wise

Word Origin & History

Old English wis, from Proto-Germanic *wisaz (cf. Old Saxon, Old Frisian wis, Old Norse viss, Dutch wijs, German weise "wise"), from past participle adjective *wittos of PIE root *weid- "to see," hence "to know" (see vision). Slang meaning "aware, cunning" first attested 1896. Related to the source of Old English witan "to know, wit."

Wise guy is attested from 1896, American English. Wisenheimer, with mock German or Yiddish surname suffix, first recorded 1904.

Example Sentences forwise

But how could you be a wise master without learning the craft?

Peart and cunnin', but a heap too wise fur you, son; take my steer on that.

His aunt, the Duchess of Savoy, is a merry dame, and a wise!

Solomon, the Wise, decided to provide them with a magnificent home.

Wise counsels, like those which gave us the Constitution, prevailed to uphold it.

I was the only judge, in my own wise opinion, of what was right and fit.

He always kept a group with him, and people said that he was wise to do it.

This was a wise resolution, and attended with the most salutary consequences.

Is it wise of you to expose yourself so much to the infection?

It was not a wise thing to do, but her anger prevented her from seeing its impropriety.

wise

keenest

knowing

knowledgeable

level-headed

levelheaded

logical

malapert

manner

wise

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