Wise

Wise (wīz) , adjective

[Old English wis, Anglo-Saxon wīs; akin to Old Saxon & OFries. wīs, Dutch wijs, German weise, Old High German wīs, wīsi, Icelandic vīss, Swedish vis, Danish viis, Gothic weis; akin to wit, v. i. See Wit, v., and compare Righteous, Wisdom.]

Having knowledge; knowing; enlightened; of extensive information; erudite; learned.

They are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge. — Jer. iv. 22

Hence, especially, making due use of knowledge; discerning and judging soundly concerning what is true or false, proper or improper; choosing the best ends and the best means for accomplishing them; sagacious.

When clouds appear, wise men put their cloaks. — Shakespeare

From a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation. — 2 Tim. iii. 15

Versed in art or science; skillful; dexterous; specifically, skilled in divination.

Fal. There was, mine host, an old fat woman even now with me; but she's gone. Sim. Pray you, sir, was't not the wise woman of Brentford? — Shakespeare

Hence, prudent; calculating; shrewd; wary; subtle; crafty. [Rare]

Thou art... no novice, but a governor wily and wise. — Chaucer

Nor, on the other side, Will I be penuriously wise As to make money, that's my slave, my idol. — Beau. & Fl

Lords do not care for me: I am too wise to die yet. — Ford

Dictated or guided by wisdom; containing or exhibiting wisdom; well adapted to produce good effects; judicious; discreet; as, a wise saying; a wise scheme or plan; wise conduct or management; a wise determination.

Eminent in wise deport. — Milton

A very grave, state bachelor, my dainty one; He's wise in years, and of a temperate warmth. — Ford

You are too wise in years, too full of counsel, For my green experience. — Ford

Collocations (2)

To make it wise , to make it a matter of deliberation. [Obsolete] We thought it was not worth to make it wise. — Chaucer

Wise in years , old enough to be wise; wise from age and experience; hence, aged; old. [Obsolete]

wise , adjective

[Old English wise, Anglo-Saxon wīse; akin to Old Saxon wīsa, OFries. wīs, Dutch wijs, wijze, Old High German wīsa, German weise, Swedish vis, Danish viis, Icelandic oeruvīs otherwise; from the root of English wit; hence, originally, knowledge, skill. See Wit, v., and compare Guise.]

Way of being or acting; manner; mode; fashion.

All armed in complete wise. — Spenser

To love her in my beste wyse. — Chaucer

This song she sings in most commanding wise. — Sir P. Sidney

Let not these blessings then, sent from above, Abused be, or spilt in profane wise. — Fairfax

This word is nearly obsolete, except in such phrases as in any wise, in no wise, on this wise, etc. “ Fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.” Ps. xxxvii. 8. “He shall in no wise lose his reward.” Matt. x. 42. “ On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel.” Num. vi. 23.

Wise is often used as a suffix in composition, as in likewise, nowise, lengthwise, etc., in which words -ways is often substituted with the same sense; as, noways, lengthways, etc.