witticism C1 Topic:Abstract Ideas US /ˈwɪt̬.ə.sɪz.əm/ UK /ˈwɪt.ɪ.sɪz.əm/ See IPA manual Freq #89561 Meanings 1 noun a clever and humorous remark, often with a sharp or ironic edge His dry witticism broke the tension in the room. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 noun · a clever and humorous... quipwisecrackbon motepigram Word family Related forms witwittywordplay Etymology Coined by John Dryden in the 1670s as wittycism, from witty on the model of criticism; the spelling soon settled as witticism. Topics Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives External links Google Images Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary # witticism **Type:** Word **Level:** C1 **Part of speech:** noun **IPA (US):** /ˈwɪt̬.ə.sɪz.əm/ **IPA (UK):** /ˈwɪt.ɪ.sɪz.əm/ **Frequency rank:** 89561 ## Meanings 1. a clever and humorous remark, often with a sharp or ironic edge ## Examples - His dry witticism broke the tension in the room. ## Synonyms - quip - wisecrack - bon mot - epigram ## Related Forms - wit - witty - wordplay ## Etymology Coined by John Dryden in the 1670s as wittycism, from witty on the model of criticism; the spelling soon settled as witticism. ## Topics - Abstract Ideas - Word Formation & Derivatives markdown