wit 
/ˈwɪt/ noun
plural wits /ˈwɪt/ noun 1 [noncount] : an ability to say or write things that are clever and usually funny
▪ She is full of wit and vivacity. ▪ His latest book doesn't have the same wit as his earlier books. ▪ The book is a collection of his wit and wisdom. 2 [count] : a person who is known for making clever and funny remarks
▪ She was a famous writer and wit. — see also half-wit, nitwit 3 a wits [plural] : the ability to think or reason
▪ She's got the wits [=intelligence] to make it work. ▪ He learned to live by his wits. [=to survive by doing clever and sometimes dishonest things] ▪ She can keep her wits about her [=remain calm and able to think clearly] in a crisis. ▪ He needed a moment to gather/collect his wits [=to become calm and able to think clearly] after the collision. ▪ (chiefly US) The chess champion will match wits [=compete] with a computer. = (chiefly Brit) He will pit his wits against a computer. — see also battle of wits at 1battle
b the wit : the ability to make good decisions
▪ She had the wit [=the good sense] to leave before the situation got any worse.
▪ She is full of wit and vivacity. ▪ His latest book doesn't have the same wit as his earlier books. ▪ The book is a collection of his wit and wisdom.
▪ She was a famous writer and wit. — see also half-wit, nitwit
▪ She's got the wits [=intelligence] to make it work. ▪ He learned to live by his wits. [=to survive by doing clever and sometimes dishonest things] ▪ She can keep her wits about her [=remain calm and able to think clearly] in a crisis. ▪ He needed a moment to gather/collect his wits [=to become calm and able to think clearly] after the collision. ▪ (chiefly US) The chess champion will match wits [=compete] with a computer. = (chiefly Brit) He will pit his wits against a computer. — see also battle of wits at 1battle
b the wit : the ability to make good decisions
▪ She had the wit [=the good sense] to leave before the situation got any worse.
at (your) wit's end (chiefly US) or at (your) wits' end
: not able to continue thinking or trying to solve a problem : upset and unable to think of what needs to be done
▪ I've spent six hours trying to fix my computer, but now I'm at my wit's end. ▪ She's at her wit's end trying to keep her brother out of trouble.
▪ I've spent six hours trying to fix my computer, but now I'm at my wit's end. ▪ She's at her wit's end trying to keep her brother out of trouble.
out of your wits
informal — used for emphasis with verbs like scare and frighten ▪ I was scared out of my wits! [=I was very scared; I was so scared that I couldn't think clearly]
to wit
formal — used before stating the specific thing or example being discussed ▪ This can only mean two things, to wit: that he lied, or that he is wrong.
