Wifty

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈwɪf.ti/

Definitions

1. Eccentric, silly, or slightly scatterbrained in a whimsical or endearing way
2. Encompassing a charmingly unpredictable and whimsical disposition, often marked by eccentric behavior and a lighthearted, carefree approach to various situations
3. Having a peculiar or odd manner often perceived as playful or absent-minded

Etymology: "Wifty" is an adjective meaning absent-minded or flighty in manner, formed by adding the suffix "-y" to "wift." The suffix is the easy part: "-y" is an ordinary English adjective ending, as in "windy" or "hasty," that turns a noun or stem into a description of a quality. The base word "wift" is the harder piece. It is of unknown origin, and no firm earlier form or related word has been established to explain it, so anything beyond that would be guesswork. What can be said is that "wifty" is a relatively informal, colloquial coinage built on that obscure base, and its meaning of distracted or scatter-brained behaviour follows naturally from the sense of something light, quick, or easily blown off course.

Synonyms: dizzy, scatterbrained

Antonyms: focused, clear-headed