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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Wis(e, Wys(e, n. Also: vis(e, vyse, uys, vice, wyis(e, wiis(e, vyis(e, vyijs, vijs, wiese, wayse, wayis, -es, waies. [ME and e.m.E. wise (c1175), wyse (a1250), wijs, wis (both Cursor M.), wice (c1350), OE wíse (wís), MDu. wijs, ON vísa stanza, Sw., Da. vis way, manner.]See also Elikewise adv., Inlikewise adv., Like adj. 2 a (2), Likewise adv., Monywise adv., Na wis(e adv. phr., No wis(e adv. phr., On-na-wis(e adv., Onywis(e n. phr. (adv.), Otherwyse adv., Quhatkin adj. 2 c, Quhat wys adv. phr., Sic wise adv., Thus wis adv. for further examples. Manner, way, fashion, means, chiefly in prepositional phrase with on, in, be, etc. a. With demonstrative, indefinite, interrogative or negative adjectives.Cf. Way n. 8.(a) 1375 Barb. i 180.
Schyr Edward … Had on this wys done his likyng 1375 Barb. iv 363 (C).
Than scath thame on sum vis we sall a1400 Leg. S. iii 350.
Vyse c1400 Troy-bk. ii 480.
The lyght extingued be no wyse ?1438 Alex. ii 136.
Maid neuer ȝit on na kin wise Sa hie ane man … Sa fair ane mendis for sic ane thing 1454–5 Edinb. Chart. 81.
The … communite of Edynburgh sal gif … the barounry of Lestalrig, thair counsell help … and defence in like wis 1465 Athole Chart. No. 37.
[The sum] to be payit in this vis, ten pundis at Witsonday nixt [etc.] 1466–7 (1471) Reg. Great S. 214/2.
Vise 1488 Lag Chart. 15.
This by na wise ye lefe undone 1498 Acta Conc. II 246.
Aggreit in the sade [? cause] in this wise folowing 1504 Perth Guildry 468 (29 May).
The said Dauid sall … wphald the saidis millis … in sik lik wis forme & maner as vtheris multeraris has done 1516 Fife Sheriff Ct. 146.
That nane of ȝou … attempt ony thing incontrair … of this our speciale respit in ony vise 1622-6 Bisset II 172/8.
Quhen he had leved certane dais on this vyse in miserie and doloure he deceissed(b) a1400 Leg. S. iii 554.
Wyis a1400 Leg. S. vi 116.
Vijs a1400 Leg. S. vi 205.
Thar a palace one sic vyijs Sa craftly he cane dewyse a1400 Leg. S. vi 439.
Vyise c1420 Wynt. i 939 h. of ch.
Next schall yhe wyt on qwhat kyn wiis [etc.] c1420 Wynt. vi 577.
Wyis 1482 Liber Aberbr. II 162.
Alsweil and in syklyk vyis as we are oblisit to pay [etc.] c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 14/41.
The tyme, the place, and how, and in quhat wyis 1561 Reg. Privy C. I 174.
Quhilkis markis nor descriptioun of the … forme thairof is on na wyise specifiit(c) c1475 Wall. viii 530.
King Eduuard send to thaim, in this wayis, A knycht [etc.] 15.. Clar. v 26.
On this wayse 15.. Clar. v 947.
Upon this wayes a1578 Pitsc. I 77/11.
The conditioun … of all the Douglassis sen the beginning hes ben in this wayse as this is 1587-99 Hume 43/72.
Sine on this waies, … direct his heauie plent

b. With definite or indefinite article or possessive and adjective. Also sic a wise and, once, with a = one.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xii 99.
This chyld … fosteryt wes … with this Judas, & in a vice to-gyddyr fede & in ane aray in bak & bede(2) c1400 Troy-bk. i 561.
Quhen that he saw one syk a wise The sone Eclyps [etc.] 1425–6 Acts II 12/2.
Of the sammyn wyse thre or four sayis to the commoun vse c1475 Wall. ii 25.
Our all the toune rewlyng on thair awne wis c1475 Wall. viii 1149.
Scho graithit hir apon a gudlye wis 1487 Fraser P. 108.
One the best uys can be diuisit 1491 Fam. Rose 154.
The saide assignacioun to be maide … in the mast attenty wys 1491 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 328.
To be confirmit … in the sikyrast wise but fraud or gill 1509 Glasg. Univ. Mun. I 47.
Exhortis … yow in the mast hartly wise 1515 Douglas Corr. 68.
I command me to ȝou in my harty wys c1520-c1535 Nisbet Prol. Rom. 338/15.
Quhair the law is vndirstande … of the best wyse, thair it dois na maire 1535 Stewart 39491.
This ilk herald … Befoir King Duncane … hailsit him than of ane humbill wyis a1540 Freiris Berw. 252 (M).
Sche … leit him in vpon ane haistie wyse 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 68.
Vpon the quhilk port wes singand certane barneis in the maist hevinlie wyis

c. With adjective. c1420 Wynt. vi 1902.
Gottyne he wes on ferly wys c1409-1436 Kingis Q. § 97.
That coude his office doon In connyng wise a1500 Lanc. 2301.
The king … haith hir met, and in til hartly wys Resauit her, and welcummyt 1481 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II 331.
[The lands] to be … giffin … in sykkyrast wys the saide George … can dewys a1568 Scott ii 58.
Quha stall away thair styngis … And hid in secreit wayis [: ryis] a1568 Scott iv 74.
Sum thinkis na schame to … kis in opin wyis

d. With adjective implying a plural noun. 1375 Barb. ii 552.
On mony wis 1375 Barb. xii 197.
I sall consent on alkyn wis To do [etc.] a1400 Leg. S. ix 129.
The manere of oure ransonynge & how the fend one foure-kine wise He discomfyte ?a1450 Florimond 35.
Men tynis upone sindre wyis: In fere landis greit tinsall lyis 1456 Hay I 153/27.
Thareto I ansuere in double wis c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 71/1.
Be divers wyis and operatiounes Men makis in court thair solistationes

e. With of phrase or possessive. c1409-1436 Kingis Q. § 117.
Of my cristall teris … The hony flouris growen vp … That preyen men, [as] in thaire flouris wise, Be trewe of lufe c1475 Wall. vi 565.
All Wallace folk in wys off wer was gud

f. With noun in attributive position: After the fashion of the noun. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 148/69.
[He] nevir flatter couthe … Bot humblie into ballat wyse complaine 1509 Perth Guildry 475 (26 May).
This assedatioun salbe ostendit in endentur wis … & interchangeit efter the forme of the ald assedationis 1538 Reg. Privy S. II 376/2.
To big … ane hous within the burgh of Banff of palice wys, with barmking, battelling, gun hoillis [etc.] a1568 Scott v 50.
To kis his loif on Buchone wyis

g. With omission of the preposition. 1375 Barb. v 78 (C).
Sen men sais [etc.] … That vs [dispytis] mony vis a1400 Leg. S. iii 683.
Quhen he had this wiis sad [etc.] ?1438 Alex. ii 4681.
My hart reioysis mony wyis ?14.. Ship Laws c. 22 (B).
Thai sauf thaim … the beste wyse at thai may ?a1450 Florimond 109.
Throu Surrie, Throu Anteoche and throu Turkie, Be land this wyse pas ȝe may a1500 Rauf C. 929.
Thus may thow … wirk the best wise a1500 Colk. Sow Prol. 63.
Wisdome … holdis the nycest wys … The wys nycest & the wisest quhile is provit For quhich … I propone nocht as wis presumpteous Bot rathir [etc.] 1524 Dumbarton B. Rec. App. ii 4.
The balȝeis … of Dunbertane had faltyt to them diuerse wiise 1535 Stewart 2810.
With langage boun vpoun ane gudlie wys ?1562 Riddell Tracts 107.
Johne Naper sall … deile the saidis landis above written this wise 1558-66 Glencairn in 1558-66 Knox I 74.
I schaip my selfe … To turse our ladie in Argyle And there uncraftie wyse to wirk Till that we bigged have ane kirk 1558-66 Knox II 339.
Wiese

h. As direct object. a1500 Henr. Fab. 2690.
That I sall byde ane vnsuspect assyis. This is the law, this is the instant wyis [Ch. vse, Bann. wys, H. gyis] 1572 Sat. P. xxxiv 3.
Quho list to mark the Scottisch gyse, … Sall weill persave thair craftie wyse … And fals … myndis

i. (Be, in, etc.) ony, etc. maner of wise. 1407 Charter (Reg. H.) C.O. 32a.
The forsaide landys … quat euer thai be pertenand or may pertene throw ony manere of wyse in tym to cum 1432 Lamont P. 13.
The said Robert has raleschyt … all … actionis that he had to the said Fynlo ony maner of vyis 1456 Hay I 137/30.
The king … gevis na fors of his help, bot refusis him in all maner of wis c1475 Wall. xi 1050.
Be no maner off wys a1497, 15.. Gray MS iv 53.
Syne in vii maner of wiis, Til myn enemy thow has consent ?c1500 Rathen Manual 27/2.
We cursis … all thai that dois sacrilege that is to saye thre maneyr of vyse 1519 Fife Sheriff Ct. 157.
Alexander Orrok … to decist … [to] intromit tharwith in ony maner of wise