WHIST

whist, long whist, short whist

(noun) a card game for four players who form two partnerships; a pack of 52 cards is dealt and each side scores one point for each trick it takes in excess of six

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology 1

Noun

whist (countable and uncountable, plural whists)

Any of several four-player card games, similar to bridge.

A session of playing this card game.

Etymology 2

Interjection

whist

Alternative spelling of whisht. Silence!, quiet!, hush!, shhh!, shush!

Verb

whist (third-person singular simple present whists, present participle whisting, simple past and past participle whisted)

(transitive, rare) To hush, shush, or silence; to still.

(intransitive, rare) To become silent.

Adjective

whist (comparative more whist, superlative most whist)

(rare) Silent, husht.

Anagrams

• Whits, swith, whits, wisht, withs

Source: Wiktionary


Whist, interj. Etym: [Cf. G. st! pst! bst! Hist.]

Definition: Be silent; be still; hush; silence.

Whist, n. Etym: [From Whist, interj.]

Definition: A certain game at cards; -- so called because it requires silence and close attention. It is played by four persons (those who sit opposite each other being partners) with a complete pack of fifty-two cards. Each player has thirteen cards, and when these are played out, he hand is finished, and the cards are again shuffled and distributed.

Note: Points are scored for the tricks taken in excess of six, and for the honors held. In long whist, now seldom played, ten points make the game; in short whist, now usually played in England, five points make the game. In American whist, so-called, honors are not counted, and seven points by tricks make the game.

Whist, v. t. Etym: [From Whist, interj.]

Definition: To hush or silence. [Obs.] Spenser.

Whist, v. i.

Definition: To be or become silent or still; to be hushed or mute. [R.] Surrey.

Whist, a. Etym: [Properly p. p. of whist, v.]

Definition: Not speaking; not making a noise; silent; mute; still; quiet. "So whist and dead a silence." Sir J. Harrington. The winds, with wonder whist, Smoothly the waters kissed. Milton.

Note: This adjective generally follows its noun, or is used predicatively.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET




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