wise Hear it!

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wise1 definition

wise (wīz)

adjective wiser wis′er, wisest wis′·est

  1. having or showing good judgment; sagacious; prudent
  2. prompted by wisdom; judicious; sound a wise saying, wise action
  3. having information; informed none the wiser
  4. learned; erudite
  5. shrewd; crafty; cunning
  6. Now Dial. having knowledge of black magic, etc.
  7. ☆ Slang
    1. annoyingly self-assured, knowing, conceited, etc.
    2. impudent; fresh

Etymology: ME wis < OE, akin to witan, to know, OHG wis, MDu wijs < PGmc *wisa-, wise < IE *weid- < base *w(e)di-, to see, know > Sans vēdas, knowledge, Gr idris, knowing, L videre, to see

Related Forms:

wise Idioms

be (or get) wise to

☆
Slang to be (or become) aware of; have (or attain) a proper understanding of

get wise

☆ Slang
  1. to become aware of the true facts or circumstances
  2. to become impudent

put someone wise (to)

☆
Slang to give someone information, an explanation, etc. (about); enlighten someone (concerning)

wise up

☆
Slang to make or become informed, insightful, etc.
wise2 definition

wise (wīz)

noun

way; manner: used chiefly in such phrases as in no wise and in this wise

Etymology: ME < OE, akin to Ger weise (orig. sense prob. “appearance”): for IE base see wise

wise3 definition

wise (wīz)

transitive verb wised, wising wis′·ing

  1. to direct or guide
  2. to convey or conduct

Etymology: ME wisen < OE wisian, akin to ON visa, Goth (fulla-)weisjan, OHG wisen < base of wise

Wise definition

Wise (wīz)

  1. Wise, Stephen Samuel 1874-1949; U.S. rabbi & Jewish leader, born in Hungary
  2. Wise, Thomas James 1859-1937; Eng. bibliophile, editor, & forger

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms wise idiom

wise Synonyms

wise

modif.

  1. Judicious

    clever, sagacious, perceptive, understanding; see rational 1, thoughtful 1.

  2. Shrewd

    calculating, cunning, crafty; see sly 1.

  3. Prudent

    tactful, sensible, wary; see careful, discreet.

  4. Erudite

    knowledgeable, scholarly, smart; see educated 1, learned 1.

  5. *Impudent

    bold, forward, offensive, cocky*, smart*; see also rude 2.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

wise Usage Examples

Infinitive complement

  • consult: This is probable but it is wise to consult a tax adviser on such financial issues.

Modifying Another Word

  • worldly: Maddie would like to think of herself as worldly wise and independent but she does have a softer side which emerges every so often.

Preposition: unto

  • salvation: The " sacred writings are able to make thee wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Modifies a noun

  • counsel: I, in particular, will miss her wise counsel.

Used with adjective complement

  • seem: It seems wise to continue to refer in this discussion to specific texts rather than simply to groups of texts.
wise usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

wise quotes

He that will write well in any tongue, must follow this counsel of Aristotle, to speak as the common people do, to think as wise men do; and so should every man understand him, and the judgment of wise men allow him.

-Ascham, Roger

It is not granted to man to love and to be wise.

-Bacon, Francis,Viscount St Albans

   There is in human nature generally more of the fool than of the wise.

-Bacon, Francis,Viscount St Albans

wise quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"wise." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/wise>

APA Style

wise. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/wise

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