Chapter 1897

Wire"-tailed` (?) , a. (Zo\'94l.) Having some or all of the tail quills terminated in a long, slender, pointed shaft, without a web or barbules.

Wirework <Xpage=1658>

Wire"work` (?) , n. Work, especially openwork, formed of wires.

Wire-worker <Xpage=1658>

Wire"-work`er (?) , n. One who manufactures articles from wire.

Wireworm <Xpage=1658>

Wire"worm` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) (a) One of the larv\'91 of various species of snapping beetles, or elaters; -- so called from their slenderness and the uncommon hardness of the integument. Wireworms are sometimes very destructive to the roots of plants. Called also wire grub . (b) A galleyworm.

Wiriness <Xpage=1658>

Wir"i*ness (?) , n. The quality of being wiry.

Wiry <Xpage=1658>

Wir"y (?) , a. [Written also wiery .]

1. Made of wire; like wire; drawn out like wire.

2. Capable of endurance; tough; sinewy; as, a wiry frame or constitution . "A little wiry sergeant of meek demeanor and strong sense."

Dickens.

He bore his age well, and seemed to retain a wiry vigor and alertness. Hawthorne.

Wis <Xpage=1658>

Wis (?) , adv. [Aphetic form of iwis , ywis ; or fr. Icel. viss certain. See Ywis .] Certainly; really; indeed. [Obs.] "As wis God helpe me."

Chaucer.

Wis <Xpage=1658>

Wis , v. t. [Due to mistaking OE. iwis certain, AS. gewiss , for I wis . See Ywis .] To think; to suppose; to imagine; -- used chiefly in the first person sing. present tense, I wis . See the Note under Ywis . [Obs. or Poetic] "Howe'er you wis ."

R. Browning.

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

Wisard <Xpage=1658>

Wis"ard (?) , n. See Wizard .

Wisdom <Xpage=1658>

Wis"dom (-d&ucr;m) , n. [AS. w&imac;sd&omac;m . See Wise , a. , and -dom .]

1. The quality of being wise; knowledge, and the capacity to make due use of it; knowledge of the best ends and the best means; discernment and judgment; discretion; sagacity; skill; dexterity.

We speak also not in wise words of man's wisdom , but in the doctrine of the spirit. Wyclif (1 Cor. ii. 13).

Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom ; and to depart from evil is understanding. Job xxviii. 28.

It is hoped that our rulers will act with dignity and wisdom that they will yield everything to reason, and refuse everything to force. Ames.

Common sense in an uncommon degree is what the world calls wisdom . Coleridge.

2. The results of wise judgments; scientific or practical truth; acquired knowledge; erudition.

Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds. Acts vii. 22.

Syn. -- Prudence; knowledge. Wisdom , Prudence , Knowledge . Wisdom has been defined to be "the use of the best means for attaining the best ends." "We conceive," says Whewell, " prudence as the virtue by which we select right means for given ends, while wisdom implies the selection of right ends as well as of right means." Hence, wisdom implies the union of high mental and moral excellence. Prudence (that is, providence , or forecast) is of a more negative character; it rather consists in avoiding danger than in taking decisive measures for the accomplishment of an object. Sir Robert Walpole was in many respects a prudent statesman, but he was far from being a wise one. Burke has said that prudence , when carried too far, degenerates into a "reptile virtue," which is the more dangerous for its plausible appearance. Knowledge , a more comprehensive term, signifies the simple apprehension of facts or relations. "In strictness of language," says Paley, " there is a difference between knowledge and wisdom ; wisdom always supposing action, and action directed by it."

Knowledge and wisdom , far from being one, Have ofttimes no connection. Knowledge dwells In heads replete with thoughts of other men; Wisdom , in minds attentive to their own. Knowledge , a rude, unprofitable mass, The mere materials with which wisdom builds, Till smoothed, and squared, and fitted to its place, Does but encumber whom it seems to enrich. Knowledge is proud that he has learned so much; Wisdom is humble that he knows no more. Cowper.

Wisdom tooth , the last, or back, tooth of the full set on each half of each jaw in man; -- familiarly so called, because appearing comparatively late, after the person may be supposed to have arrived at the age of wisdom. See the Note under Tooth , 1.

Wise <Xpage=1658>

Wise (?) , a. [ Compar. Wiser (?) ; superl. Wisest .] [OE. wis , AS. w\'c6s ; akin to OS. & OFries. w\'c6s , D. wijs , G. weise , OHG. w\'c6s , w\'c6si , Icel. v\'c6ss , Sw. vis , Dan. viis , Goth. weis ; akin to wit , v. i. See Wit , v. , and cf. Righteous , Wisdom .]

1. Having knowledge; knowing; enlightened; of extensive information; erudite; learned.

They are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge. Jer. iv. 22.

2. Hence, especially, making due use of knowledge; discerning and judging soundly concerning what is true or false, proper or improper; choosing the best ends and the best means for accomplishing them; sagacious.

When clouds appear, wise men put their cloaks. Shak.

From a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation. 2 Tim. iii. 15.

3. Versed in art or science; skillful; dexterous; specifically, skilled in divination.

Fal. There was, mine host, an old fat woman even now with me; but she's gone. Sim. Pray you, sir, was't not the wise woman of Brentford? Shak.

4. Hence, prudent; calculating; shrewd; wary; subtle; crafty. [R.] "Thou art . . . no novice, but a governor wily and wise ."

Chaucer.

Nor, on the other side, Will I be penuriously wise As to make money , that's my slave , my idol . Beau. & Fl.

Lords do not care for me: I am too wise to die yet. Ford.

5. Dictated or guided by wisdom; containing or exhibiting wisdom; well adapted to produce good effects; judicious; discreet; as, a wise saying; a wise scheme or plan; wise conduct or management; a wise determination . "Eminent in wise deport."

Milton.

To make it wise , to make it a matter of deliberation. [Obs.] " We thought it was not worth to make it wise ." Chaucer . -- Wise in years , old enough to be wise; wise from age and experience; hence, aged; old. [Obs.]

A very grave, state bachelor, my dainty one; He's wise in years , and of a temperate warmth. Ford.

You are too wise in years , too full of counsel, For my green experience. Ford.

Wise <Xpage=1658>

Wise , a. [OE. wise , AS. w\'c6se ; akin to OS. w\'c6sa , OFries. w\'c6s , D. wijs , wijze , OHG. w\'c6sa , G. weise , Sw. vis , Dan. viis , Icel. \'94<?/ru v\'c6s otherwise; from the root of E. wit ; hence, originally, knowledge, skill. See Wit , v. , and cf. Guise .] Way of being or acting; manner; mode; fashion. "All armed in complete wise ."

Spenser.

To love her in my beste wyse . Chaucer.

This song she sings in most commanding wise . Sir P. Sidney.

Let not these blessings then, sent from above, Abused be, or spilt in profane wise . Fairfax.

&hand; This word is nearly obsolete, except in such phrases as in any wise , in no wise , on this wise , etc. " Fret not thyself in any wise to do evil." Ps. xxxvii. 8 . "He shall in no wise lose his reward." Matt. x. 42 . " On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel." Num. vi. 23 .

&hand; Wise is often used as a suffix in composition, as in like wise , no wise , length wise , etc., in which words -ways is often substituted with the same sense; as, no ways , length ways , etc.

Wiseacre <Xpage=1658>

Wise"a*cre (?) , n. [OD. wijssegger or G. weissager a foreteller, prophet, from weissagen to foretell, to prophesy, OHG. w\'c6ssag<?/n , corrupted (as if compounded of the words for wise and say ) fr. w\'c6zzag<?/n , fr. w\'c6zzag<?/ a prophet, akin to AS. w\'c6tiga , w\'c6tga , from the root of E. wit . See Wit , v. ]

1. A learned or wise man. [Obs.]

Pythagoras learned much . . . becoming a mighty wiseacre . Leland.

2. One who makes undue pretensions to wisdom; a would-be-wise person; hence, in contempt, a simpleton; a dunce.

Wise-hearted <Xpage=1658>

Wise"-heart`ed (?) , a. Wise; knowing; skillful; sapient; erudite; prudent.

Ex. xxviii. 3.

Wise-like <Xpage=1658>

Wise"-like` (?) , a. Resembling that which is wise or sensible; judicious.

The only wise-like thing I heard anybody say. Sir W. Scott.

Wiseling <Xpage=1658>

Wise"ling (?) , n. One who pretends to be wise; a wiseacre; a witling.

Donne.

Wisely <Xpage=1658>

Wise"ly , adv. In a wise manner; prudently; judiciously; discreetly; with wisdom.

And wisely learn to curb thy sorrows wild. Milton.

Wiseness <Xpage=1658>

Wise"ness , n. Wisdom. [Obs.]

Spenser.

Wish <Xpage=1658>

Wish (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Wished (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Wishing .] [OE. wischen , weschen , wuschen , AS. w<?/scan ; akin to D. wenschen , G. w\'81nschen , Icel. \'91eskja , Dan. \'94nske , Sw. \'94nska ; from AS. w<?/sc a wish; akin to OD. & G. wunsch , OHG. wunsc , Icel. <?/sk , Skr. v\'be<?/ch\'be a wish, v\'be<?/ch to wish; also to Skr. van to like, to wish. <?/. See Winsome , Win , v. t. , and cf. Wistful .]

1. To have a desire or yearning; to long; to hanker.

They cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day. Acts xxvii. 29.

This is as good an argument as an antiquary could wish for. Arbuthnot.

Wish <Xpage=1658>

Wish (?) , v. t. 1. To desire; to long for; to hanker after; to have a mind or disposition toward.

I would not wish Any companion in the world but you. Shak.

I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper. 3. John 2.

2. To frame or express desires concerning; to invoke in favor of, or against, any one; to attribute, or cal down, in desire; to invoke; to imprecate.

I would not wish them to a fairer death. Shak.

I wish it may not prove some ominous foretoken of misfortune to have met with such a miser as I am. Sir P. Sidney.

Let them be driven backward, and put to shame, that wish me evil. Ps. xl. 14.

3. To recommend; to seek confidence or favor in behalf of. [Obs.]

Shak.

I would be glad to thrive, sir, And I was wished to your worship by a gentleman. B. Jonson.

Syn. -- See Desire .

Wish <Xpage=1658>

Wish , n. 1. Desire; eager desire; longing.

Behold, I am according to thy wish in God a stead. Job xxxiii. 6.

2. Expression of desire; request; petition; hence, invocation or imprecation.

Blistered be thy tongue for such a wish . Shak.

3. A thing desired; an object of desire.

Will he, wise, let loose at once his ire . . . To give his enemies their wish ! Milton.

Wishable <Xpage=1658>

Wish"a*ble (?) , a. Capable or worthy of being wished for; desirable.

Udall.

Wishbone <Xpage=1658>

Wish"bone` (?) , n. The forked bone in front of the breastbone in birds; -- called also merrythought , and wishing bone . See Merrythought , and Furculum .

Wishedly <Xpage=1658>

Wish"ed*ly , adv. According to wish; conformably to desire. [Obs.]

Chapman.

Wisher <Xpage=1658>

Wish"er (?) , n. One who wishes or desires; one who expresses a wish.

Shak.

Wishful <Xpage=1658>

Wish"ful (?) , a. [Cf. Wistful .] 1. Having desire, or ardent desire; longing.

2. Showing desire; as, wishful eyes .

From Scotland am I stolen, even of pure love To greet mine own land with my wishful sight. Shak.

3. Desirable; exciting wishes. [R.]

Chapman.

-- Wish"ful*ly , adv. -- Wish"ful*ness , n.

Wishing <Xpage=1658>

Wish"ing , a. & n. from Wish , v. t.

Wishing bone . See Wishbone . -- Wishing cap , a cap fabled to give one whatever he wishes for when wearing it.

Wishly <Xpage=1658>

Wish"ly , adv. According to desire; longingly; with wishes. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

Chapman.

Wishtonwish <Xpage=1658>

Wish"ton*wish (?) , n. [Probably of American Indian origin.] (Zo\'94l.) The prairie dog.

Wish-wash <Xpage=1658>

Wish"-wash` (?) , n. Any weak, thin drink.

Wishy-washy <Xpage=1658>

Wish"y-wash`y (?) , a. [See Wash .] Thin and pale; weak; without strength or substance; -- originally said of liquids. Fig., weak-minded; spiritless.

A weak wishy-washy man who had hardly any mind of his own. A. Trollope.

Wishy-washy <Xpage=1658>

Wish"y-wash`y , n. A weak or thin drink or liquor; wish-wash.

Wisket <Xpage=1658>

Wis"ket (?) , n. A whisket, or basket. [Prov. Eng.]

Ainsworth.

Wisly <Xpage=1658>

Wis"ly (?) , adv. [See Wis , adv. ] Certainly. [Obs.] "God so wisly have mercy on me."

Chaucer.

Wisp <Xpage=1658>

Wisp (?) , n. [OE. wisp , wips ; probably akin to D. & G. wisch , Icel. visk , and perhaps to L. virga a twig, rod. Cf. Verge a rod, Whisk , n. ]

1. A small bundle, as of straw or other like substance.

In a small basket, on a wisp of hay. Dryden.

2. A whisk, or small broom.

3. A Will-o'-the-wisp; an ignis fatuus.

The wisp that flickers where no foot can tread. Tennyson.

Wisp <Xpage=1658>

Wisp , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Wisped (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Wisping .]

1. To brush or dress, an with a wisp.

2. To rumple. [Prov. Eng.]

Halliwell.

Wispen <Xpage=1658>

Wisp"en (?) , a. Formed of a wisp, or of wisp; as, a wispen broom . [Obs.]

Wisse <Xpage=1658>

Wis"se (?) , v. t. [AS. w\'c6sian . See Wise , a. ] To show; to teach; to inform; to guide; to direct. [Obs.]

Ere we depart I shall thee so well wisse That of mine house ne shalt thou never misse. Chaucer.

Wist <Xpage=1658>

Wist (?) , archaic imp. & p. p. of Wit , v. Knew.

Wistaria <Xpage=1658>

Wis*ta"ri*a (?) , n. [NL.] [So named after Caspar Wistar , an American anatomist.] (Bot.) A genus of climbing leguminous plants bearing long, pendulous clusters of pale bluish flowers.

&hand; The species commonest in cultivation is the Wistaria Sinensis from Eastern Asia. W. fruticosa grows wild in the southern parts of the United States.

Wistful <Xpage=1658>

Wist"ful (?) , a. [For wishful ; perhaps influenced by wistly , which is probably corrupted from OE. wisly certainly (from Icel. viss certain, akin to E. wit ). See Wish .]

1. Longing; wishful; desirous.

Lifting up one of my sashes, I cast many a wistful , melancholy look towards the sea. Swift.

2. Full of thought; eagerly attentive; meditative; musing; pensive; contemplative.

That he who there at such an hour hath been, Will wistful linger on that hallowed spot. Byron.

-- Wist"ful*ly , adv. -- Wist"ful*ness , n.

Wistit <Xpage=1658>

Wis"tit , n. [Prob. from native name: cf. F. ouistiti .] (Zo\'94l.) A small South American monkey; a marmoset. [Written also wistiti , and ouistiti .]

Wistly <Xpage=1658>

Wist"ly (?) , adv. [See Wistful .] Attentively; observingly. [Obs.]

Shak.

Wistonwish <Xpage=1658>

Wis"ton*wish (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) See Wishtonwish .

Wit <Xpage=1658>

Wit (?) , v. t. & i. [ inf. (To) Wit ; pres. sing. Wot ; pl. Wite ; imp. Wist(e) ; p. p. Wist ; p. pr. & vb. n. Wit(t)ing . See the Note below.] [OE. witen , pres. ich wot , wat , I know (wot), imp. wiste , AS. witan , pres. w\'bet , imp. wiste , wisse ; akin to OFries. wita , OS. witan , D. weten , G. wissen , OHG. wizzan , Icel. vita , Sw. veta , Dan. vide , Goth. witan to observe, wait I know, Russ. vidiete to see, L. videre , Gr. <?/, Skr. vid to know, learn; cf. Skr. vid to find. <?/<?/<?/<?/. Cf. History , Idea , Idol , -oid , Twit , Veda , Vision , Wise , a. & n. , Wot .] To know; to learn. "I wot and wist alway."

Chaucer.

<page="1659"> Page 1659

&hand; The present tense was inflected as follows; sing. 1st pers. wot ; 2d pers. wost , or wot(t)est ; 3d pers. wot , or wot(t)eth ; pl. witen , or wite . The following variant forms also occur; pres. sing. 1st & 3d pers. wat , woot ; pres. pl. wyten , or wyte , weete , wote , wot ; imp. wuste (Southern dialect); p. pr. wotting . Later, other variant or corrupt forms are found, as, in Shakespeare, 3d pers. sing. pres. wots .

Brethren, we do you to wit [make you to know] of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia. 2 Cor. viii. 1.

Thou wost full little what thou meanest. Chaucer.

We witen not what thing we prayen here. Chaucer.

When that the sooth in wist . Chaucer.

&hand; This verb is now used only in the infinitive, to wit , which is employed, especially in legal language, to call attention to a particular thing, or to a more particular specification of what has preceded, and is equivalent to namely , that is to say .

Wit <Xpage=1659>