wight

¹

[ wahyt ]

noun

1. a human being.
2. Obsolete.
   1. a supernatural being, as a witch or sprite.
   2. any living being; a creature.

wight

²

[ wahyt ]

adjective

, British Dialect.

1. strong and brave, especially in war.
2. active; nimble.

Wight

³

[ wahyt ]

noun

1. Isle of, an island off the S coast of England, forming an administrative division of Hampshire. 147 sq. mi. (381 sq. km). : Newport.

wight

¹

/ waɪt /

noun

1. archaic.
   a human being

Wight

²

/ waɪt /

noun

1. Isle of Wight
   an island and county of S England in the English Channel. Administrative centre: Newport. Pop: 136 300 (2003 est). Area: 380 sq km (147 sq miles)

wight

³

/ waɪt /

adjective

1. archaic.
   strong and brave; valiant

Word History and Origins

Origin of wight¹

before 900; Middle English, Old English wiht; cognate with German Wicht, Old Norse vēttr, Gothic waiht

Origin of wight²

1175–1225; Middle English < Scandinavian; compare Old Norse vīgt, neuter of vīgr able to fight

Word History and Origins

Origin of wight¹

Old English wiht; related to Old Frisian āwet something, Old Norse vǣttr being, Gothic waihts thing, German Wicht small person

Origin of wight²

C13: from Old Norse vigt; related to Old English wīg battle, Latin vincere to conquer

Example Sentences

There’s lots of reasons we might miss stuff on the Isle of Wight.

From Popular-Science

At least that’s what scientists have determined after a recent discovery of fossilized remains on the British Isle of Wight.

From Popular-Science

Here he “found another kind of people” from the complaisant inhabitants of the Isle of Wight.

From Project Gutenberg

The day “Rocket” was much older, and got a good share of the Isle of Wight traffic.

From Project Gutenberg

The house is surrounded by a park and the poet here enjoyed a seclusion that he could not obtain in his Isle of Wight home.

From Project Gutenberg

My wife and I to Church in the afternoon, and that being done we went to see my uncle and aunt Wight.

From Project Gutenberg

So to my uncle Wight's, but found him out of doors, but my aunt I saw and staid a while, and so home and to bed.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• body
• character
• child
• creature
• individual
• life
• mortal