-wise

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See also: wise, Wise, and WISE

English

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Etymology

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From Middle English -wis, from Old English -wīs (-wise), from Proto-West Germanic *-wīs, from Proto-Germanic *-wīsaz, from Proto-Germanic *wīsaz (wise, skilled, knowledgeable), related to Old English wīs, wīse (manner, way, fashion). Cognate with Saterland Frisian -wiese, Dutch -wijs, German -weise, Danish -vis, Swedish -vis, Norwegian Bokmål -vis (-wise). More at wise (way, manner).

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /waɪz/
    • Audio (US):(file)

Suffix

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-wise

  1. In the direction or orientation of.
    The gaoler slowly turned the key clockwise.
  2. In the manner of.
    You need to follow the instructions carefully; otherwise, the project may not turn out.
    Contrariwise, it could be a good idea.
  3. In the matter of; with regard to.
    This morning looks promising, weather-wise.
    • 1919, Saki, “The Penance”, in The Toys of Peace, page 423:
      They had parents in India—that much Octavian had learned in the neighbourhood; the children, beyond grouping themselves garment-wise into sexes, a girl and two boys, carried their life-story no further on his behoof.
    • 1958, “Come Fly With Me”, performed by Frank Sinatra:
      Weather-wise, it's such a lovely day
  4. One at a time, or one thing at a time.
    Add the reagent dropwise to the solution.

Usage notes

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Derived terms

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Translations

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Anagrams

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Old English

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Etymology

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

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˌwiː.se/, [ˌwiː.ze]

Suffix

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-wīse

  1. (noun suffix) state of, manner of, condition; direction
    riht (just, right) + ‎-wīse → ‎rihtwīse (righteousness, justice)
    cniht (boy, youth) + ‎-wīse → ‎cnihtwīse (boyishness)
    cyne- (public, nation, kindred) + ‎-wīse → ‎cynewīse (commonweath, state)
    lēoþ (song, tune, poem) + ‎-wīse → ‎lēoþwīse (poetry, verse)
    bēag (ring, hoop, circle) + ‎-wīse → ‎bēagwīse (sphere, circular form)
  2. (noun suffix) the custom or fashion of
    mynster (minister) + ‎-wīse → ‎mynsterwīse (monastic custom)
    fierd (militia) + ‎-wīse → ‎fierdwīse (military style)
  3. (adverbial suffix) in the manner or fashion of; in the direction of
    hyse (son, youth) + ‎-wīse → ‎hysewīse (like a young man)

Declension

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