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Wis

//waɪs// adj, adv, noun, verb

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Certain. dialectal, obsolete, rare
  2. 2
    Sure. dialectal, obsolete, rare

    "He was wis on his word."

Adverb
  1. 1
    Certainly, surely. dialectal, obsolete, rare

    "So I wis would the Dragon under him […]"

  2. 2
    Really, truly. dialectal, obsolete, rare
  3. 3
    Indeed. dialectal, obsolete, rare

    "As wis God help me."

Noun
  1. 1
    Abbreviation of wisdom point. abbreviation, alt-of, uncountable
Verb
  1. 1
    To know. archaic, no-past, no-present-participle, obsolete

    ""The fire seven times tried this: / Seven times tried that judgement is, / That did never choose amiss. / Some there be that shadows kiss: / Such have but a shadow's bliss. / There be fools alive, I wis, / Silver'd o'er; and so was this. / I will ever be your head: / So be gone: you are sped.""

  2. 2
    To think, suppose. archaic, no-past, no-present-participle, obsolete

    "Howe'er you wis."

  3. 3
    To imagine, ween; to deem. archaic, no-past, no-present-participle, obsolete

    "And oh, that I should see that star remote / Yet His near Glory miss / Whereto the sun itself and stars do float / As motes, I wis!"

Etymology

Etymology 1

Inherited from Middle English wis (“certain, sure”), from an aphetic form of Middle English iwis, ywis (“certain, sure”) (from Old English ġewiss (“certain, sure”)), or of North Germanic origin, cognate with Icelandic viss (“certain, sure”), Dutch gewis (“certain, sure”), and German gewiss (“certain, sure”). Ultimately from Proto-Germanic *gawissaz. More at iwis.

Etymology 2

Inherited from Middle English wis (“certain, sure”), from an aphetic form of Middle English iwis, ywis (“certain, sure”) (from Old English ġewiss (“certain, sure”)), or of North Germanic origin, cognate with Icelandic viss (“certain, sure”), Dutch gewis (“certain, sure”), and German gewiss (“certain, sure”). Ultimately from Proto-Germanic *gawissaz. More at iwis.

Etymology 3

From an incorrect division, mistaking iwis (“certain”) for I wis (“I know”). See ywis for more information. The German verb wissen may appear similar, but in fact corresponds etymologically to the English verb wit; both of those verbs ultimately descend from the same Proto-Indo-European root as this one.

See also for "wis"

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