wis

C2+ Topic:Mind & Cognition

US /wɪs/ UK /wɪs/ See IPA manual

Minimal pairs

Sounds like which /tʃ/ vs /s/ Sounds like wish /s/ vs /ʃ/

verb

Meanings

1

verb
to know or suppose; an archaic verb meaning to be aware

I wis not where the road shall lead us next.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to know or suppose; an... know supposeweendeem believe

Word family

Related forms wit wist wiseiwis

Etymology

An archaic verb 'to know', arising partly by a misanalysis of iwis ('certainly', Old English ġewis) as 'I wis', and partly from Old English witan ('to know'). Related to wit and wise.

ġewis Old English witan Old English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Mind & Cognition Register & Style

# wis

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** wɪs
**IPA (UK):** wɪs

## Meanings
1. to know or suppose; an archaic verb meaning to be aware

## Examples
- I wis not where the road shall lead us next.

## Synonyms
- know
- suppose
- ween
- deem
- believe

## Related Forms
- wit
- wist
- wise
- iwis

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: ġewis
- Root: witan

## Etymology
An archaic verb 'to know', arising partly by a misanalysis of iwis ('certainly', Old English ġewis) as 'I wis', and partly from Old English witan ('to know'). Related to wit and wise.

## AI Etymology
Wis is a verb meaning "to know or suppose; an archaic verb meaning to be aware". Historically, it is an archaic verb 'to know', arising partly by a misanalysis of iwis ('certainly', Old English ġewis) as 'I wis', and partly from Old English witan ('to know'). Related to wit and wise. The historical chain links Old English ġewis with Old English witan. Close English family members include wit, wist, wise, and iwis. This keeps the modern verb sense tied to the older forms and language sequence behind it.

## Topics
- Mind & Cognition
- Register & Style

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wis

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