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Witty vs Shifty - What's the difference?

witty | shifty |

As adjectives the difference between witty and shifty

is that witty is (label) wise, having good judgement while shifty is having the appearance of someone dishonest, criminal or unreliable; such as someone with shifty eyes .

witty

English

Adjective

(er)
  • (label) Wise, having good judgement.
  • *, Bk.VIII, Ch.viij:
  • *:Then cam there a lady that was a wytty lady, and she seyde playnly unto the Kyngthat he sholde never be hole but yf that Sir Trystrames wente into the same contrey than the venym came fro, and in that contrey sholde he be holpyn, other ellys never.
  • (label) Possessing a strong intellect or intellectual capacity; intelligent, skilful, ingenious.
  • *, II.7:
  • *:It hath beene a witty invention.
  • Clever; amusingly ingenious.
  • :
  • Full of wit.
  • :
  • Quick of mind; insightful; in possession of wits.
  • :

    • Synonyms

    * facetious * humorous * jocose * jocular * quick * See also

    shifty

    English

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Having the appearance of someone dishonest, criminal or unreliable; such as someone with shifty eyes .
    • He was a shifty character in a seedy bar and I checked my wallet was still there after talking to him.
  • Subject to frequent changes in direction.
  • * 1971 , Henry Handel Richardson, Ultima Thule (page 121)
    • Off he raced, shuffling his bare feet through the hot, dry, shifty sand. But it was no good: she didn't care.
  • Full of, or ready with, shifts or expedients.
    • (Wright)
  • * Charles Kingsley
    • Shifty and thrifty as old Greek or modern Scot, there were few things he could not invent, and perhaps nothing he could not endure.