Wits vs Wis - What's the difference?
wits | wis |
(rare, obsolete, or, dialectal) Certainly, surely
* 1884 , Charlotte Mary Yonge, The armourer's prentices :
(rare, obsolete, or, dialectal) Really, truly
(rare, obsolete, or, dialectal) Indeed
(rare, obsolete, or, dialectal) Certain
(rare, obsolete, or, dialectal) Sure
(obsolete, or, archaic) To know.
(obsolete, or, archaic) To think, suppose.
(obsolete, or, archaic) To imagine, ween; to deem.
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.wis
English
Alternative forms
* wiss, ywis, iwisEtymology 1
From (etyl) . More at ywis.Adverb
(en adverb)- So I wis would the Dragon under him [...]
- "As wis God helpe me." --Chaucer.
Adjective
(en adjective)- 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
- "Howe'er you wis ." --R. Browning.
- Nor do I know how long it is (For I have lain entranced, I wis ). --Coleridge.