Emily Dickinson Lexicon

WIRE-DRAW, v.t. [wire and draw.]

1. To draw a metal into wire, which is done by drawing it through a hole in a plate of steel.
2. To draw into length. – Arbuthnot.
3. To draw by art or violence. My sense has been wiredrawn into blasphemy. – Dryden.
4. To draw or spin out to great length and tenuity; as, wiredraw an argument.

WIRE-DRAW-ER, n.

One who draws metal into wire. – Locke.

WIRE-DRAW-ING, ppr.

1. Drawing a metal into wire.
2. Drawing to a great length or fineness.

WIRE-DRAWN, pp.

Drawn into wire; drawn out to great length or fineness.

WIRE-GRATE, n. [wire and grate.]

A grate or contrivance of fine wire work to keep insects out of vineries, hot houses, &c. – Cyc.

WIRE-HEEL, n. [wire and heel.]

A defect and disease in the feet of a horse or other beast. – Cyc.

WIRE-WORM, n. [wire and worm.]

A mischievous worm that sometimes injures grain.

WIR-Y, a.

Made of wire; like wire.

WIS, v.t. [pret. wist. G. wissen; D. weeten; Dan. vider; Sw. veta. This is the Sax. witan, to wit.]

To think; to suppose; to imagine. [Obs.] – Spenser.

WIS'DOM, n. [s as z; Sax. id.; wise and dom; G. weisheit, (wisehood;) D. wysheid; Sw. visdom and vishet; Dan. visdom or viisdom. See Wise. Wisdom, it seems, is from the Gothic dialect.]

1. The right use or exercise of knowledge; the choice of laudable ends, and of the best means to accomplish them. This is wisdom in act, effect, or practice. If wisdom is to be considered as a faculty of the mind, it is the faculty of discerning or judging what is most just, proper, and useful; and if it is to be considered as an acquirement, it is the knowledge and use of what is best, most just, most proper, most conducive to prosperity or happiness. Wisdom in the first sense, or practical wisdom, is nearly synonymous with discretion. If differs somewhat from prudence, in this respect; prudence is the exercise of sound judgment in avoiding evils; wisdom is the exercise of sound judgment either in avoiding evils or attempting good. Prudence then is a species, of which wisdom is the genus. Wisdom gained by experience, is of inestimable value. – Scott. It is hoped that our rulers will act with dignity and wisdom; that they will yield every thing to reason, and refuse every thing to force. – Ames.
2. In Scripture, human learning; erudition; knowledge of arts and sciences. Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians. – Acts vii.
3. Quickness of intellect; readiness of apprehension; dexterity in execution; as, the wisdom of Bezaleel and Aholiab. – Exod. xxxi.
4. Natural instinct and sagacity. – Job xxxii.
5. In Scripture theology, wisdom is true religion; godliness; piety; the knowledge and fear of God, and sincere and uniform obedience to his commands. This is the wisdom which is from above. – Ps. xc. Job xxviii.
6. Profitable words or doctrine. – Ps. xxxviii. The wisdom of this world, mere human erudition; or the carnal policy of men, their craft and artifices in promoting their temporal interests; called also fleshly wisdom. – 1 Cor. ii. 2 Cor. i. The wisdom of words, artificial or affected eloquence; or learning displayed in teaching. 1 Cor. i, ii.

WISE, a. [s as z; Sax. wis, wise; G. weise; D. wys; Sw. vis; Dan. viis; Sax. wissan, G. wissen, to know; Sans. vid. This in Dutch, is weeten, to know, which is the Goth. witan, Sax. witan, Eng. to wit, perhaps Gr. ειδεω. So that wise, wit, weet, wot, are all from one root, or dialectical forms of the same word; Ir. fois, feas, knowledge; W. gwys, gwyz, Sans. widja, intelligence. In general, the radical sense of know is to reach or to hold, from extension, stretching. In this case, it may be to show, to disclose, from a like sense; for in Sw. visa, Dan. viser, G. weisen, D. wysen, is to show. In this case, L. video, visum, which seems to be connected with this word, may coincide in origin with wide. Wistful, attentive, eager, is from reaching forward.]

1. Properly, having knowledge; hence, having the power of discerning and judging correctly, or of discriminating between what is true and what is false; between what is fit and proper and what is improper; as, a wise prince; a wise magistrate. Solomon was deemed the wisest man. But a man may be speculatively and not practically wise. Hence,
2. Discreet and judicious in the use or application of knowledge; choosing laudable ends, and the best means to accomplish them. This is to be practically wise. – Gen. xli.
3. Skillful; dextrous. They are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge. – Jer. iv.
4. Learned; knowing; as, the wise and the unwise. – Rom. i.
5. Skilled in arts, science, philosophy, or in magic and divination. – 2 Sam. xiv.
6. Godly; pious. – Prov. xiii. The holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise to salvation. – 2 Tim. iii.
7. Skilled in hidden arts; a sense somewhat ironical; as, the wise woman of Brainford. – Shak.
8. Dictated or guided by wisdom; containing wisdom; judicious; well adapted to produce good effects; applicable to things; as, a wise saying; a wise scheme or plan; wise conduct or management; a wise determination.
9. Becoming a wise man; grave; discreet; as, wise deportment. – Milton.

WISE, n. [s as z; Sax. wise; G. weise; D. wys; Sw. vis; Dan. viis; Fr. guise; It. guisa; Arm. guis.]

Manner; way of being or acting. This song she sings in most commanding wise. – Sidney. In fittest wise. – Spenser. In the foregoing form this word is obsolete. The use of it is now very limited. It is common in the following phrases. #1. In any wise. If he that sanctified the field will in any wise redeem it. – Lev. xxvii. Fret not thyself in any wise. – Ps. xxxvii. #2. On this wise. On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel. – Num. vi. #3. In no wise. He shall in no wise lose his reward. – Matth. x. It is used in composition, as in likewise, otherwise, lengthwise, &c. By mistake, ways is often used for it; as, lengthways, for lengthwise.

WISE-A-CRE, n.

A barbarism, corrupted from the German weissager, Wise-sayer, – which see.

WISE-HEART-ED, a. [wise and heart.]

Wise; knowing; skillful. – Exod. xxviii.

WISE-LING, n.

One who pretends to be wise. – Donne.

WISE-LY, adv.

1. Prudently; judiciously; discreetly; with wisdom. – Prov. xvi. xxi.
2. Craftily; with art or stratagem. Let us deal wisely with them. – Exod. i.

WISE-NESS, n.

Wisdom. [Obs.] – Spenser.

WISE-SAY-ER, n. [G. weise, wise, and sagen, to say, to tell; weissager, a foreteller.]

1. A foreteller; one who is noted for predicting the weather.
2. One who makes pretensions to great wisdom; hence in contempt, a simpleton; a dunce. – Addison.

WISH, n.

1. Desire; sometimes eager desire. – Job xxxiii.
2. Desire expressed. – Pope. Blister'd be thy tongue / For such a wish. – Shak.
3. Thing desired. He has his wish. The difference between wish and desire seems to be, that desire is directed to what is obtainable, and a wish may be directed to what is obtainable or not. – Kames.

WISH, v.i. [Sax. wiscan; Cimbric, oska. In all the other Teutonic and Gothic dialects, the corresponding word is written with n; D. wenschen; G. wünschen; Dan. önsker; Sw. önska. This is probably the same word.]

1. To have a desire, or strong desire, either for what is or is not supposed to be obtainable. It usually expresses less than long; but sometimes it denotes to long or wish earnestly. We often wish for what is not obtainable. This is as good an argument as an antiquary could wish for. – Arbuthnot. They have more than heart could wish. – Ps. lxxiii. I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper. – 3 John 2. They cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day. – Acts xxvii.
2. To be disposed or inclined; as, to wish well to another's affairs. – Addison.
3. It sometimes partakes of hope or fear. I wish the event may prove fortunate, or less calamitous than we apprehend.

WISH, v.t.

1. To desire. I wish your prosperity. Let them be driven backward and put to shame, that wish me evil. – Ps. xl.
2. To long for; to desire eagerly or ardently. It has this sense when expressed with emphasis.
3. To recommend by wishing. – I would not wish them to a fairer death. – Shak.
4. To imprecate; as, to wish curses on an enemy. – Shak.
5. To ask; to express desire. – Clarendon.

WISH'ED, pp.

Desired; or ardently desired.

WISH'ER, n.

One who desires; one who expresses a wish. – Shak.

WISH'FUL, a.

1. Having desire, or ardent desire.
2. Showing desire; as, wishful eyes.
3. Desirable; exciting wishes. [Bad.] – Chapman.

WISH'FUL-LY, adv.

1. With desire or ardent desire.
2. With the show of desiring.