having the power of discerning and judging properly as to what is true or right; possessing discernment, judgment, or discretion.
2.
characterized by or showing such power; judicious or prudent: a wise decision.
3.
possessed of or characterized by scholarly knowledge or learning; learned; erudite: wise in the law.
4.
having knowledge or information as to facts, circumstances, etc.: We are wiser for their explanations.
5.
Slang. informed; in the know: You're wise, so why not give us the low-down?
6.
Archaic. having knowledge of magic or witchcraft.
–verb (used with object)
7.
Slang. to make wise or aware: I'll wise you, kid.
—Verb phrase
8.
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.
—Idioms
9.
be or get wise to, Slang. to be or become cognizant of or no longer deceived by; catch on: to get wise to a fraud.
10.
get wise, Slang.
a.
to become informed.
b.
to be or become presumptuous or impertinent: Don't get wise with me, young man!
11.
put or set someone wise, Slang. to inform a person; let a person in on a secret or generally unknown fact: Some of the others put him wise to what was going on.
[Origin: bef. 900; ME (adj.), OE wīs; c. D wijs, G weise, ON vīss, Goth -weis; akin to wit1]
way of proceeding or considering; manner; fashion (usually used in combination or in certain phrases): otherwise; in any wise; in no wise.
[Origin: bef. 900; ME, OE: way, manner; melody (OE); c. D wijze, G Weise manner, melody, ON vīsa short poem, Dan vise ballad; akin to Gk eǐdos form, shape]
WiseAudio Help (wīz) Pronunciation Key
Hungarian-born American religious leader who was an ardent Zionist and founded the World Jewish Congress (1936).
O.E. wis, from P.Gmc. *wisaz (cf. O.S., O.Fris. wis, O.N. viss, Du. wijs, Ger. weise "wise"), from pp. adj. *wittos of PIE base *woid-/*weid-/*wid- "to see," hence "to know" (see vision). Slang meaning "aware, cunning" first attested 1896. Related to the source of O.E. witan "to know, wit."
"A wise man has no extensive knowledge; He who has extensive knowledge is not a wise man." [Lao-tzu, "Tao te Ching," c.550 B.C.E.]
Wise guy is attested from 1896, Amer.Eng.; wisecrack is from 1924. Wisenheimer, with mock Ger. or Yiddish surname suffix, first recorded 1904.
"way of proceeding, manner," O.E. wise, ultimately from the same source as wise (adj.). Cf. O.S. wisa, O.Fris. wis, Dan. vis, M.Du. wise, Du. wijs, O.H.G. wisa, Ger. Weise "way, manner." Most common in Eng. now as a suffix. For sense evolution from "to see" to "way of proceeding," cf. cognate Gk. eidos "form, shape, kind," also "course of action." Ground sense is "to see/know the way."
having or prompted by wisdom or discernment; "a wise leader"; "a wise and perceptive comment" [ant: foolish]
2.
marked by the exercise of good judgment or common sense in practical matters; "judicious use of one's money"; "a wise decision" [syn: judicious]
3.
evidencing the possession of inside information [syn: knowing]
4.
improperly forward or bold; "don't be fresh with me"; "impertinent of a child to lecture a grownup"; "an impudent boy given to insulting strangers"; "Don't get wise with me!" [syn: fresh]
noun
1.
a way of doing or being; "in no wise"; "in this wise"
2.
United States Jewish leader (born in Hungary) (1874-1949)
3.
United States religious leader (born in Bohemia) who united reform Jewish organizations in the United States (1819-1900)
Wise County, TX (county, FIPS 497) Location: 33.21545 N, 97.65270 W Population (1990): 34679 (14219 housing units) Area: 2343.1 sq km (land), 47.1 sq km (water)
Wise County, VA (county, FIPS 195) Location: 36.97456 N, 82.62168 W Population (1990): 39573 (15927 housing units) Area: 1044.7 sq km (land), 3.1 sq km (water)
Wise, VA (town, FIPS 87072) Location: 36.97725 N, 82.58044 W Population (1990): 3193 (1419 housing units) Area: 7.9 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water) Zip code(s): 24293
Guise\, n. [OE. guise, gise, way, manner, F. guise, fr. OHG. w[=i]sa, G. weise. See Wise, n.]1. Customary way of speaking or acting; custom; fashion; manner; behavior; mien; mode; practice; -- often used formerly in such phrases as: at his own guise; that is, in his own fashion, to suit himself. --Chaucer. The swain replied, "It never was our guise To slight the poor, or aught humane despise." --Pope. 2. External appearance in manner or dress; appropriate indication or expression; garb; shape. As then the guise was for each gentle swain. --Spenser. A . . . specter, in a far more terrific guise than any which ever yet have overpowered the imagination. --Burke. 3. Cover; cloak; as, under the guise of patriotism.
Like"wise`\ (l[imac]k"w[imac]z`), adv. & conj. [See Wise, n.] In like manner; also; moreover; too. See Also. Go, and do thou likewise. --Luke x. 37. For he seeth that wise men die; likewise the fool and the brutish person perish. --Ps. xlix. 10.
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Audio Help [wahyz] Pronunciation Key adjective, wis·er, wis·est, verb, wised, wis·ing. 
