witticism Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter
    wittiness; wit; humor; humour.

WordNet

Wit"ti*cism noun
Etymology
From Witty.
Definitions
  1. A witty saying; a sentence or phrase which is affectedly witty; an attempt at wit; a conceit. Milton.
    He is full of conceptions, points of epigram, and witticisms; all which are below the dignity of heroic verse. Addison.

Webster 1913