-wise


Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Encyclopedia.

-wise

suff.
1. In a specified manner, direction, or position: clockwise.
2. With reference to; in regard to: profitwise.
[Middle English, from Old English -wīsan, from -wīse, manner; see wise2.]
Usage Note: The suffix -wise has a long history of use to mean "in the manner or direction of," as in clockwise, otherwise, and slantwise. Since the 1930s, however, the suffix has been widely used in the vaguer sense of "with respect to," as in This has not been a good year saleswise. Taxwise, it is an unattractive arrangement. Since their introduction, these usages have been associated with informal prose, and they are still considered by many to be awkward. For this reason, they might best be avoided, especially in formal writing. The most obvious alternative is to use paraphrases, as in This has not been a good year with respect to sales. As far as taxes are concerned, it is an unattractive arrangement.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

-wise

adv combining form
1. Also: -ways indicating direction or manner: clockwise; likewise.
2. with reference to: profitwise; businesswise.
[Old English -wisan; see wise2]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

wise1

(waɪz)

adj. wis•er, wis•est, adj.
1. having the power of discerning and judging properly as to what is true or right; possessing discernment, judgment, or discretion.
2. characterized by or showing such power; judicious or prudent: a wise decision.
3. possessed of or characterized by scholarly knowledge or learning; learned; erudite: wise in the law.
4. knowing; informed: to be the wiser for it.
5. Archaic. having knowledge of magic or witchcraft.
v.
6. wise up, Slang. to make or become aware or enlightened.
Idioms:
1. be or get wise to, Slang. to be or become cognizant of; learn.
2. get wise, Slang.
a. to become informed.
b. to be presumptuous or impertinent.
3. put or set someone wise,Slang. to inform someone, esp. about confidential information.
[before 900; Middle English (adj.), Old English wīs, c. Old Frisian, Old Saxon, Old High German wīs, Old Norse vīss, Gothic -weis; akin to wit1]
wise′ly, adv.

wise2

(waɪz)

n.
way of proceeding or considering; manner; fashion (usu. used in combination or in certain phrases): otherwise; in no wise.
[before 900; Middle English; Old English wīse way, manner, melody, c. Old Saxon wīsa, Old High German wīs(a), Old Norse vīsa; akin to Greek eîdos form, shape, and to wit2]

wise3

(waɪz)

v.t. wised, wis•ing. Chiefly Scot.
1.
a. to instruct.
b. to induce or advise.
c. to show the way to; guide.
2. to direct the course of; cause to turn.
[before 900; Middle English; Old English wīsian, akin to wīs wise1; c. Old High German wīsan, Old Norse vīsa]

Wise

(waɪz)

n.
1. Isaac Mayer, 1819–1900, U.S. rabbi, born in Bohemia: founder of Reform Judaism in the U.S.
2. Stephen Samuel, 1874–1949, U.S. rabbi and Zionist leader, born in Hungary.

-wise

a suffixal use of wise2 in adverbs denoting manner, position, direction, reference, etc.: clockwise; edgewise; marketwise; timewise.
usage: The suffix -wise is old in the language in adverbs referring to manner, direction, etc.: crosswise; lengthwise. Coinages like marketwise, saleswise, and weatherwise are often criticized, perhaps because of their association with the news and entertainment media: Moneywise, as they were already saying in the motion-picture industry, Hollywood was at its peak. This suffix should not be confused with the adjective wise1, which appears in such compounds as streetwise and worldly-wise.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
Translations

-wise

[waɪz] ADV (ending in compounds) → en cuanto a, respecto a
how are you off money-wise? → ¿de dinero cómo estás?
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

-wise

[-ˌwaɪz] suffix (= with regard to) career-wise → question carrière
weather-wise → pour ce qui est du temps, question temps
time-wise → question horaires
Timewise, we're on target
BUT Question délais, on est dans les temps.
money-wise → question argent
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

-wise

adv suf → -mäßig, in puncto, in Bezug auf (+acc); money-wise → geldmäßig, in puncto Geld, in Bezug auf Geld
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

-wise

(waiz)
1. in respect of or as regards. This new idea may prove to be difficult costwise.
2. in a (particular) way. The stripes run crosswise.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.