witticism
pronunciation
How to pronounce witticism in British English:
UK [ˈwɪtɪsɪzəm]
How to pronounce witticism in American English:
US [ˈwɪtɪˌsɪzəm]
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- Noun:
- a message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter
Word Origin
- witticism (n.)
- 1670s, coined by Dryden (as wittycism) from witty on model of criticism. "That every witticism is an inexact thought: that what is perfectly true is imperfectly witty ...." [Walter Savage Landor, "Imaginary Conversations"]
Example
- 1. Can a robot interject a witticism or bon mot that adroitly lightens the mood ?
- 2. But this is a witticism , not the truth .
- 3. The witticism composition of pupil is chosen ( explode laugh )
- 4. They all laughed , and mr. wang delightedly savored his own witticism .
- 5. This is a dull interlude in a speech sparkling with witticism .