lack-wit

Updated: May 15, 2025

Had you forgotten the stair at the back?" Judge for yourselves, my dears, if this were the time, place or crisis for a man to fling himself upon the hall settle, grip his ribs and laugh like any lack-wit. Yet this is what Richard Jennifer did.

Francis Lynde - The Master of Appleby: A Novel Tale Concerning Itself in Part with the Great Struggle in the Two Carolinas; but Chiefly with the Adventures Therein of Two Gentlemen Who Loved One and the Same Lady

I did not know what to do with her; I had even renounced all attempts to teach her to read; I left her for days together in a corner, infirm and tongue-tied like a lack-wit. . . . But your brother came and took her in hand somehow or other. She listened to him and understood him, and began to read and write with him, and grow intelligent and gay.

Émile Zola - The Three Cities Trilogy: Paris, Volume 5

I did not know what to do with her; I had even renounced all attempts to teach her to read; I left her for days together in a corner, infirm and tongue-tied like a lack-wit.... But your brother came and took her in hand somehow or other. She listened to him and understood him, and began to read and write with him, and grow intelligent and gay.

Émile Zola - The Three Cities Trilogy, Complete: Lourdes, Rome and Paris

"You posturing lack-wit!" she returned, and her sunk jaws quivered angrily. "D'ye play the condescending gentleman already! Dearie, your master did not take the news so calmly." "You have told him?"

James Branch Cabell - The Line of Love: Dizain des Mariages

If lack-wit Ferd could paint Prince, as he did another spirited horse, if you please Antonio could do what he liked with Nero. It's paint, of course, or something like it." "But the eyes? The eyes as we saw them on the road, a few hours back, were all on fire. You could see them almost before you could make out that it was a man on horseback was coming.

Evelyn Raymond - Jessica, the Heiress

"Nay, Monsieur, the mischance might have befallen any one." "It would not have befallen Villeroi! It would not have befallen Rosny!" Monsieur exclaimed bitterly. "It befalls me because I am a lack-wit who rushes into affairs for which he is not fit. I can handle a sword, but I have no business to meddle in statecraft." "Then have those wiseheads out at St.

Bertha Runkle - Helmet of Navarre

I did not know what to do with her; I had even renounced all attempts to teach her to read; I left her for days together in a corner, infirm and tongue-tied like a lack-wit.... But your brother came and took her in hand somehow or other. She listened to him and understood him, and began to read and write with him, and grow intelligent and gay.

Émile Zola - The Three Cities Trilogy: Paris, Complete

I had the satisfaction of pricking, not his conscience, for he had none, but his pride. "I had to warn Grammont off," he retorted. "Could I believe St. Quentin such a lack-wit as to forgive these two because they were his kin? You did better than you knew when you shut the door on me. You tracked me, you marplot, you sneak! How came you into the coil?" "By God's grace," M. le Comte answered.

Bertha Runkle - Helmet of Navarre