Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Wise?

\Wise\, a. [Compar. {Wiser}; superl. {Wisest}.] [OE. wis, AS. w[=i]s; akin to OS. & OFries. w[=i]s, D. wijs, G. weise, OHG. w[=i]s, w[=i]si, Icel. v[=i]ss, Sw. vis, Dan. viis, Goth. weis; akin to wit, v. i. See {Wit}, v., and cf. {Righteous}, {Wisdom}.] 1. 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. 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. When clouds appear, wise men put their cloaks. --Shak. From a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation. --2 Tim. iii. 15. 3. 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? --Shak. 4. Hence, prudent; calculating; shrewd; wary; subtle; crafty. [R.] ``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. 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. {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.] 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.
\Wise\, a. [OE. wise, AS. w[=i]se; akin to OS. w[=i]sa, OFries. w[=i]s, D. wijs, wijze, OHG. w[=i]sa, G. weise, Sw. vis, Dan. viis, Icel. ["o]?ruv[=i]s 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. 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. Note: 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. Note: 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.