wise
1[ wahyz ]
/ waɪz /
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adjective, wis·er, wis·est.
verb (used with object), wised, wis·ing.
Slang. to make wise or aware: I'll wise you, kid.
Verb Phrases
wise up, Slang. to make or become aware of a secret or generally unknown fact, situation, attitude, etc.: They wised him up on how to please the boss.She never wised up to the fact that the joke was on her.
OTHER WORDS FOR wise
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Which of the following words describes “sky blue”?
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Idioms about wise
Origin of wise
1OTHER WORDS FROM wise
wise·ly, adverbOther definitions for wise (2 of 5)
wise2
[ wahyz ]
/ waɪz /
noun
Origin of wise
2First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English: “way, manner; style, melody”; cognate with Dutch wijze, German Weise “tune, melody; (figurative) manner, way,” Old Norse vīsa “verse, stanza, short poem,” Danish vise “ballad”; akin to Greek eîdos (from weîdos ) “form, shape”
Other definitions for wise (3 of 5)
wise3
[ wahyz ]
/ waɪz /
verb (used with object), wised, wis·ing.
Chiefly Scot.
- to instruct.
- to induce or advise.
- to show the way to; guide.
Scot. to direct the course of; cause to turn.
Origin of wise
3First recorded before 900; Middle English wisen, “to advise, reveal, guide,”Old English wīsian “to show the way, guide, direct,” akin to wīs wise1; cognate with Old High German wīsan, Old Norse vīsa “to point out, indicate”
Other definitions for wise (4 of 5)
Wise
[ wahyz ]
/ waɪz /
noun
Isaac May·er [mahy-er], /ˈmaɪ ər/, 1819–1900, U.S. rabbi and educator, born in Bohemia: founder of Reform Judaism in the U.S.
Stephen Samuel, 1874–1949, U.S. rabbi, theologian, and Zionist leader; born in Hungary.
Other definitions for wise (5 of 5)
-wise
a suffixal use of wise2 in adverbs denoting manner, position, direction, reference, etc.: counterclockwise; edgewise; marketwise; timewise.
Compare -ways.
words often confused with -wise
The suffix -wise is old in the language in adverbs referring to manner, direction, etc.: crosswise; lengthwise. Coinages like marketwise, saleswise, and weatherwise are often criticized, perhaps because of their association with the media: Otherwise—or moneywise, as they were already saying in the motion-picture industry—Hollywood was at the crest of its supercolossal glory. This suffix should not be confused with the adjective wise1 , which appears in such compound words as streetwise and worldly-wise.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
How to use wise in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for wise (1 of 3)
Derived forms of wise
wisely, adverbwiseness, nounWord Origin for wise
Old English wīs; related to Old Norse vīss, Gothic weis, German weise
British Dictionary definitions for wise (2 of 3)
wise2
/ (waɪz) /
noun
archaic way, manner, fashion, or respect (esp in the phrases any wise, in no wise)
Word Origin for wise
Old English wīse manner; related to Old Saxon wīsa, German Weise, Old Norse vīsa verse, Latin vīsus face
British Dictionary definitions for wise (3 of 3)
-wise
adv combining form
Also: -ways indicating direction or mannerclockwise; likewise
with reference toprofitwise; businesswise
Word Origin for -wise
Old English -wisan; see wise ²
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Other Idioms and Phrases with wise
wise
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
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