Home › Glossary › Letter W

wise

Adjective
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

An archaic noun/adverb suffix meaning manner, way, or mode of action (as in "in this wise"), establishing style or method.

Detailed Definition
Here "wise" is an old adverbial use meaning "way" or "manner," as in "in this wise." This usage survives mainly in older or literary English, so modern readers may not recognize it immediately.
Example
Example in poetry:
“To measure loss and gain in this wise?” uses wise to mean manner, way, or respect rather than intelligence; “In this wise the old tale begins” means “in this manner”; “No bird sings wise to comfort grief” can suggest a manner of singing; “Tell me in what wise dawn returns” demonstrates the phrase “in what wise” as an archaic equivalent of “how”
Additional Notes
The quoted phrase uses "wise" in an archaic sense meaning "manner," which is not the common modern meaning of the word.; Found in the poem, Loss and Gain by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Also Known As
Sage Prudent Astute Judicious
Skip to main content