a. [ Compar. Wiser superl. Wisest. ] [ OE. wis, AS. wīs; akin to OS. & OFries. wīs, D. wijs, G. weise, OHG. wīs, wīsi, Icel. vīss, Sw. vis, Dan. viis, Goth. weis; akin to wit, v. i. See Wit, v., and cf. Righteous, Wisdom. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Having knowledge; knowing; enlightened; of extensive information; erudite; learned. [ 1913 Webster ]

They are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge. Jer. iv. 22. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence, especially, making due use of knowledge; discerning and judging soundly concerning what is true or false, proper or improper; choosing the best ends and the best means for accomplishing them; sagacious. [ 1913 Webster ]

When clouds appear, wise men put their cloaks. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

From a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation. 2 Tim. iii. 15. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Versed in art or science; skillful; dexterous; specifically, skilled in divination. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fal. There was, mine host, an old fat woman even now with me; but she's gone.
Sim. Pray you, sir, was't not the wise woman of Brentford? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Hence, prudent; calculating; shrewd; wary; subtle; crafty. [ R. ] “Thou art . . . no novice, but a governor wily and wise.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nor, on the other side,
Will I be penuriously wise
As to make money, that's my slave, my idol. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

Lords do not care for me:
I am too wise to die yet. Ford. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Dictated or guided by wisdom; containing or exhibiting wisdom; well adapted to produce good effects; judicious; discreet; as, a wise saying; a wise scheme or plan; wise conduct or management; a wise determination. “Eminent in wise deport.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

To make it wise, to make it a matter of deliberation. [ Obs. ] “We thought it was not worth to make it wise.” Chaucer. --
Wise in years, old enough to be wise; wise from age and experience; hence, aged; old. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

A very grave, state bachelor, my dainty one;
He's wise in years, and of a temperate warmth. Ford. [ 1913 Webster ]

You are too wise in years, too full of counsel,
For my green experience. Ford. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ OE. wise, AS. wīse; akin to OS. wīsa, OFries. wīs, D. wijs, wijze, OHG. wīsa, G. weise, Sw. vis, Dan. viis, Icel. öðruvīs otherwise; from the root of E. wit; hence, originally, knowledge, skill. See Wit, v., and cf. Guise. ] Way of being or acting; manner; mode; fashion. “All armed in complete wise.” Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

To love her in my beste wyse. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

This song she sings in most commanding wise. Sir P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]

Let not these blessings then, sent from above,
Abused be, or spilt in profane wise. Fairfax. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ This word is nearly obsolete, except in such phrases as in any wise, in no wise, on this wise, etc. “ Fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.” Ps. xxxvii. 8. “He shall in no wise lose his reward.” Matt. x. 42. “ On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel.” Num. vi. 23. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Wise is often used as a suffix in composition, as in likewise, nowise, lengthwise, etc., in which words -ways is often substituted with the same sense; as, noways, lengthways, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OD. wijssegger or G. weissager a foreteller, prophet, from weissagen to foretell, to prophesy, OHG. wīssag&unr_;n, corrupted (as if compounded of the words for wise and say) fr. wīzzag&unr_;n, fr. wīzzag&unr_; a prophet, akin to AS. wītiga, wītga, from the root of E. wit. See Wit, v. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A learned or wise man. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Pythagoras learned much . . . becoming a mighty wiseacre. Leland. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who makes undue pretensions to wisdom; a would-be-wise person; hence, in contempt, a simpleton; a dunce. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Wise; knowing; skillful; sapient; erudite; prudent. Ex. xxviii. 3. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Resembling that which is wise or sensible; judicious. [ 1913 Webster ]

The only wise-like thing I heard anybody say. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who pretends to be wise; a wiseacre; a witling. Donne. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a wise manner; prudently; judiciously; discreetly; with wisdom. [ 1913 Webster ]

And wisely learn to curb thy sorrows wild. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Wisdom. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]