nimble-witted

English

Adjective

nimble-witted (comparative more nimble-witted, superlative most nimble-witted)

1. Quick-witted.
   • 1581, Walter Haddon et al., translated by James Bell, Against Ierome Osorius Byshopp of Siluane in Portingall‎^[1], London: John Daye, Book 3, p. 381b:

     Forth rusheth Sathan by and by, and of a gnatte maketh more then an Elephant of India, and of a very litle geometriall point, draweth forth an infinite Sphere: so ingenious, & nimble witted is Dame Slaunder.

   • 1893, Robert Louis Stevenson, chapter 17, in Catriona‎^[2], London: Thomas Nelson, pages 203–204:

     The nimble-witted Miller had already smelt where I was travelling to, and made haste to get on the same road.

   • 1929, Dashiell Hammett, chapter 23, in The Dain Curse‎^[3]:

     Then Fitzstephan went to Whidden with an offer of a thousand dollars for Eric’s murder. Whidden refused at first, but he wasn’t nimble-witted, and Fitzstephan could be persuasive enough, so the bargain had been made.

Derived terms

• nimble-wittedness