Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Wight?

\Wight\, n. Weight. [Obs.]
\Wight\, n. [OE. wight, wiht, a wight, a whit, AS. wiht, wuht, a creature, a thing; skin to D. wicht a child, OS. & OHG. wiht a creature, thing, G. wicht a creature, Icel. v[ae]tt? a wight, v[ae]tt? a whit, Goth. wa['i]hts, wa['i]ht, thing; cf. Russ. veshche a thing. ?. Cf. {Whit}.] 1. A whit; a bit; a jot. [Obs.] She was fallen asleep a little wight. --Chaucer. 2. A supernatural being. [Obs.] --Chaucer. 3. A human being; a person, either male or female; -- now used chiefly in irony or burlesque, or in humorous language. ``Worst of all wightes.'' --Chaucer. Every wight that hath discretion. --Chaucer. Oh, say me true if thou wert mortal wight. --Milton.
\Wight\, a. [OE. wight, wiht, probably of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. v[=i]gr in fighting condition, neut. v[=i]gh ??? v[=i]g war, akin to AS. w[=i]g See {Vanquish}.] Swift; nimble; agile; strong and active. [Obs. or Poetic] 'T is full wight, God wot, as is a roe. --Chaucer. He was so wimble and so wight. --Spenser. They were Night and Day, and Day and Night, Pilgrims wight with steps forthright. --Emerson.