-wise

From Middle English -wis, from Old English -wīs (“-wise”), from Proto-West Germanic *-wīs, from Proto-Germanic *-wīsaz, from Proto-Germanic *wīsaz (“wise, skilled, knowledgeable”), related to Old English wīs, wīse (“manner, way, fashion”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian -wiese, Dutch -wijs, German -weise, Danish -vis, Swedish -vis, Norwegian Bokmål -vis (“-wise”). More at wise (“way, manner”).

• IPA^(key): /waɪz/

  • Audio (US)

    (file)

-wise

1. In the direction or orientation of.

   The gaoler slowly turned the key clockwise.

2. In the manner of.

   You need to follow the instructions carefully; otherwise, the project may not turn out.

   Contrariwise, it could be a good idea.

3. In the matter of; with regard to.

   This morning looks promising, weather-wise.

   • 1919, Saki, “The Penance”, in The Toys of Peace, page 423:

     They had parents in India—that much Octavian had learned in the neighbourhood; the children, beyond grouping themselves garment-wise into sexes, a girl and two boys, carried their life-story no further on his behoof.

   • 1958, “Come Fly With Me”, performed by Frank Sinatra:

     Weather-wise, it's such a lovely day

4. One at a time, or one thing at a time.

   Add the reagent dropwise to the solution.

• The suffix -wise is particularly productive in Indian English. See for example classwise, datewise, subjectwise.

• -way, -ways

• Siew, wies

From wīse (“manner, way, condition, direction”).

• IPA^(key): /ˌwiː.se/, [ˌwiː.ze]

-wīse

1. (noun suffix) state of, manner of, condition; direction

   ‎riht (“just, right”) + ‎-wīse → ‎rihtwīse (“righteousness, justice”)

   ‎cniht (“boy, youth”) + ‎-wīse → ‎cnihtwīse (“boyishness”)

   ‎cyne- (“public, nation, kindred”) + ‎-wīse → ‎cynewīse (“commonweath, state”)

   ‎lēoþ (“song, tune, poem”) + ‎-wīse → ‎lēoþwīse (“poetry, verse”)

   ‎bēag (“ring, hoop, circle”) + ‎-wīse → ‎bēagwīse (“sphere, circular form”)

2. (noun suffix) the custom or fashion of

   ‎mynster (“minister”) + ‎-wīse → ‎mynsterwīse (“monastic custom”)

   ‎fierd (“militia”) + ‎-wīse → ‎fierdwīse (“military style”)

3. (adverbial suffix) in the manner or fashion of; in the direction of

   ‎hyse (“son, youth”) + ‎-wīse → ‎hysewīse (“like a young man”)