-wise

From Middle English -wis, from Old English -wīs (“-wise”), related to wīs, wīse (“manner, way, fashion”). More at wise (“way, manner”).

• IPA^(key): /waɪz/

-wise

1. in the direction or orientation of

   The gaoler slowly turned the key clockwise.

2. in the manner of
3. in the matter of; with regard to

   This morning looks promising, weather-wise.

   • 1919, Saki, ‘The Penance’, The Toys of Peace, Penguin 2000 (Complete Short Stories), p. 423:

     They had parents in India—that much Octavian had learned in the neighbourhood; the children, beyond grouping themselves garment-wise into sexes, a girl and two boys, carried their life-story no further on his behoof.

4. One (thing) at a time

   Add the reagent dropwise to the solution.

• The suffix -wise is particularly productive in Indian English. See for example classwise, datewise, subjectwise.

• -way, -ways

• -ƿīse

From wīse (“manner, way, condition, direction”).

• IPA^(key): /wiːze/

-wīse f

1. (noun suffix) state of, manner of, condition; direction

   rihtwīse "righteousness, justice", from riht "just, right"

   cnihtwīse "boyishness", from cniht "boy, youth"

   cynewīse "commonwealth, state", from cyne "public, nation, kindred"

   lēoþwīse "poetry, verse", from lēoþ "song, tune, poem"

   bēagwīse "sphere, circular form", from bēag "ring, hoop, circle"

2. (noun suffix) the custom or fashion of

   mynsterwīse "monastic custom", from mynster "minister"

   fierdwīse, fyrdwīse "military style", from fierd, fyrd "militia"

3. (adverbial suffix) in the manner or fashion of; in the direction of

   hysewīse "like a young man", from hyse "son, youth"