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Wits vs Wis - What's the difference?

wits | wis |

As a noun wits

is .

As an adverb wis is

(rare|obsolete|or|dialectal) certainly, surely.

As an adjective wis is

(rare|obsolete|or|dialectal) certain.

As a verb wis is

(obsolete|or|archaic) to know.

wits

English

Noun

(head)
  • (pluralonly) senses.
  • Derived terms

    * have one's wits about one

    Anagrams

    *

    wis

    English

    Alternative forms

    * wiss, ywis, iwis

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) . More at ywis.

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • (rare, obsolete, or, dialectal) Certainly, surely
  • * 1884 , Charlotte Mary Yonge, The armourer's prentices :
  • So I wis would the Dragon under him [...]
  • (rare, obsolete, or, dialectal) Really, truly
  • (rare, obsolete, or, dialectal) Indeed
  • "As wis God helpe me." --Chaucer.

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (rare, obsolete, or, dialectal) Certain
  • (rare, obsolete, or, dialectal) Sure
  • He was wis on his word
    Derived terms
    * (l)

    Etymology 2

    From an incorrect division, mistaking . See ywis for more information. The German verb wissen'' appears similar, but in fact corresponds etymologically to the English verb ''wit ; both of those verbs are only indirectly related to this one.

    Verb

  • (obsolete, or, archaic) To know.
  • (obsolete, or, archaic) To think, suppose.
  • "Howe'er you wis ." --R. Browning.
  • (obsolete, or, archaic) To imagine, ween; to deem.
  • Nor do I know how long it is (For I have lain entranced, I wis ). --Coleridge.
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