wise

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   having or prompted by wisdom or discernment

   a wise leader

2. 2
   noun

   a way of doing or being

   in no wise

3. 3
   adj

   Showing good judgement or the benefit of experience.

   Storing extra food for the winter was a wise decision.

4. 4
   adj

   Disrespectful.

   Don't get wise with me!

5. 5
   adj

   Aware, informed (to something).

   Be careful: the boss is wise to your plan to call out sick.

6. 6
   verb

   Usually with "up", to inform or learn.

   Mo wised him up about his situation.

7. 7
   noun

   Way, manner, or method.

   In such wise that all the beasts, great and small, came to the court save Reynard the Fox.

8. 8
   adj

   improperly forward or bold

Etymology

From Middle English wisen (“to advise, direct”), from Old English wisian (“to show the way, guide, direct”), from Proto-West Germanic *wīsōn, from Proto-Germanic *wīsōną (“to show the way, dispense knowledge”), from Proto-Indo-European *weyd- (“to know”). Compare Dutch wijzen (“to indicate, point out”), German weisen (“to show, indicate”), Danish and Norwegian Bokmål vise (“to show”), Norwegian Nynorsk visa (“to show”).