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