Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
name
Newgate Prison in London, England (particularly as it was in the 15- and 1600s).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic, historical
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
The smallest part or particle imaginable; an iota.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: dated
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: bit, iota, jot, scrap, ace, atom, thought, atomy, aught, bissel, crumb, glimpse, dab, damn, dash, diddly, glint, dot, spatter, drop, dusting, fleck, glimmer, hint, flip, flyspeck, grain, halfpennyworth, inch, lick, mite, modicum, molecule, morceau, morsel, mote, ooch, ounce, particle, pennyworth, piece, pinch, relish, scantling, semblance, scent, scintilla, scooch, scruple, shred, skerrick, skoosh, skosh, sliver, smattering, smidge, smidgen, smidget, smidgy, smitch, smithereen, soupçon, spark, speck, speckle, spot, sprinkle, sprinkling, strain, tad, tidbit, tidge, tinge, tittle, toddick, touch, trace, trifle, tuppence worth, vestige, whiff, whit
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Whitsunday.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Synonyms: Pentecost, Whitsun
Antonyms: none provided
noun
The season of Whitsuntide.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Synonyms: Pentecost, Whitsun, Whitsuntide
Antonyms: none provided
prep
Pronunciation spelling of with.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: alt-of, pronunciation-spelling
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
a tiny or scarcely detectable amount
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: shred, scintilla, iota, tittle, smidgen, smidgeon, smidgin, smidge
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: small indefinite quantity, small indefinite amount
History
Shortening of the surname of Dick Whittington, London mayor who funded the rebuilding of the prison.
From Middle English wiȝt, wight, from Old English wiht (“wight, person, creature, being, whit, thing, something, anything”), from Proto-Germanic *wihtą (“thing, creature”) or *wihtiz (“essence, object”), from Proto-Indo-European *wekti- (“cause, sake, thing”), from *wekw- (“to say, tell”). Cognate with Old High German wiht (“creature, thing”), Dutch wicht, German Wicht. Doublet of wight.
Across languages
16 source translations are retained for this English entry.
