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Definition 2024


-wise

-wise

See also: wise, Wise, and WISE

English

Suffix

-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 is promising weather-wise.

Derived terms

<a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs14 CategoryTreeLabelCategory' href='/wiki/Category:English_words_suffixed_with_-wise'>English words suffixed with -wise</a>
  • imagewise
  • objectwise
  • spacewise

Usage notes

Related terms


Old English

Etymology

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

Suffix

-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"

Declension