English

Abbreviation

Wis.

1. Wisconsin

Synonyms

• WI

English

Alternative forms

• wiss, ywis, 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

   "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, 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

Chuukese

Noun

wis

1. duty, responsibility

Dutch

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɪs

Adjective

wis ‎(not comparable)

1. sure, certain

   een wisse dood — a certain death

Inflection

Noun

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

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. Romanization of 𐍅𐌹𐍃

Javanese

Adverb

wis ‎(krama sampun, Javanese script ꦮꦶꦱ꧀)

1. already

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

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

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

Scots

Verb

wis

1. simple past tense of be

Usage notes

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

See also

• wir