(a) Appearance, physical form; also, physical or mental condition or state; in combs.: a top ~, the shape of a top; net ~, netlike, latticed; streiȝt ~, q.v.; (b) in prep. phrases with nominal combs.: in a cop ~, so as to form as pyramid; in (a) cros ~, o (on) cros ~ [see cros(se-wise n.]; in a net ~ [see net-wise adj. & n.]; in (a) plastre ~ [see also plastrewise adv.]; in a prike ~; in article ~, point by point; in (in-to) a top ~, in the shape of a top, in a pyramid or cone shape; in banere ~; in pilgrim ~; in thre-corner ~, in a triangular shape; in windoue ~, in the form of a windowed structure with openings; o boue ~, in the shape of a bow, as an arc; o caunt ~ [see acaunt-wise adv.]; o crouche ~, held in the shape of a cross; (c) in adv. constructions: articuler ~, q.v.; charnel ~, ?in the shape of a mortuary chapel; creste ~, q.v.; cros ~ [see cros(se-wise adv.]; losenge ~, plastre ~, prist ~, q.v.; snare (square) ~, in the form of a noose; surplis ~, so as to resemble a surplice; table ~, taper ~, q.v.; tre-foil ~, in the shape of a trefoil; triangle ~, in the shape of a triangle.

A variety of something, a type, species; manere ~; in adj. comb.: diverse ~, of various sorts, miscellaneous.

(a) Manner, fashion; a characteristic or customary manner, custom; in adj. comb.: swich (a) ~ [see swich-wise adj. (a)]; don his ~, ?to do what he can; ?act in his usual manner; (b) a method, means, way of proceeding or accomplishing something [occas. difficult to distinguish from (a) and vice versa]; (c) ?a circumstance, case, an event; imaken his gret (al his) ~, ?to present his full (entire) case [perh. confused with (a) above or influenced by wis(e adj.].

In selected prep. phrases: (a) with indef., numerical, and other adjectives: bi (in, on) ani ~, by any means, somehow, anyhow; in any fashion; bi (in, on) mani wises, in fele (sondri) wises, etc., by many means, in many ways, variously; bi (on) on ~, in double ~, on two wises, etc., by a single (two, etc.) means, in one manner (two manners, etc.); in ech (everi) ~, on (in) alle wises, etc., in any (every) way, in every particular, in all respects, entirely; in (on) like ~, in (of, on) the same ~, on tho ilke ~, in the same way, similarly, likewise; in no (non, non other) ~, by no method or means, in no way; also, in no respect, not in any particular; in (mani) other wises, on other ~, in (many) other ways, in another manner; by (many) other means, otherwise; in (o) som ~, in some way, somehow; in (on) swich ~, in swich a ~, in such a way, by such means; on (the) contrarie ~, in the contrarie ~, contrarily; (b) with demonstrative and rel. adjectives: in (on) that (this) ~, o this (thiskin) ~, on these wises, in that (this) manner, in these ways; by that (this) means, thereby; also, in such a way as [quot. a1225(?c1175)]; in (bi, on) what ~, on whatkinne ~, on (o) which ~, in what or whatever way(s, by what means, how or however; (c) with maner(e n.: in (on) al manere ~, in everi manere ~, in every possible way, in all respects; in ani manere ~, in any way; in mani manere of ~, in four (thre) manere wises, etc., in many (four, three) ways; also, variously; in no manere of ~, in non manere ~, in no way, by no means of proceeding, through no course of action; in (on) this manere (of) ~, by this means, in this way, thus; in what manere (of) ~, in what way, by what means, how; also, in the way in which, as [quot. a1382, 1st]; (d) as intensives: bi no manere of ~, in (on) no (non) ~, on none-kin ~, etc., under no circumstances, by no means; (not) by any means, (not) in any way, shape, or form; in (on) al ~, in ani ~, etc., at all events, in any case; above all, without fail; (e) with nominal combs.: in carole ~, in the manner of a round dance, as if dancing in the round; in cheker ~, like a checkerboard, in checked fashion; in a gest ~, as a guest; in a withe (withe-winde) ~, in the manner of a withe (woodbine); on ar-dawe ~, as one would treat plowland; (f) in misc. phrases: at the leste ~, at least; in the best ~ he can (thei couthe), etc., as best he can (they could), etc.; on the best ~, in hire (oure, theire) best ~, in the (her, etc.) best manner; also, as best one could.

In adv. constructions: (a) in comb. with indef. or numerical adjectives: a hundred wises, in a hundred ways; al ~, ani ~, q.v.; double ~, doubly; mani (mani-fold, mani manere) ~, mani wises, in many or various ways; no ~, q.v.; o ~, in one way; also, somehow [quot. c1450]; or ~ [see or-wis adv.]; other ~, som ~, q.v.; swich ~ [see swich-wise adj. (b)]; thre wises, in three ways; also, in comb. with descriptive adjectives: bestli ~, comli ~, q.v.; (b) in comb. with demonstrative adjectives and adv.: these wises, in these ways; this ~, in this way, in the following way, thus; also, in that way; thus ~ [see thus-wise adv. (a)]; (c) in comb. with adjectives of similarity or difference: contrarie ~ [see also contrari-wise adv.]; diverse ~, in diverse ways, by different means; ilike ~, like ~, other ~, semblable ~, semble ~, simile ~, sonder ~, q.v.; that ilke (the same) ~, in the same way, similarly, likewise; (d) with interrog. adjectives: what (which) ~, in what way?, how?; (e) with rel. adjectives in conjunctive constructions: what (whatkinne, which) ~, in what way, how; what manere ~, in what way; also, in the manner in which [quot. a1382, 1st; see also maner(e n. 1c.(g)].

In surname.