wis

See also -wis, and Wis.

English

Alternative forms

• wiss, ywis, iwis

Etymology 1

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”). More at ywis.

Adverb

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

   "As wis God helpe me." --Chaucer.

Adjective

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

Derived terms

• wisly

Etymology 2

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.

Verb

wis (third-person singular simple present wis (used chiefly in the first person singular "I wis"), present participle -, simple past -, past participle wist or wissed)

1. (obsolete or archaic) To know.
2. (obsolete or archaic) To think, suppose.

   "Howe'er you wis." --R. Browning.

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

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

---

Afrikaans

Verb

wis

1. preterite of weet; knew

---

Dutch

Adjective

wis (not comparable)

1. sure, certain

   een wisse dood — a certain death

Declension

Declension of wis

		positive
predicative/adverbial		wis
neuter singular	indefinite	wis
	definite	wisse
common singular		wisse
plural		wisse
partitive		wis

Noun

wis f, m (plural wissen, diminutive wisje)

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

Verb

wis

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

---

Gothic

Romanization

wis

1. See 𐍅𐌹𐍃

---

Old Dutch

Etymology

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

Adjective

wīs

1. wise

Declension

Declension of wīs

Strong declension
	masculine		neuter		feminine
	singular	plural	singular	plural	singular	plural
nominative	wīs	wīse	wīs	wīse	wīs	wīsu
accusative	wīsan	wīse	wīs	wīse	wīsa	wīsu
genitive	wīsis	wīsro	wīsis	wīsro	wīsro	wīsrō
dative	wīson	wīson	wīson	wīson	wīsro	wīson
Weak declension
	masculine		neuter		feminine
	singular	plural	singular	plural	singular	plural
nominative	wīso	wīsu	wīsa	wīsu	wīsa	wīsu
accusative	wīsin	wīsin	wīsa	wīsin	wīsin	wīsin
genitive	wīsin	wīsno	wīsin	wīsno	wīsin	wīsno
dative	wīsin	wīson	wīsin	wīson	wīsin	wīson

Descendants

• Middle Dutch: wijs
  • Dutch: wijs

---

Old English

Etymology

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

Adjective

wīs

1. wise

Declension

Weak							Strong
	singular			plural				singular			plural
	m	n	f					m	n	f	m	n	f
nominative	wīsa	wīse	wīse	wīsan			nom.	wīs			wīse	wīs	wīsa, -e
accusative	wīsan	wīse	wīsan				acc.	wīsne	wīs	wīse	wīse	wīs	wīsa, -e
genitive	wīsan			wīsra, wīsena			gen.	wīses	wīses	wīsre	wīsra
dative	wīsan			wīsum			dat.	wīsum	wīsum	wīsre	wīsum
							instrumental	wīse

Descendants

• English: wise

---

Old High German

Etymology

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

Adjective

wīs

1. wise

Descendants

• German: weise

---

Old Saxon

Etymology

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

Adjective

wīs

1. wise

Declension

Declension of wīs

Strong declension
	masculine		neuter		feminine
	singular	plural	singular	plural	singular	plural
nominative	wīs	wīse	wīs	wīse	wīs	wīsu
accusative	wīsan	wīse	wīs	wīse	wīsa	wīsu
genitive	wīses	wīsarō	wīses	wīsarō	wīsaro	wīsarō
dative	wīsumu	wīsum	wīsumu	wīsum	wīsaro	wīsum
Weak declension
	masculine		neuter		feminine
	singular	plural	singular	plural	singular	plural
nominative	wīso	wīsu	wīsa	wīsu	wīsa	wīsu
accusative	wīsun	wīsun	wīsa	wīsun	wīsun	wīsun
genitive	wīsun	wīsonō	wīsun	wīsonō	wīsun	wīsonō
dative	wīsun	wīsum	wīsun	wīsum	wīsun	wīsum

---

Scots

Verb

wis

1. Simple past of tae be.

Usage notes

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

See also

• wir