Forms: 1–5 (6 Sc.) wis, 3–5 (6 Sc.) wys, 4–7 wyse, 4– wise; also 3–5 wiis, 4 wiys, wyys, wyese, -esse, weysse, Sc. viss, vyijs, 4–5 wijs, wyes, wiss, 4–5 (6 Sc.) wyss, wice, 4–6 Sc. vyise, 4, 7 wiese, 5 wijse, wies, weise, wiesse, wisse, wysse, vise, vice, viese, Sc. vyis, 5 (6 Sc.) wyis, wyce, vyse, 6 Sc. wisz, wyise, -ice, -iss, vyiss, vyce. [OE. wis OFris., OS., OHG. (MLG., MDu., MHG.) wîs, (Du. wijs, G. weis in phr. einen weis machen), ON. viss (Sw., Da. vis), Goth. weis (in compounds):—OTeut. *wīsaz:—pre-Teut. *wīttos, f. Indo-Eur. weid- (see WIT v.1) + ppl. suffix -to-.
OHG. wîsi (MHG. wîse, G. weise) is from a parallel formation with j-suffix.
The standard pronunciation with voiced s (z) is presumably derived from the oblique cases. The normal representative of OE. wís with (s), as in ice (OE. ís), survives in some northern dialects; the regular Sc. pronunciation is (weis).]
1. Having or exercising sound judgment or discernment; capable of judging truly concerning what is right or fitting, and disposed to act accordingly; having the ability to perceive and adopt the best means for accomplishing an end; characterized by good sense and prudence. Opp. to foolish. (See also WISE MAN 1.)
In ME. often in collocation with WARE a.
Beowulf, 1845. Mæʓenes strang and on mode frod, wis wordcwida.
c. 1000. Rule of Chrodegang, liv. Preostas sceolon ʓemunan þæt hiʓ ne synt … wisran þonne Salomon.
a. 1122. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 656. Theodorus, swiðe god man & wis.
c. 1205. Lay., 6303. Heo wes swiðe wis of wordliche dome.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 90. Salomon þe wise.
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 192. He is wis and war of worde.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 5388. King alfred was wisost king þat longe was biuore.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, IX. 327. The viss king, that ves vicht and bald.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Prol., 68. Though þat he were worthy he was wys. Ibid., 309. A Sergeant of the Lawe war and wys.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 1463. A man willy & wise, wight, wildist in armes.
1434. Misyn, Mending Life, iv. 113. In meet & drynke be þow scars & wisse.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 526/1. Wyce, in werkynge and ware…, discretus, providus.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, xxxix. 39. And quha can reive vthir menis rowmis … Is now ane active man and wyice. Ibid. (1508), Tua mariit wemen, 294. As wis woman ay I wrought & not as wod fule.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 131. We sholde also be wele ware or wyse, as is ye serpent.
1526. Tindale, Matt. xxv. 2. Fyve of them were folysshe, and fyve were wyse.
1599. Shaks., Much Ado, I. iii. 167. Claudio. And she is exceeding wise. Prince. In euery thing, but in louing Benedicke.
1639. J. Taylor (Water P.), Pt. Summers Trav., 42. To tempt and draw the wisest men to folly.
a. 1732. Gay, Fables, II. v. 1. That man must daily wiser grow, Whose search is bent himself to know.
1798. Southey, Well of St. Keyne, 51. She had been wiser than me, For she took a bottle to Church.
1818. Coleridge, Friend, II. i. 23. The first duty of a wise advocate is to convince his opponents, that he understands their arguments and sympathizes with their just feelings.
1872. Tennyson, In Childr. Hosp., vi. ‘If I,’ said the wise little Annie, ‘was you, I should cry to the dear Lord Jesus to help me.’
1875. Manning, Mission Holy Ghost, xiv. 383. The wisest of all the sons of men before the Incarnation of the Son of God was Solomon, king of Israel.
(b) of God.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 260. Ihesus, god and man so wis.
c. 1400. trans. Secr. Secr., Gov. Lordsh., 92. God ys wys and conynge.
1526. Tindale, Jude 25. To God oure saveour, whyche only ys wyse [1611 to the onely wise God our Sauiour], be glory, maiestie, dominion, and power.
1606. Shaks., Ant. & Cl., II. i. 6. We ignorant of our selues, Begge often our owne harmes, which the wise Powres Deny vs for our good.
1719. Watts, Ps. LXIII. (L. M.) ii. Thou Great and Good, thou Just and Wise, Thou art my Father and my God!
(c) of animals.
a. 1000. Boeth. Metr., xvii. 5. Sio wilde beo, þeah wis sie [etc.].
1560. Bible (Genev.), Prov. xxx. 24. These be foure smal things…, yet thei are wise and ful of wisdome.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., I. 271. The wise Ant her wintry Store provides.
1863. Kingsley, Water-Bab., ii. The wise dog took them over the moor.
(d) of superhuman beings and personifications.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 4621. Resoun Discrete and wijs and full pleasaunt.
1611. Shaks., Cymb., V. v. 367. He … hath vpon him still that naturall stampe: It was wise Natures end … To be his euidence now.
1647. H. More, Song of Soul, II. Infin. Worlds, cv. Wise preventing Destinie.
1796. H. Hunter, trans. St.-Pierre’s Study Nat. (1799), I. 382. Wise Nature, in giving so much force to early habits, intended that our happiness should depend on those who are most concerned to promote it.
1833. Tennyson, Dream Fair Wom., xxiv. No one can be more wise than destiny.
(e) const. to (with sb. or inf.), unto. arch.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 8544. Was neuer nan wiser lagh to lede.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., IV. i. 420. Hem that made hem silf seme wijse forto condempne mennis lawe.
1526. Tindale, Rom. xvi. 19. I wolde have you wyse vnto that which is good. And to be innocent as concernynge evyll. Ibid., 2 Tim. iii. 15. Which is able to make the wyse vnto health.
1560. Bible (Genev.), Jer. iv. 22. Thei are wise to do euil, but to do wel thei haue no knowledge.
1583. Melbancke, Philotimus, K iv b. It makes my harte bleede to see thee so wise to wickednes.
1667. Milton, P. L., II. 193. Wise to frustrate all our plots and wiles.
1781. Cowper, Charity, 87. Wise to promote whatever end he means, God opens fruitful nature’s various scenes.
(f) in proverbs and proverbial sayings. (See also 6 c.)
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 9884. Wyys ys þat ware ys.
1526. Tindale, Luke xvi. 8. The chyldren of this worlde, are in their kynde [1611 generation] wyser then the chyldren off light.
1539. Taverner, Erasm. Prov., 18. He is in vayne wyse yt is not wyse for hym selfe. [See Prov. ix. 12.]
1562. J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 132. Who wedth ere he be wise, shall die ere he thriue.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., II. ii. 83. It is a wise Father that knowes his owne childe.
1617. B. Rich, Irish Hubbub, 16. We were wont to say, it was a wise childe that did know the owne Father.
1717. Wodrow, Corr. (1843), II. 319. The proverb of being wise behind the time.
1745. B. Franklin, Poor Richard (1890), 157. Fools make feasts and wise men eat them.
1879. Dixon, Windsor, II. xix. 204. Men who are wise are wise in time.
1881. Saintsbury, Dryden, i. 10. Sir Gilbert Pickering … was wiser in his generation.
b. Of action, speech, personal attributes, etc.: Proceeding from, indicating, or suggesting sound judgment or good sense; ‘becoming a wise man’ (J.); sage.
a. 900. Cynewulf, Crist, 922. Þam þe hafað wisne ʓeþoht.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 198. So þet non wisure read ne mei bringen hire ut of hire riote. Ibid., 338. Of þe axunge mei uallen vuel bute ȝif þe axunge beo þe wisre.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. X. 71. Vche wiȝt in þis world þat haþ wys vnderstondinge.
1422. Yonge, trans. Secreta Secret., 134. Anothyr yewyth a vyse consail.
c. 1480. Henryson, Fables, Prol. 17 (Makculloch MS.). A doctryne wiss anewch, and ful of fruyt.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., V. i. 84. It is certaine, that either wise bearing, or ignorant Carriage is caught, as men take diseases, one of another. Ibid. (1600), A. Y. L., II. vii. 156. Full of wise sawes, and moderne instances.
1667. Milton, P. L., XI. 666. One … eminent In wise deport, spake much of Right and Wrong.
a. 1672. Wilkins, Nat. Relig., I. vi. (1675), 84. It must be a Wise Being that is the Cause of those Wise Effects.
1753–4. Richardson, Grandison, II. xxiii. 166. My father also thought fit (perhaps for wise reasons) to acquaint us, that he designed for us but small fortunes.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., xvi. Teach your affection to see with a wiser eye.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., vi. II. 89. By a wise dispensation of Providence.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. xi. 71. He thought it wise not to attempt the ascent farther.
ironically. 1535. Joye, Apol. Tindale (Arb.), 28. S. Paule (by this wyse reason) playd bo peep wythe hys pistle to the hebrews.
1822. Shelley, Scenes fr. Faust, ii. 227. ’Twere a wise feat indeed to wander out Into the Brocken upon May-day night.
† 2. Having practical understanding and ability; skilful, clever; skilled, expert (const. of). Obs.
a. 900. Cynewulf, Elene, 592. Wordcræftes wis.
c. 1300. Havelok, 282. Of alle þewes was she wis, Þat gode weren.
c. 1320. Sir Tristr., 1270. In warld was non so wiis Of craft þat men knewe.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 2745. I rede ȝe wyrke aftyre witte, as wyesse men of armes.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 1530. Wise wrightis to wale, werkys to caste.
1508. Dunbar, Tua Mariit Wemen, 462. Ȝit am I wise in sic werk.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VII., 32 b. He secretly sent wise espialles … to searche & prye oute of what progeny thys … Rycharde was dissended.
b. spec. Skilled in magic or hidden arts. Now only dial., as in wise wife, WISE MAN 3, WISE WOMAN 1.
a. 1639. Spottiswood, Hist. Ch. Scot., VI. (1655), 383. Agnes Samson (commonly called the wise wife of Keith) was … a woman not of the base and ignorant sort of Witches.
1653. H. More, Antid. Ath., III. vi. 86 (1712), 102. While he wish’d to himself that some wise body would help him to his … money again there appeared unto him a Spirit.
3. Having knowledge, well-informed; instructed, learned (in, earlier of, upon). Obs. exc. as in b. (See also WISE MAN 2 a, WISE WOMAN 1.)
c. 1000. Sax. Leechd., II. 146. Læcas lærdon, þa þe wisoste wæron, þæt nan man on þam monþe ne drenc ne drunce.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 331. Sone ȝe it ðor of hauen eten,… ȝe … sulen … ben so wise alle euene So ðo ðe wunen a-buuen in heuone.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 1605. Wys vpon wodcraftez.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xxxi. (Eugenia), 61. In al science at dewyce, Þar mycht na woman wysare be.
c. 1400. Rule St. Benet (prose), lxiv. 42. Sho aȝht at be wise in goddis law.
c. 1505. (title) Here begynneth thystorye of ye .vii. Wyse Maysters of rome.
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., II. iv. 18. But in these nice sharpe Quillets of the Law, Good faith I am no wiser then a Daw.
1651. Hobbes, Leviathan, II. xxx. 179. Wiser and better learned in cases of Law,… than themselves.
1742. Gray, Eton, 100. Where ignorance is bliss, ’Tis folly to be wise.
b. Informed or aware of something specified or implied. Now only in such phrases as none the wiser, as wise as before = knowing no more than before (i.e., usually, nothing) about the matter.
c. 1200. Ormin, 2279. Forrþi wollde ȝho ben wis off þatt þurrh Godess enngell.
c. 1220. Bestiary, 799. In water ȝe is wis of heuekes come.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, ii. (Paulus), 424. Þat god wyss þame wald make Peteris banis quhilk war of þai, And quhilk war paulis banis alsa.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. X. 372. Þis is a longe lessoun,… and litel am I þe wyser.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, VIII. 580. Thai maid him wys off all that suttell cace.
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., IV. i. 206. When our throats are cut, hee may be ransom’d, and wee ne’re the wiser.
1616. Withals’ Dict., 574. Obscurum per obscurius, I am as wise as I was before.
1635. D. Dickson, Hebr. viii. 8. 156. The Church was made wyse of the imperfection of the Olde Covenant.
1712–3. Swift, Jrnl. to Stella, 2 March. I went into the city to see Pat Rolt, who lodges with a city cousin, a daughter of cousin Cleve (you are much the wiser). Ibid. (1714), Lett. to Miss Vanomrigh, 8 June. The pretender, or duke of Cambridge, may both be landed, and I never the wiser.
1838. Dickens, O. Twist, xxxi. Messrs. Blathers and Duff came back again as wise as they went.
1889. T. A. Janvier, in Century Mag., July, 343/1. Not one whit the wiser of the world than when he left home.
(b) U. S. colloq. To be (or get) wise to, to be (or become) aware of; to put (one) wise (to), to inform one (of), enlighten one (concerning).
1901. ‘H. McHugh,’ John Henry, 69. When I hear a pool-room comedian speaking lines about getting seasick on the B. & O. I’m wise to the fact that he dips in the Farmer’s Almanac for his comedy stuff.
1918. H. Bindloss, Agatha’s Fortune, xvii. 158. I suppose it was because the drummer put you wise that you went to Miss Strange and not her brother?
1923. F. H. Kitchin, Divers. Dawson, 103. There would be the very devil to pay if Crutchley … got wise to their existence.
4. In one’s right mind, sane. Now Sc. and dial.
So Du. wijs. Cf. WISDOM 4.
Cf. Beowulf, 3094 wis and ʓewittiʓ (= fully conscious).
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 412. Here men miȝhten iseo Hou he pleiȝez with þis ȝongue brid; he ne miȝhte nouȝt wys beo.
a. 1400, 1481. [implied in UNWISE 3].
a. 1598. D. Fergusson, Scot. Prov. (S.T.S.), 8. Anes wood, never wise.
1604. Shaks., Oth., IV. i. 245. Oth. Fire, and brimestone. Des. My Lord. Oth. Are you wise?… Des. My Lord? Oth. I am glad to see you mad.
1881. ‘Sarah Tytler,’ Three Frights (1882), 9. They were each, according to a significant old Scotch phrase, ‘wise (pronounced wice, and meaning rather rational than sagacious) and warld-like.’
5. † a. To make it wise (see MAKE v.1 68 b): to deliberate, hesitate. Obs.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Prol., 785. Vs thoughte it was noght worth to make it wys And graunted hym wit outen moore auys.
b. To make wise (see MAKE v.1 69): to behave as if one were ‘wise’ about a matter; to pretend, ‘make as if...’ Obs. exc. dial.
1447. Shillingford, Lett. (Camden), 14. Hengston seide but litell therto, but made wyse as thogh hit were yes.
1561. T. Hoby, trans. Castiglione’s Courtyer, II. (1577), M vj. The two … wente to bed darkelong, laughing and making wise to beleeue that he wente about to mocke them.
1589. Puttenham, Engl. Poesie, III. xxii. (Arb.), 265. He makes wise, as if he had not bene a man learned in some of the mathematickes.
1604. Hieron, Preachers Plea, Wks. 1614, I. 511. Hee … made wise, as if he could haue tolde great tydings.
1834. Mrs. Bray, Warleigh, x. Whether she really felt desirous to take this opportunity of gaining repose, or whether, to use a Devonshire phrase, she only ‘made wise’ to do so.
6. absol. or as sb. † a. sing. usually with def. article or demonstrative: A or the wise man; spec. a sage. Obs.
c. 897. K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., xxxiii. 220. Se dyseʓa … all his inʓeðonc he ʓeypt, ac se wisa hit ieldcað.
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 176. Wel fynt þat wel flyhþ, seyþ þe wise.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, I. 79. Þis forknowyng wyse.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 268. Upon the fol, upon the wise Siknesse and hele entrecomune.
1401. 26 Pol. Poems, iii. 12. Do euene lawe to fooll and wyse.
c. 1440. Alphabet of Tales, 484. Þe wise sayd vnto hym: ‘þis way is bothe fayr & gude.’
b. pl. Wise men or persons: now always with the; † formerly also with demonstrative, possessive, etc.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Matt. xi. 25. Þu þe behyddyst þas þing fram wisun & gleawun.
c. 1205. Lay., 16817. He bi-heold … wulc of wiisen ærest spæken wolden.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 20794. Disput, he sais, es na mister, Bituix te wis in swilk a wer.
1340–70. Alex. & Dind., 973. Dindimus þe dere king, the docktour of wise.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 1. Som matiere, Essampled of these olde wyse. Ibid., 26. The wiseste of Caldee Ne cowthen wite what it mente.
c. 1400. 26 Pol. Poems, i. 167. Fle fro fooles, and folwe wise.
1535. Coverdale, Isa. xxix. 14. I wil destroye the wisdome of their wise.
1670. Dryden, 1st Pt. Conq. Granada, II. (1672), 21. The bold are but the Instruments o’ th’ wise.
1784. Cowper, Task, III. 562. The learn’d and wise Sarcastic would exclaim.
1833. Tennyson, Pal. Art, 195. O silent faces of the Great and Wise.
c. A word to the wise (is enough): = VERBUM SAP. Also † Few words to the wise suffice, etc.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, xv. 24. Few wordis may serve the wyis.
1562. Mountgomery, in Archaeologia, XLVII. 241. Feawe woordes to the wise doeth suffice.
1639. J. Clarke, Parœm., 51. Few words to the wise suffice. Verbum sapienti sat est. A word to the wise.
1754. Richardson, Grandison, I. xix. 127. Nay, if she can withstand him—But a word to the wise, Mr. Reeves! Hem!
d. The comp. wiser as sb. (with pl. wisers): One who is wiser; usually with possessive, (one’s) superior in wisdom. Now rare.
(Cf. BETTER A. 7, ELDER sb.3 2, GREATER C b.)
a. 1300. Cursor M., 26180. Ga til a wijser to sceu þi wond.
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., 2634, Hypermnestra. And werke aftyr thyn wisere euere mo.
1447. Bokenham, Seyntys, v. 292. And of þi wysers lern bettyr gouernaunce.
c. 1480. Henryson, Want of Wise Men, 22. For warldly wyn sik walkis, quhen wysar wynkis.
1818. Scott, Hrt. Midl., i. Since it is well known these Delilahs seduce my wisers and my betters.
1838. Hare, Guesses, Ser. I. (1847), 161. All writers who feel an itching … to be carping at their wisers and betters.
1843. Carlyle, Past & Pr., III. xiii. If thou really art my Senior, Seigneur, my Elder,… if thou art in very deed my Wiser.
7. Used as adv. = WISELY. In later use only in comparative. rare.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XVII. 52. Thou vroucht has vis, That thou discouerit first till me.
1600. Shaks., A. Y. L., II. iv. 58. Thou speak’st wiser then thou art ware of.
1797. Mrs. M. Robinson, Walsingham, IV. 153. I cannot act wiser than to take the little Welsh girl off the hands of her dragon.
8. Comb. a. advb. with adj. or pple., as wise-bold, -hardy (opp. to FOOLHARDY), -valiant; wise-framed, -judging, -reflecting, -said. b. attrib. with sb., as wisebones sb. (humorous appellation for a wiseacre), wise-heart adj. (= wise-hearted). c. parasynthetic, as wise-hearted, -lipped, -worded (ME. wis iworded).
1600. Tourneur, Transf. Metam., liv. With a *wise-bold heed.
1894. L. Alma-Tadema, Wings of Icarus, v. 26. There you go, old *wisebones! Here’s a storm in a tea-cup!
1642. H. More, Song of Soul, III. II. xli. *Wise framed questions.
1575. Laneham, Lett. (1871), 44. Valiant, & *wizehardy.
1587. Holinshed, Chron., III. 583/2. Of courage inuincible,… wise-hardie alwaies.
1887. Morris, Odyssey, VIII. 327. The cunning of *wise-heart Hephæstus’ snare.
1535. Coverdale, Exod. xxxv. 26. Soch wemen as were *wyse herted.
1867. Morris, Jason, II. 862. Men there are Wise-hearted.
1644. Milton, Divorce, II. xvii. (ed. 2), 66. Why men so disesteem this *wise judging Law of God.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., vii. Many wise-judging men.
1818. Milman, Samor, I. 384. *Wise-lipp’d chief.
1848. Buckley, Iliad, VI. 110. By no means could she persuade just-minded, *wise-reflecting Bellerophon.
1597. Pilgr. Parnass., I. 113. Youre *wise-said says Keepe mee from devious … wayes!
a. 1586. Sidney, Astr. & Stella, lxxv. He could young wise, *wise valliant frame His Syres revenge.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 64. Sum is so wel ilered, oðer se *wis iworded [etc.].
