to wit

In other words

To wit introduces a specification or clarification of something just mentioned—it means "namely" or "that is to say." The phrase is formal and legalistic, appearing most often in contracts, statutes, and legal documents: The defendant violated three provisions, to wit: sections 4, 7, and 12.

In ordinary writing it sounds stiff or deliberately old-fashioned.

legal

namely

Introduces specific identification

specificallyIn a precise manner
vizAbbreviation meaning specifically
i.e.Clarifying abbreviation

in other words · hereinafter · aforementioned · whereas · herein · pursuant · stipulation · codicil · affidavit · pleadings

formality

erudite

Profoundly knowledgeable

eloquentFluent and persuasive
scholarlyMarked by serious learning
academicRelating to education or theory

literary · archaic · latinate · formal · refined · precise · learned · bookish · rhetorical · oratorical

clarification

explanation

Statement making something clear

elucidationAct of explaining clearly
explicationDetailed interpretive analysis
specificationDetailed technical requirement

elaboration · illustration · enumeration · definition · annotation · particularization · detailing · unpacking · disambiguation · itemization

Categories

clarifying phrasesi.e., that is, namely, meaning, videlicet
clarifiersi.e., e.g., namely, meaning, specifically
legal termstrial, legal, appeal, lawsuit, law

Opposites

register/formality

to witlike

Comparable to, or enjoy

you know · or whatever · I mean · basically · kind of like

precision vs. vagueness

to witor something

Vague alternative indicator

in general · roughly · approximately · more or less · broadly speaking

Family

to, wit, witness, wits, towards, unwitting, witted, witting, wittingly

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Everyday, not technical · Rated G