Wise sb.¹

arch. Forms: 1– wise, 1, 3–4 (5–6 Sc.) wis, 1, 3–6 wyse, (3–4 wisse, 4 wice, Sc. viss, vijs, vyijs, vyise), 4–5 wys, (Sc. wiss, vyse, vice, 4–6 Sc. wyis (6 -iss), 5 wyesse, whyse, 5–6 Sc. wyss(e, vise, 6 wize, weysse). [OE. wíse wk. fem. (rarely wís str. fem.) manner, mode, condition, thing, affair, cause, reason, (occas.) song = OFris. wîs, OS. wîsa wk. and str. (MLG. wîse, wîs, MDu. wîze, wijs, Du. wijze), OHG. wîsa, and wîs manner, custom, tune (MHG. wîse, G. weise), ON. vísa wk. fem. stanza, *vís manner in öðruvís otherwise (Sw. visa, Da. vise song; also Sw., Da. vis way, manner):—OTeut. *wīsōn-, *wīsō: f. wit- WIT v.¹ (for the sense cf. the cognate Gr. εἶδος form, shape, kind, state of things, course of action).]

  I.  † 1. Manner, mode, fashion, style; spec. habitual manner of action, habit, custom (cf. WAY sb. 22). Obs. (in later use Sc.): see also II.

971.  Blickl. Hom., 55. Maniʓes mannes wise bið þæt he wile symle to his nehstan sprecan þa word þe he wenþ þæt him leofoste syn to ʓehyrenne.

c. 1205.  Lay., 25426. An hundred þusende iwepnede þeines ohte on heore londes wise.

c. 1220.  Bestiary, 468. Ðe spinnere … werpeð ðus hire web, and weueð on hire wise.

a. 1250.  Owl & Night., 1029. For heom ne may halter ne bridel Bringe from here wode wyse.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 1213. Þat folc verst in is wise, To hor godes as hii wolde, dude hor sacrefice.

1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. XX. 263. Þis is þe worste wise þat eny wight myghte Synegen aȝens þe seynt espirit.

c. 1400.  Maundev. (1919), xi. 49. & ȝit þei ben in moornynge in the wise þat þei maden here lamentacioun for him the firste tyme.

c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, II. 25. Our all ye toune rewlyng on thair awne wis.

1572.  Satir. Poems Reform., xxxiv. 3. Quho list to mark the Scottisch gyse … Sall weill persave thair craftie wyse.

  † b.  phr. To do, make one’s wise: to do what one can. In wise of: after the fashion of; in respect of. In wise that: in such a manner that, so that.

c. 1290.  Beket, 1279, in S. Eng. Leg., 143. Þo he hadde al is tale itold and imaked is grete wise [v.r. al his wise], He sat adoun.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Troylus, V. 64. This Troylus, yn wyse of curtasie,… rod and dide here compaynye.

1454.  Paston Lett., I. 297. Ledam wulde a do hys wyse to a mad a complent to Pryothe in the scher-howse of yow.

c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, VI. 565. All Wallace folk in wys off wer was gud.

1561.  T. Hoby, trans. Castiglione’s Courtyer, III. (1577), P v. Wyth the wayes whyche she ordeined, those Realmes are still ruled, in wise that albeit hir life wanteth, yet hir authoritie liueth.

  † 2.  Song, melody. Obs.

a. 1000.  Menologium, 70. Wrecan wordum forð, wise [MS. wisse] ʓesingan.

a. 1250.  Owl & Night., 519. So sone so þu sittest a brode Þu forleost al þine wise.

  II.  OE. wise manner, fashion, like the cognate forms in other Germanic languages (see the respective sections below), was used in various kinds of advb. expressions meaning ‘in such-and-such a manner, way, or respect,’ in which it was qualified by an adj. or a sb. with or without a governing preposition. Several of these expressions, with others formed on their pattern in later periods, have survived as simple words, e.g., anywise, crosswise, leastwise, likewise, nowise, otherwise, slantwise, in which -wise has the appearance of a suffix, and, in so far as it could or can still be freely combined with an adj. or a sb. (as in 1 b, 3 b), it has actually performed the function of a suffix. The free use of the various forms, i.e., apart from the established simple words, is now only archaic.

  1.  a. With demonstrative, interrogative or indefinite adj. in an oblique case. († rarely pl.)

  In OE. óðre wísan varies with on óðre wísan (see OTHERWISE), but most later expressions of this form, e.g., LIKEWISE, THISWISE, WHAT-WISE, resulted from ellipsis of the prep. in expressions of the type in 2 a. THUSWISE is an analogical combination with an adv.

  Cf. OFris. hûdêne wîs, OS. hû wîs(e, OHG. andar wîs, einic wîs, MHG. neheine wîs, der selben wîs, manege(n wîs.

971.  Blickl. Hom., 177. Þe læs þe oðre wisan æniʓ man leoʓe.

c. 1205.  Lay., 32018. Wulchere wise he mihte wið Aðelstane fihte.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 17473. All fals sal far þat ilk wise.

a. 1300.  [see WHAT-WISE].

13[?].  Bonaventura’s Medit., 154. Þat he to hys treytur dyd þe same wyse.

13[?]–1530.  this wise [see THISWISE].

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, V. 78. His menȝe … That vs dispytis mony vis.

c. 1375, 1556.  suche wise [see SUCHWISE].

c. 1420.  ? Lydg., Assembly of Gods, 198. Syth that hit woll none other wyse be.

c. 1450.  Cursor M., 9896 (Laud). This castelle … is feyror many wyse [Cott. on mani wise] Then tong can telle.

1500–20.  Dunbar, Poems, xix. 1. How sowld I rewill me, or quhat wyiss. Ibid., lxxviii. 15. It will nocht walkin me no wise.

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, VI. x. 93. And as thai flokkit about Enee, als tyte Sic vise ontil thaim carpis Sibilla.

1513.  quhat wyse [see WHAT-WISE].

1524.  in Strype, Eccl. Mem. (1721), I. App. xiii. 30. The delaying … of this matier may do moche harme, and prejudice sundry wises. Ibid. (1530), III. App. x. 20. I haue prayed no other wysse then the trewth.

1538.  Starkey, England (1878), 16. Thys law … must … be referryd, non other wyse then the conclusyonys of artys mathematical are euer referryd to theyr pryncypullys.

1560.  Abst. Protocols Town Clerks of Glasgow (1896), II. 84. All reicht … quhilk he had or ony wyis mycht haif.

1649.  C. Wase, Sophocles, Electra, 12. Whilst things stand this wise with me.

1693.  Evelyn, De la Quint. Compl. Gard., I. 36. The Houses, that can no wise afford above one Garden.

1799.  Underwood, Dis. Childhood (ed. 4), II. 242. A bougie … would be every wise as proper.

1856.  Mrs. Browning, Aur. Leigh, III. 810. No wise beautiful Was Marian Erle.

1883.  L. Oliphant, Altiora Peto, xviii. He did it this wise.

  b.  With general adjs., often forming an equivalent of -LY², as † humble wise = humbly, despiteful-wise = despitefully: in later use hyphened or as one word.

  Cf. MHG. glîcher wîse (G. gleicherweise), G. glücklicherweise, irrtümlicherweise, törichterweise, zufälligerweise, etc.; normaler weise, etc.

Beowulf, 1865. Ic þa leode wat … fæste ʓeworhte, æʓhwæs untæle ealde wisan.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 21277. Þe queles er draun diuerse wise.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 480. The nyghtes longe Encressen double wise the peynes stronge.

1475.  Rolls of Parlt., VI. 129/1. Service, the which the seid Galiard … had doon dyvers wise to your goode grace.

c. 1475.  Rauf Coilȝear, 929. Thus may thow, and thow will, wirk the best wise.

1592.  Constable, Diana, I. i. 2. Humble wise To thee my sighes in verse I sacrifise.

1635.  J. Hayward, trans. Biondi’s Banish’d Virg., 157. It was formed hooked-wise.

1866.  Church & State Rev., 11 May, 298/2. It is no dull good-boy book, to be taken teetotalwise.

1876.  Stedman, Vict. Poets, vi. 220. ‘The Princess’ and ‘The Idylls of the King,’ are written Dorian-wise.

1903.  Kipling, Five Nations, S. Africa, vi. She … Treated them despiteful-wise.

  2.  a. With prep. (orig. on, arch. since 16th cent.; OE. also of; from 14th cent. in) and demonstrative, interrogative or indefinite adj., as on náne wísan in no way, NOWISE, of þisse wísan in this way, THISWISE. (Cf. 1 a.) Sometimes illogically written as one word or with hyphen.

  Cf. OS. an negana wîsa, MLG. in wat wîs(e, OHG. in thesa, alla, managa, zwei wîs, ze dero, andrero, welero wîs, etc., G. auf andere, solche, welche weise, etc.

c. 888.  K. Ælfred, Boeth., xvi. § 2. On nane wisan.

c. 900.  trans. Bæda’s Hist., I. xxvii. (1890), 72. Ne meaht þu on oðre wisan biscop halʓian buton oðrum biscopum.

c. 950.  Lindisf. Gosp., Luke xv. 10. Ita, on ða wisa.

971.  Blickl. Hom., 31. Þas cyþnesse Drihten nam of þisse wisan.

c. 1050.  Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 341/26. Aliter, on æniʓe oðre wisan.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 109. On monie wisen mon mei wurchen elmessan.

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 203. Alle he laðeð ech a sume wise to endelese blisse.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 2534. Herrsumm onn alle wise.

c. 1350.  in what wise [see WHAT-WISE].

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 8440. Andromaca … prayet the prinse … On nowise in thys world the walles to passe.

c. 1400.  Rom. Rose, 5940. Ben thanne siche marchauntz wise, No, but fooles in euery wise.

c. 1440.  Generydes, 102. I am come here, in lyke wyse as ye see.

1472, 1563.  in any wise [see ANYWISE].

1526.  Tindale, Rom. iii. 9. Are we better then they? No in no wyse.

1581.  Burne, Disput., in Cath. Tract. (S.T.S.), 112. Thay … vil in nauyse suffer onie man to … preache aganis the same.

1639.  Rouse, Heav. Univ., Advt. (1702), 2. One who was in no wise averse to that common Learning.

1732.  Lediard, Sethos, II. IX. 269. Provided, however, it were in no-wise an obstacle.

1800.  Med. Jrnl., IV. 318. The abdominal ring is in nowise concerned in the disease.

1844.  Disraeli, Coningsby, IV. vii. In this wise, affairs had gone on for a month.

1848, 1865.  in somewise [see SOMEWISE].

1879.  M. Arnold, Mixed Ess., Milton, 238. Whoever comes to the Essay on Milton … will feel that the essay in nowise helps him.

1905.  in what-wise [see WHAT-WISE].

  (b)  with a or a numeral, or pl.

a. 1000.  Colloq. Ælfric, in Wright, Voc. (1857), I. 7. On feala wisan ic beswice fuʓelas.

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Gram., xxxviii. (Z.), 237. Bifariam, on twa wisan.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 77. Þe fader is ine þe sune on þre wise.

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 9. Teȝenes ure emcristene we sulle laden ure lif edmodeliche on two wise.

a. 1225.  Ancr. R. 6. Alle ne muwe nout … holden on one wise ðe vtture riwle.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 29506. O thrijn wijs Mai cursing be tald on right wijs.

1340.  Ayenb., 62. Þe dyeuel … him chongeþ in uele wysen þet uolk uor to gyly.

13[?].  E. E. Allit. P., B. 1805. Þus vpon þrynne wyses I haf yow þro schewed, Þat vnclannes to cleues in corage dere.

c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, xii. (Mathias), 99. & In a vice to-gyddyr fede & in ane aray in bak & bede.

1430–40.  Lydg., Bochas, IX. ii. (1554), 197/1. Disceiuable in many sondry wyses.

c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., V. xii. 548. Bi manye wijsis.

1520.  Rolls of Parlt., V. 437/1. In other divers manere of wyses.

  b.  With general adjs.: cf. 1 b. (occas. illogically as one word or with hyphen.)

  Cf. in likewise (LIKEWISE 1), and OFris. to lîkere wîs (and).

971.  Blickl. Hom., 189. Þa cwæþ Neron, On ða betstan wisan þu demest.

c. 1100.  Aldhelm Gloss., I. 1252 (Napier 34). Mirum in modum, on wunderlicum ʓemete [in another hand wise].

c. 1205.  Lay., 27834. Wes þe kaisere of-slæȝen a seolcuðe wisen.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 10948. Als lagh was þan on ald wise.

13[?].  E. E. Allit. P., A. 1095. So sodanly on a wonder wyse, I was war of a prosessyoun.

c. 1385.  Chaucer, L. G. W., 20. In euery skylful wyse.

c. 1400.  Cursor M., 28028 (Cotton Galba). Ȝe oft sithes on wonderwise Biswikes þam.

1423.  James I., Kingis Q., xcvii. That coude his office doon In connyng wise.

1456.  Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 153. Thareto I ansuere in double wis.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, XI. vii. 580. I will … that ye be wel bisene in the rychest wyse.

1480.  Cely Papers (Camden), 29. In as lovynge whyse as harte cone thynke.

1500–20.  Dunbar, Poems, xxv. 3. We … To ȝow that ar in purgatory Commendis ws on our hairtly wyiss.

1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 2. I shall praye for you in lyke wyse.

1597.  Morley, Introd. Mus., 87. You take a discord for the first part, & not in binding wise.

1600.  W. Watson, Decacordon (1602), 360. Some in scoffing manner; others in malicious wise.

1610.  Holland, Camden’s Brit., I. 98. These letters in scattering wise, C A E R A T I C.

1684.  Bunyan, Pilgr., II. Introd. By all means in all Loving-wise, them greet.

1782.  J. Trumbull, McFingal, IV. (1795), 94. In mournful wise.

1865.  Swinburne, Chastelard, I. i. (1894), 13. You praise her in too lover-like a wise.

1870.  Morris, Earthly Par., II. III. 46. A while in gentle wise they went.

  3.  With prep. (see 2) and sb. in (non-syntactical) combination with wise, e.g., OE. on scipwísan in the manner of a ship, like a ship.

  Cf. OS. an kuningwîsa(n like a king, MHG. in kriuzewîs, MSw. i korsvîs crosswise.

c. 890.  Wærferth, trans. Gregory’s Dial. (1900), 343. Tweʓen oflæthlafas on beaʓwisan abacene.

a. 950.  Guthlac, ii. (Prose), 107. Mid þam þe seo yld com þæt hit sprecan mihte æfter cnihtwisan.

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Saints’ Lives, vi. 247. On munucwisan ʓescryd.

c. 1070.  in Thorpe, Charters (1865), 430. Mycel Englisc boc … on leoðwisan ʓeworht.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. XIX. 138. Kulleden hym on-crosse-wyse. Ibid. (1393), C. VIII. 163. In a weythwynde wyse ywryþe al aboute.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 175. Ayre vp the erthe on ardagh wise. Ibid., 4762. The grekes … At wyndous on yche syde-wise a wondurfull nombur.

c. 1407.  Lydg., Reson & Sens., 5245. In karol wise I saugh hem goon.

1495.  Acta Dom. Conc. (1839), 427/2. In Indenture wise.

1571.  Golding, Calvin on Ps. xxxv. 20. By the clifts of the earth wee may in metaphorwyse vnderstande miserable men … broken and maymed.

1589.  in ballade wise [see ballad-wise s.v. BALLAD sb. 6].

1596.  Edw. III., V. 137. Heere twise as many pikes in quadrant wise.

1606.  W. Crashaw, Rom. Forgeries, To Rdr. D 4 b. The reuerend Master Iohn Ferus … did in Sermon-wise explane the bookes of Iob vnto the Citizens.

1622.  Mabbe, trans. Aleman’s Guzman d’Alf., II. 333. The points of the Hornes meeting … in a kinde of circle-wise.

1800.  Coleridge, Christabel, II. 573. Geraldine, in maiden wise,… turned her from Sir Leoline.

1916.  H. E. G. Rope, Relig. Ancilla, 54. We trod the pilgrim road in pilgrim wise.

  b.  without prep. (variously written).

  Cf. MLG. crûcewîs, Du. kruiswijs, MHG. kriuzewîse, G. kreusweise, pfandweise, etc.

1398.  [see CROSSWISE 1].

1459.  Paston Lett., I. 475. A goune … with side slevis, sirples wise.

1474.  [see CORNERWISE].

c. 1530.  Crt. of Love, 1354. Within a temple shapen hauthorn wise.

1530.  [see LOZENGEWISE].

1545–1616.  compass-wise [see COMPASS sb.¹ D].

1577.  Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., I. 37. To order it garden wyse, castyng it into beddes.

1591.  Savile, Tacitus, Hist., I. lv. 32. No man presumed to make any solemne oration assembly-wise [L. in modum concionis].

1625.  Antheme-wise [see ANTHEM sb. 4].

1631.  in Courridge, Ye Olde Streete of Pavement (c. 1890), 177/1. Let them tie upon a stick, posie wise, a little piece of sponge.

1657.  Sparrow, Bk. Com. Prayer (1661), 100. Then the Priest Collect-wise makes a Prayer.

1677.  W. Hughes, Man of Sin, III. iii. 61. Let us try once more to argue Cardinalwise.

1725.  Fam. Dict., s.v. Cutting, They do at other Times cut sloaping, and Hind-foot-wise.

1743.  Shenstone, Lett. to Graves, 23 Dec. The sides [of an alcove] ornamented with sheeps-bones, jaws, sculls, &c. festoon-wise.

1876.  [O. H. B.], White Cross, xlviii. ‘Oh, only in a brotherly way.’… ‘Timothy or Titus-wise, you know.’

  c.  with prep. and sb. in the genitive.

  Cf. OFris. thiaveswîse like a thief, MLG. (in) dieves wîse, in pelegrimes wîse, gastes wîse as a guest, OHG. in eseles wîs like an ass, MHG. in kriuzes wîs crosswise, ze gesellen wîs like comrades.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 2961. It was on fendes wise wroȝt.

a. 1300.  K. Horn, 360. On a squieres wise.

1362.  Langl., P. Pl., A. II. 148. On Palfreis wyse. Ibid., VI. 9. In A weþebondes wyse I-wriþen aboute [cf. quot. 1393 in 3]. Ibid., VII. 53. In pilgrimes wyse.

1423.  James I., Kingis Q., cxvii. In thaire flouris wise.

1865.  Swinburne, Chastelard, I. iii. (1894), 46. On peaceable men’s wise.

  † d.  with formations in -kin(s, manner. Obs.

c. 1200.  Vices & Virtues, 25. On alles kennes wisen.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 7984. On quatkin wise. Ibid., 9486. He ne mai be fre on nakins wis [v.r. nan-kin wise].

c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 4380. In no maner wice.

c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, ix. (Bertholomeus), 199. One foure-kine wise.

c. 1400.  Apol. Loll., 91. On mani maner wis.

c. 1520.  Skelton, Garl. Laurel, 647. In lyke maner of wyse.

1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. ccccviii. 287 b/1. In some maner awyse.

1535.  Goodly Primer, Ps. cxix. In no maner wyse.

1563.  P. Whitehorne, Onosandro Platon., 31. In no maner of wyse.

  4.  The synonymy of -wise and -ways in such advs. as likeways, likewise, noways, nowise, led to their interchange and consequently the illogical use of -wise for -ways: see -WAYS 3.