wise

The suffix –wise meaning “direction” or “a way of doing.” It is occasionally used in a variety of everyday terms, particularly to indicate a movement.

The form –wise comes from Old English wíse, meaning “way, manner; style, melody.” Yes, melody. Discover why at our entry for the related term verse.

An example of a word you may have encountered that features –wise is clockwise, “in the direction of the rotation of the hands of a clock.”

The clock– part of the word refers, of course, to the device that tells time. We know that –wise means “direction.” Clockwise literally translates to “in the direction of a clock,” i.e., in rotation from the left to the right.

What are some words that use the combining form –wise?

• counterclockwise
• edgewise
• otherwise
• somewise
• stepwise
• termwise (using the equivalent form of –wise in Middle English)

What are some other forms that –wise may be commonly confused with?

• -ise
• -wide

Not every word that ends with the exact letters –wise, such as worldly-wise or overwise, is necessarily using the suffix –wise to denote “direction.” Learn why overwise means “too smart” at our entry for the word.

Given the meaning of the suffix –wise, what does edgewise mean?