wit Copy link Outline 1. ingĕnium (natural power of intellect)2. ăcūmen (penetration)3. lĕpos, ōris, m. (elegance)4. făcētiae, ārum (witty, humourous sayings)5. sal, sălis, m. (pungent smartness)6. dĭcācĭtas (repartee) • wit: 1. ingĕnium (natural power of intellect): to this first class (of good qualities which are inborn) belong teachableness, memory; and all these are comprised under the one name w., prioris generis (virtutum quae ingenerantur) est docilitas, memoria; quae fere omnia appellantur uno ingenii nomine, Cic. Fin. 5, 13, 36: a man of the most vigorous w., vir acerrimo ingenio, id. Or. 5, 18: he is of a dull w., hebeti ingenio est, id. Phil. 10, 8, 17: a vein of w., ingeni vena, Hor. Od. 2, 18, 9: he greatly patronised w.s (men of w.), ingenia maxime fovit, Suet. Vesp. 18: v. genius, talent. 2. ăcūmen (penetration): he applied his w., to the Greek writings, admovit acumina chartis, Hor. Ep. 2, 1. 161. 3. lĕpos, ōris, m. (elegance): such w. in his mirthful talk, tantus in jocando lepos, Cic. de Or. 1, 7, 27. 4. făcētiae, ārum (witty, humourous sayings): I have often seen much done in court by humour and w., multum in causis persaepe lepore et facetiis profici vidi, Cic. de Or. 2, 54, 219: accustomed to mock at Tiberius with bitter w., Tiberium acerbis facetiis irridere solitus, Tac. A. 5, 2. 5. sal, sălis, m. (pungent smartness): P. Scipio surpassed all in pungent w. and humour, P. Scipio omnes sale facetiisque superabat, Cic. Brut. 34, 128: the w. of Plautus, Plautini sales, Hor. A. P. 271. 6. dĭcācĭtas (repartee): a sharp and smart style of facetiousness is called w., peracutum et breve genus facetiarum dicacitas nominata est, Cic. de Or. 2, 54, 218: low w., scurrilis dicacitas, 2, 60, 244. Phr.: a man of w.: homo acutus, facetus, etc.: v. witty: a town w. scurra, urbanus scurra: Cic.: Pl.: Hor.: have you your w.s about you? satin' sanus es? Ter. Heaut. 4, 3, 29: the man is out of his w.s, insanit homo, Hor. S. 2, 7, 118: v. mad.