wis

See also: -wis, Wis., and wiś

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /waɪs/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aɪs

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”). Ultimately from Proto-Germanic *gawissaz. More at iwis.

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
   • (Can we date this quote by Chaucer and provide title, author's full name, and other details?)

   As wis God helpe me.

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.

   I am wis that it will happen.

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, 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^[1]:

     "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.
   • (Can we date this quote by R. Browning and provide title, author's full name, and other details?)

   Howe'er you wis.

3. (obsolete or archaic) To imagine, ween; to deem.
   • (Can we date this quote by Coleridge and provide title, author's full name, and other details?)

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

Anagrams

• WSI

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Afrikaans

Verb

wis

1. preterite of weet; knew

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Chuukese

Noun

wis

1. duty, responsibility

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Dutch

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʋɪs/

• Audio

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɪs

Etymology 1

Adjective

wis (not comparable)

1. sure, certain

   een wisse dood — a certain death

Inflection

Inflection of wis
uninflected	wis
inflected	wisse
comparative	—
		positive
predicative/adverbial		wis
indefinite	m./f. sing.	wisse
	n. sing.	wis
	plural	wisse
definite		wisse
partitive		wis

Etymology 2

Noun

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

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

Etymology 3

Verb

wis

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

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Gothic

Romanization

wis

1. Romanization of 𐍅𐌹𐍃

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Javanese

Javanese register set
ꦏꦮꦶ (kawi): sampun
ꦏꦿꦩꦲꦶꦁꦒꦶꦭ꧀ (krama inggil): pun
ꦏꦿꦩꦲꦤ꧀ꦝꦥ꧀ (krama andhap): wis

Adverb

wis

1. already

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Old Dutch

Etymology

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

Adjective

wīs

1. wise

Inflection

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

Further reading

• “wīs”, in Oudnederlands Woordenboek, 2012

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Old English

Alternative forms

• ƿīs – wynn spelling

Etymology

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.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /wiːs/

Adjective

wīs

1. wise

Declension

Declension of wīs — Strong

Singular	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	wīs	wīs	wīs
Accusative	wīsne	wīse	wīs
Genitive	wīses	wīsre	wīses
Dative	wīsum	wīsre	wīsum
Instrumental	wīse	wīsre	wīse
Plural	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	wīse	wīsa, wīse	wīs
Accusative	wīse	wīsa, wīse	wīs
Genitive	wīsra	wīsra	wīsra
Dative	wīsum	wīsum	wīsum
Instrumental	wīsum	wīsum	wīsum

Declension of wīs — Weak

Singular	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	wīsa	wīse	wīse
Accusative	wīsan	wīsan	wīse
Genitive	wīsan	wīsan	wīsan
Dative	wīsan	wīsan	wīsan
Instrumental	wīsan	wīsan	wīsan
Plural	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	wīsan	wīsan	wīsan
Accusative	wīsan	wīsan	wīsan
Genitive	wīsra, wīsena	wīsra, wīsena	wīsra, wīsena
Dative	wīsum	wīsum	wīsum
Instrumental	wīsum	wīsum	wīsum

Derived terms

• andwīs
• stæfwīs
• unwīs
• wīslīċe
• wīsnes

Descendants

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

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Old High German

Etymology

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.

Adjective

wīs

1. wise

Descendants

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

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Old Saxon

Etymology

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.

Adjective

wīs

1. wise

Declension

Positive forms of wīs

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

Descendants

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

      Ravensbergisch-Lippisch: wuise, wuis

      Sauerländisch: weyse, wüse, wīse, wuise

      Westmünsterländisch: wiese

  • Plautdietsch: weis

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Scots

Compare West Frisian "wie".

Verb

wis

1. simple past tense of be

Usage notes

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

See also

• wir

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West Frisian

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Adjective

wis

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

Inflection

Inflection of wis
uninflected	wis
inflected	wisse
comparative	wisser
		positive	comparative	superlative
predicative/adverbial		wis	wisser	it wist it wiste
indefinite	c. sing.	wisse	wissere	wiste
	n. sing.	wis	wisser	wiste
	plural	wisse	wissere	wiste
definite		wisse	wissere	wiste
partitive		wis	wissers	—

Derived terms

• jawis

Further reading

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