wis

v. t. [ Due to mistaking OE. iwis certain, AS. gewiss, for I wis. See Ywis. ] To think; to suppose; to imagine; -- used chiefly in the first person sing. present tense, I wis. See the Note under Ywis. [ Obs. or Poetic ] “Howe'er you wis.” R. Browning. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nor do I know how long it is
(For I have lain entranced, I wis). Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Wizard. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. wīsdōm. See Wise, a., and -dom. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The quality of being wise; knowledge, and the capacity to make due use of it; knowledge of the best ends and the best means; discernment and judgment; discretion; sagacity; skill; dexterity. [ 1913 Webster ]

We speak also not in wise words of man's wisdom, but in the doctrine of the spirit. Wyclif (1 Cor. ii. 13). [ 1913 Webster ]

Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding. Job xxviii. 28. [ 1913 Webster ]

It is hoped that our rulers will act with dignity and wisdom that they will yield everything to reason, and refuse everything to force. Ames. [ 1913 Webster ]

Common sense in an uncommon degree is what the world calls wisdom. Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The results of wise judgments; scientific or practical truth; acquired knowledge; erudition. [ 1913 Webster ]

Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds. Acts vii. 22. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Prudence; knowledge. Wisdom, Prudence, Knowledge. Wisdom has been defined to be “the use of the best means for attaining the best ends.” “We conceive, ” says Whewell, “ prudence as the virtue by which we select right means for given ends, while wisdom implies the selection of right ends as well as of right means.” Hence, wisdom implies the union of high mental and moral excellence. Prudence (that is, providence, or forecast) is of a more negative character; it rather consists in avoiding danger than in taking decisive measures for the accomplishment of an object. Sir Robert Walpole was in many respects a prudent statesman, but he was far from being a wise one. Burke has said that prudence, when carried too far, degenerates into a “reptile virtue, ” which is the more dangerous for its plausible appearance. Knowledge, a more comprehensive term, signifies the simple apprehension of facts or relations. “In strictness of language, ” says Paley, “ there is a difference between knowledge and wisdom; wisdom always supposing action, and action directed by it.” [ 1913 Webster ]

Knowledge and wisdom, far from being one,
Have ofttimes no connection. Knowledge dwells
In heads replete with thoughts of other men;
Wisdom, in minds attentive to their own.
Knowledge, a rude, unprofitable mass,
The mere materials with which wisdom builds,
Till smoothed, and squared, and fitted to its place,
Does but encumber whom it seems to enrich.
Knowledge is proud that he has learned so much;
Wisdom is humble that he knows no more. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

Wisdom tooth, the last, or back, tooth of the full set on each half of each jaw in man; -- familiarly so called, because appearing comparatively late, after the person may be supposed to have arrived at the age of wisdom. See the Note under Tooth, 1. [ 1913 Webster ]

. The class of ancient Hebrew writings which deal reflectively with general ethical and religious topics, as distinguished from the prophetic and liturgical literature, and from the law. It is comprised chiefly in the books of Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiasticus, Ecclesiastes, and Wisdom of Solomon. The “wisdom” (Hokhmah) of these writings consists in detached sage utterances on concrete issues of life, without the effort at philosophical system that appeared in the later Hellenistic reflective writing beginning with Philo Judaeus. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. [ Compar. Wiser superl. Wisest. ] [ OE. wis, AS. wīs; akin to OS. & OFries. wīs, D. wijs, G. weise, OHG. wīs, wīsi, Icel. vīss, Sw. vis, Dan. viis, Goth. weis; akin to wit, v. i. See Wit, v., and cf. Righteous, Wisdom. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Having knowledge; knowing; enlightened; of extensive information; erudite; learned. [ 1913 Webster ]

They are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge. Jer. iv. 22. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

When clouds appear, wise men put their cloaks. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

From a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation. 2 Tim. iii. 15. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Versed in art or science; skillful; dexterous; specifically, skilled in divination. [ 1913 Webster ]

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? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Hence, prudent; calculating; shrewd; wary; subtle; crafty. [ R. ] “Thou art . . . no novice, but a governor wily and wise.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nor, on the other side,
Will I be penuriously wise
As to make money, that's my slave, my idol. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

Lords do not care for me:
I am too wise to die yet. Ford. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

To make it wise, to make it a matter of deliberation. [ Obs. ] “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. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

A very grave, state bachelor, my dainty one;
He's wise in years, and of a temperate warmth. Ford. [ 1913 Webster ]

You are too wise in years, too full of counsel,
For my green experience. Ford. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ OE. wise, AS. wīse; akin to OS. wīsa, OFries. wīs, D. wijs, wijze, OHG. wīsa, G. weise, Sw. vis, Dan. viis, Icel. öðruvīs otherwise; from the root of E. wit; hence, originally, knowledge, skill. See Wit, v., and cf. Guise. ] Way of being or acting; manner; mode; fashion. “All armed in complete wise.” Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

To love her in my beste wyse. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

This song she sings in most commanding wise. Sir P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]

Let not these blessings then, sent from above,
Abused be, or spilt in profane wise. Fairfax. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OD. wijssegger or G. weissager a foreteller, prophet, from weissagen to foretell, to prophesy, OHG. wīssag&unr_;n, corrupted (as if compounded of the words for wise and say) fr. wīzzag&unr_;n, fr. wīzzag&unr_; a prophet, akin to AS. wītiga, wītga, from the root of E. wit. See Wit, v. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A learned or wise man. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Pythagoras learned much . . . becoming a mighty wiseacre. Leland. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who makes undue pretensions to wisdom; a would-be-wise person; hence, in contempt, a simpleton; a dunce. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Wise; knowing; skillful; sapient; erudite; prudent. Ex. xxviii. 3. [ 1913 Webster ]