Where does “wise” come from?
Wise comes from Old English wīse, from Proto-Germanic wīsō, from Proto-Indo-European weyd-, a root meaning to see or know.
wise (English): Showing good judgement or the benefit of...
Definitions
- Showing good judgement or the benefit of...
Ancestry of “wise”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | wys | wise, thoughtful, proper; knowledgeable; alert,... |
| 2 | Old English | wīs | wise |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | wīsaz | wise, knowledgeable |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | weydstos | knowledgeable |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | weyd- | to see |
Words derived from “wise”