whit
part of speech
noun (a whit; used mostly in «not a whit», «no whit»)
meaning for a pupil
1) A whit is a very tiny amount; it is used almost only in negative phrases: «not a whit» means not at all. tree →
2) «Whit» is also short for Whitsun or Whit Sunday, the Christian feast of Pentecost (church, UK). tree →
sense in the lessons
In the Tanakh and Jewish tradition: Used in "not a whit," meaning not at all. In the primary lessons: It is an old-fashioned, literary word found in classic stories, the Bible and old poems: «He cared not a whit». In the UK, Whit Sunday or Whitsun is the church feast of Pentecost, when Christians believe the Holy Spirit came to Jesus's followers; «Whit Monday» was a holiday. Phrases: «not a whit», «every whit», «Whit Sunday», «Whitsun».
examples
- Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. (Writings PSA.51.9, JPS 1917) tree →
- Her princes were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was as of sapphire; (Writings LAM.4.7, JPS 1917) tree →
- And her prophets have daubed for them with whited plaster, seeing falsehood, and divining lies unto them, saying: Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken. (Prophets EZK.22.28, JPS 1917) tree →
- He cared not a whit about the rain. tree →
- The new rule did not change things one whit. tree →
- The old knight was not a whit afraid. tree →
- My little brother is every whit as stubborn as me. tree →
- Whit Sunday is also called Pentecost. tree →
- In the old days, children had a holiday at Whitsun. tree →
note
Old-fashioned; modern speech says «not at all», «not a bit». Do not confuse with «wit» (cleverness or humour) or «white». Countable in form but almost never plural.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «whit» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.