See Also: Wise(medicine)
wise(2)(dictionary)
wise(3)(dictionary)
wise(4)(dictionary)
wise(5)(dictionary)
Three Wise Men, the(dictionary)
Wise Guy - General(gambling)
wise 1, adjective(dictionary)
Three Wise Monkeys, the(dictionary)
Wise (as used in expressions)(encyclopedia)

wise(2) (iou)



wise adjective & noun2.
[Old English wis = Old Frisian, Old Saxon, Old High German wis(i (Dutch wijs, German weise) Old Norse viss, Gothic -weis, from Germanic, from Indo-European base also of WIT verb.]
A. adjective.
Of a person etc.: having or exercising (the power of) sound judgement or discernment, esp. in relation to conduct and the choice of means and ends; having and judiciously applying experience and knowledge; characterized by good sense and prudence. OE.
Bible (AV): Romans 16:19 I would haue you wise vnto that which is good, and simple concerning euill. Coleridge The first duty of a wise advocate is to convince his opponents, that he understands their arguments. H. James An ambitious diplomatist would probably be wise to marry. Scotsman A wise man..knows his own limitations.
b. Of behaviour, an action, a quality, etc.: proceeding from, indicating, or suggesting wisdom or discernment; sagacious, prudent, sensible, discreet. OE.
Ld Macaulay By a wise dispensation of Providence. G. Swift You say such wise, such clever things.
a. Of a person: clever, skilled. Formerly also foll. by of. Long obsolete exc. as in b. OE.
b. spec. Skilled in magic or occult arts. Now dial. or Hist. M17.
Having knowledge, well-informed; instructed, learned, (in a subject). Later also, informed, aware, (of something specified or implied). Now chiefly in phrs. OE.
Hobbes Wiser and better learned in cases of Law..than themselves. T. Gray Where ignorance is bliss, 'Tis folly to be wise. Century Magazine Not one whit the wiser of the world than when he left home. Times A man wise in the ways of the world, shrewd in affairs.
In one's right mind, sane. Now Scot. & dial. ME.
b. absol. as noun. Formerly, a wise person, a sage. Now, the wise people as a class. OE.
Special collocations, comb., & phrases: a word to the wise = VERB. SAP. be wise after the event: see EVENT noun. make wise to do (obsolete exc. dial.) pretend to do. no wiser, none the wiser, not much wiser knowing no more than before. one of the wisest: see ONE adjective, noun, & pronoun. PENNY wise and pound foolish. put wise to (colloq., orig. US) inform of, enlighten about, enable to be wise to. three wise men: see THREE adjective. three wise monkeys: see MONKEY noun. wise-ass slang (orig. US) = wise guy below. wisecrack noun & verb (colloq., orig. US) (a) noun a clever, pithy, or snide remark; (b) verb intrans. make a wisecrack. wisecracker a person given to making wisecracks. wise guy (colloq., orig. US) a know-all; a person who makes sarcastic or annoying remarks. wisehead a wiseacre, a know-all. wise man a wise, discerning, or prudent man; spec. (a) (now arch. rare) a learned man, a scholar; (b) (now colloq.) a man chosen as an adviser in matters of state, a councillor; (c) a man versed in magic, astrology, etc., esp. each of the three Magi (see also three wise men s.v. THREE adjective); (d) wise man of GOTHAM. wise to (colloq., orig. US) aware of, esp. so as to know what to do or how to act. wise woman a woman who is wise; spec. (now dial. or Hist.) a female magician or witch, esp. a harmless or beneficent one who deals in charms against disease, ill luck, etc. without anyone's being the wiser undetected.
wiseling noun (now rare) a pretender to wisdom, a wiseacre M17.
wiseness noun ME.