brilliant English
Adjective
( en adjective)
Shining brightly.
- the brilliant lights along the promenade
(of a colour) Both bright and saturated.
- butterflies with brilliant blue wings
(of a voice or sound) having a sharp, clear tone
Of surpassing excellence.
- The actor's performance in the play was simply brilliant .
Magnificent or wonderful.
Highly intelligent.
- She is a brilliant scientist.
Synonyms
* (shining brightly) glittering, shining
*
*
* (surpassing excellence) excellent, distinctive, striking, superb (obsolete except in UK usage)
* (magnificent or wonderful) exceptional, glorious, magnificent, marvellous/marvelous, splendid, wonderful (obsolete except in UK usage)
* (highly intelligent) brainy, ingenious
* See also
Related terms
* brilliance
* brilliantine
* brilliantness
Noun
( en noun)
A finely cut gemstone, especially a diamond, having many facets.
* Alexander Pope
- This snuffbox — on the hinge see brilliants shine.
* 1891 , Arthur Conan Doyle, A Case of Identity
- “And the ring?” I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which sparkled upon his finger.
(printing) A small size of type.
A kind of cotton goods, figured on the weaving.
External links
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wise English
Etymology 1
From (etyl) wis, wys, from (etyl) . Cognate with Dutch wijs, German weise, Swedish vis. Compare wit.
Adjective
( er)
Showing good judgement or the benefit of experience.
- Storing extra food for the winter was a wise decision.
- They were considered the wise old men of the administration.
- "It is a profitable thing, if one is wise , to seem foolish" - Aeschylus
(colloquial) Disrespectful.
- Don't get wise with me!
Usage notes
* Objects: person, decision, advice, counsel, saying, etc.
Antonyms
* unwise
* foolish
Derived terms
* crack wise
* wisdom
* wiseacre
* wise apple
* wiseass
* wisecrack
* wise guy
* wise-hearted
* wiseling
* wiselike
* wiseness
* wizen
* wizard
* word to the wise
Verb
( wis)
To become wise.
(ergative, slang) Usually with "up", to inform or learn.
- Mo wised him up about his situation.
- ''After Mo had a word with him, he wised up.
Etymology 2
From (etyl) .
Noun
( en noun)
(archaic) Way, manner, method.
* 1850 , The Burden of Nineveh , lines 2-5
- ... the prize
- Dead Greece vouchsafes to living eyes, —
- Her Art for ever in fresh wise
- From hour to hour rejoicing me.
* 1866 , , A Ballad of Life , lines 28-30
- A riven hood was pulled across his eyes;
- The token of him being upon this wise
- Made for a sign of Lust.
* 1926 , J. S. Fletcher, Sea Fog , page 308
- And within a few minutes the rest of us were on our way too, judiciously instructed by Parkapple and the Brighton official, and disposed of in two taxi-cabs, the drivers of which were ordered to convey us to Rottingdean in such wise that each set his load of humanity at different parts of the village and at the same time that the bus was due to arrive at the hotel.
Derived terms
* -wise
Etymology 3
From (etyl) .
Verb
(dialectal) to instruct
(dialectal) to advise; induce
(dialectal) to show the way, guide
(dialectal) to direct the course of, pilot
(dialectal) to cause to turn
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