wis

• IPA^(key): /waɪs/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aɪs

• wiss, ywis, iwis

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, akin to Icelandic viss (“certain”). Ultimately from Proto-Germanic *gawissaz. More at iwis.

wis (comparative more wis, superlative most wis)

1. (rare, obsolete or dialectal) Certainly, surely
   • 1884, Charlotte Mary Yonge, The armourer's prentices:

     So I wis would the Dragon under him [...]

2. (rare, obsolete or dialectal) Really, truly
3. (rare, obsolete or dialectal) Indeed
   • Chaucer

   As wis God helpe me.

wis (comparative more wis, superlative most wis)

1. (rare, obsolete or dialectal) Certain
2. (rare, obsolete or dialectal) Sure

   He was wis on his word.

   I am wis that it will happen.

• wisly

From an incorrect division, mistaking iwis (“certain”) for I wis (“I know”). See ywis for more information. The German verb wissen appears similar, but in fact corresponds etymologically to the English verb wit; both of those verbs are only indirectly related to this one.

wis (third-person singular simple present wis, present participle -, simple past -, past participle wist or wissed)

1. (obsolete or archaic) To know.
   • 1596-97, William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice, Act II, Scene ix:

     "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. (obsolete or archaic) To think, suppose.
   • R. Browning

   Howe'er you wis.

3. (obsolete or archaic) To imagine, ween; to deem.
   • Coleridge

   Nor do I know how long it is (For I have lain entranced, I wis).

• WSI

wis

1. preterite of weet; knew

wis

1. duty, responsibility

• IPA^(key): /ʋɪs/

• Audio

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɪs

wis (not comparable)

1. sure, certain

   een wisse dood — a certain death

wis f or m (plural wissen, diminutive wisje n)

1. twig
2. bundle, bunch
3. short for wisdoek (dishcloth)

wis

1. first-person singular present indicative of wissen
2. imperative of wissen

wis

1. Romanization of 𐍅𐌹𐍃

wis

1. already

From Proto-Germanic *wīsaz, from Proto-Indo-European *weyd- (“to see, to know”).

wīs

1. wise

• Middle Dutch: wijs

• “wīs”, in Oudnederlands Woordenboek, 2012

• ƿis

From Proto-Germanic *wīsaz, from Proto-Indo-European *weydstos (“knowledgeable”), an extension of *weyd- (“to see, to know”). Akin to Old High German wīs and Old Norse víss.

• IPA^(key): /wiːs/

wīs

1. wise

   Homō sapiēns is on Englisċ "wīs mann."

   Homo sapiens is "wise person" in English.

• andwīs
• stæfwīs
• unwīs
• wīslīċe
• wīsnes

• Middle English: wis, wys
  • Scots: wis, wise
  • English: wise
    • ⇒ English: wizard

From Proto-Germanic *wīsaz, from Proto-Indo-European *weydstos (“knowledgeable”), an extension of *weyd- (“to see, to know”). Akin to Old English wīs and Old Norse víss.

wīs

1. wise

• Middle High German: wīse
  • German: weise
• ⇒ Old High German: wīsi

From Proto-Germanic *wīsaz, from Proto-Indo-European *weydstos (“knowledgeable”), an extension of *weyd- (“to see, to know”). Akin to Old English wīs, Old High German wīs and Old Norse víss.

wīs

1. wise

• Middle Low German: wīs
  • Low German:
    • German Low German: wies
    • Westphalian:

      Ravensbergisch-Lippisch: wuise, wuis

      Sauerländisch: weyse, wüse, wīse, wuise

      Westmünsterländisch: wiese

  • Plautdietsch: weis

wis

1. simple past tense of be

Use wis with singular pronouns & plural nouns, otherwise use wis, war or wir with plural pronouns.

• wir

wis

1. certain, sure
2. true
3. safe, trustworthy

• jawis

• “wis (I)”, in Wurdboek fan de Fryske taal (in Dutch), 2011