Middle English Dictionary Entry
wīsen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | wīsen v. Also wīs(e & (early) wīsi(ȝ)e, uīsen; sg. 3 wīsith, etc. & (N) vīsis, (early) wīset; p. wīsed(e, vīsed; ppl. wīsed, (N) wīset, (early) iwīsed. |
| Etymology | OE wīsian, wīsigan. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. forth-wisen v., wissen v.
1.
(a) To advise (sb., oneself), counsel; also fig.; advise (sb. to do sth. or that he or she do sth.); also, teach (sb.), teach (sb. sth.), instruct;—occas. used in asseverations;
(b) ?to learn (sth.).
Associated quotations
a
- a1150 Rwl.G.57 Gloss.(Rwl G.57)26 : Fac sapias: wisiȝe.
- a1250(?c1150) Prov.Alf.(*Glb A.19-James)73/29 : Wolde ȝe nu liþen and lusten ȝure louerd & he ȝu wolde wisen wisliche þinȝes.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)764 : Brutus…iwende forð-rihtes to þon ilke weie þer him iwised wes þer þe king walde forð.
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)973 : Þu…seist þu uisest [Jes-O: wisest] mankunne Þat hi bi wepen hore sunne.
- a1300 Leuedi sainte (Add 27909)2 : Leuedi sainte marie…þu wisie me nuþe for ich eom eirede.
- a1325 SLeg.(Corp-C 145)357/8 : He…bede þat hi him sende An wise clerk to wise is men hore lif forto amende.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)120/156 : Iesus me clepede hyne þer-uore, Ase aungeles, er he were ybore, Hys eldren hadde y-wysed.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)1540 : Þai wist þat qua so efter cam Suld be wised wid þar wisdam.
- ?c1400 Earth(2) (PRO)44/27 : Eorthe ne may eorthe noþer lere ne wise.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)prol.107 : He…is diligent to wise Alle ignoraunt.
- a1500(?c1400) Song Roland (Lnsd 388)303 : ‘Now wise vs crist!’ quod Roulond.
b
- a1450 SLeg.Fran.(2) (Bod 779)11 : Þo he of elde was, þat he gan auȝt to wise, his fadir him tok gret catel to vsin marchaundyse, for he cholde ben burgeys.
2.
(a) To make (sth.) apparent, reveal; show (sb. a route); also fig.;
(b) to be manifest, appear.
Associated quotations
a
- a1275 Wolle ye i-heren (Trin-C B.14.39)5 : Þer þre kinges him habbet isoust, a sterre wiset hem þe wey.
- c1425 PPl.A(1) (Antq 687)7.223 : Besant…wise [Trin-C: Seruus nequam had a nam, & for he nolde it vsen, He hadde a maugre of his maister eueremore aftir].
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)138 : He answers þus by prophet steuen, Wysand vs þe way to heuen.
- (c1450) Boothe be ware (CotR 2.23)p.226 : The printe of a palsy wisith the thy way, And shewith by thy semblant…That tyme is to course hens, and breke up the bothe.
b
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)1135 : A wounde ful wyde and weete con wyse Anende hys hert.
3.
(a) To guide (sb. or the soul along a route or toward a goal), direct; also, mark or illuminate a route for (sb.); of reins: guide (a horse) [quot. a1450];
(b) to dispatch (sb.), send; also, send forth (speech); ~ oute, eliminate (sth.);
(c) to make a journey, move, go.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)602 : Wise mi & witere [Otho: witte me]…whuder ich mæi liðan & ledan mine leoden to ane wnsume londe þer ich mihte wunien.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)17931 : I gan þe wyse To þe ȝatis of Paradise.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)13698 : When Irelgas was wel auised, His hors on hym [Bokkus] his bridel wysed; He teysed his dint, Bokkes to smyte.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)17244 : Euer to god sho prayd to wyse hyr in hyr way.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)54 : ‘I pray the, late Me se that werk.’ ‘Thereto wil I you wise; Lo, here it is!’
- a1500 Wars Alex.(Dub 213)2988 : A[lexander]…trotes on þe troyde-gate als hym þe torche vysys.
b
- c1330 Degare (Auch)267 : To hire þat schild he sente…‘And ȝif God Almiȝti wolde Ten ȝer his lif holde Aȝen to him [h]i scholde hit wise.’
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)24103 : Quen i wend word to wise…Mi word it brast in thrise.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)453 : Þenne wafte he upon his wyndowe and wysed þeroute A message.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)2.78 : The forgh is best, ille humour out to wise.
- c1450(?a1400) Parl.3 Ages (Add 31042)451 : Vrye, his awnn knghte, in aventure he wysede [vr. vised].
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2064 : Þe selfe sandismen…were apon stedis wysid [Dub: wysett] Fra Alexander & his ost with his athill pistill.
c
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)21272 : Þe wangelistes…draues þe wain þat es cristes…Four flummes i se in paradis, And wainmen wit four quelis wises [L currum…video quatuor ire rotis]…þe first it gas, þe toþer it hise, [etc.].
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)10956 : Vnto þer contres he bad þem wyse.
4.
To exercise authority over (sth.); rule (a kingdom, a land), govern; of God: rule over (creation).
Associated quotations
- c1225 Body & S.(2) (Wor F.174)78/48 : He iscop…alle isceafte…and efre he hit wiseþ.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)10755 : Sire steuene of segraue was imad þo hei iustise…þut lond wel to wise.
- c1390 Castle Love(1) (Vrn)297 : He ne mai His kindom wiþ pees wysen.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)8320 : Salamon…sal haue witt, Riches, and sele To wijss ai all his werkes [Trin-C: reule al his kyndome] wele.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)prol.42 : Who kan…In sadde avise as forto wise a londe?